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Warner Pacific University

EIN 93-0386890 · Portland, OR

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WARNER PACIFIC IS A CHRIST-CENTERED URBAN LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AN EDUCATION THAT PREPARES THEM TO ENGAGE ACTIVELY IN A CONSTANTLY CHANGING WORLD. WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY IS ACCREDITED BY THE NORTHWEST COMMISSION ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. FOUNDED IN 1937, TODAY WPU OFFERS A FOUR-YEAR CHRISTIAN LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN AN URBAN SETTING ON BEAUTIFUL MT. TABOR IN PORTLAND, OREGON. OUR CHRIST-CENTERED, LIBERAL ARTS APPROACH INVITES STUDENTS TO SEEK ANSWERS TO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES THEM TO EXPAND THEIR COMFORT ZONES IN ORDER TO EXPLORE THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY UNDERSTAND SOCIETY, COMMUNITY, AND FAITH. FACULTY GUIDE CLASSES THROUGH REAL-WORLD SITUATIONS IN PROGRAMS FROMBUSINESS TO EDUCATION, NURSING, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, HEALTH SCIENCE AND MANY OTHER DEGREES. AT WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, STUDENTS DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS, DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, AND SERVE THE GREATER COMMUNITY. MOST STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID.

Income
$18.3 million
Spending
$20.8 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
332
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$388,315, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $9.7 million spent. WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY IS DEDICATED TO SEEING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES FLOURISH. AS AN URBAN UNIVERSITY DESIGNED TO SERVE STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, WE KNOW THAT FOR A CITY TO FLOURISH, ITS LEADERS MUST BE PREPARED TO ENGAGE ACTIVELY IN A CONSTANTLY CHANGING WORLD. AT WARNER PACIFIC, 64% OF STUDENTS COME FROM RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND 49% OF STUDENTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE. THROUGH VARIOUS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS A HUMANITIES CORE CURRICULUM, WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY PREPARES STUDENTS TO BECOME ENGAGED CITIZENS THROUGH CAREER-FOCUSED LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAMS. A STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO OF 15:1 ENSURES THAT PROFESSORS ARE COMMITTED TO GUIDING STUDENTS AS THEY DEVELOP AN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE THAT INTEGRATES THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM TO THEIR CHOSEN AREA OF STUDY. THROUGH PROFESSIONAL AND GRADUATE STUDIES, WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY ALSO PROVIDES ADULT LEARNERS A CONVENIENT, PERSONALIZED, AND AFFORDABLE DEGREE PROGRAM AVAILABLE ONE NIGHT A WEEK OR ONLINE.
  2. $3.8 million spent. RESIDENCE LIFE AT WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY IS COMMITTED TO CULTIVATING A RESPONSIBLE LIVING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE HOLISTIC GROWTH TAKES PLACES THROUGH DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS. OUR FACILITIES INCLUDE TWO RESIDENCE HALLS AND A VARIETY OF APARTMENTS AND HOUSES SPREAD ACROSS OUR MT. TABOR CAMPUS. OUR STAFF PROVIDES COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMMING THAT CONNECTS STUDENTS TO EACH OTHER AND THE BROADER CAMPUS COMMUNITY. THE STUDENT DINING EXPERIENCE CENTERS ON GATHERING WITH OTHERS, CULINARY EXPERTISE, FRESH INGREDIENTS, HEALTHY OPTIONS, AND A SHARED SENSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
  3. $1.4 million spent. WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR DIVERSITY AND VALUE. IT IS THE MOST DIVERSE UNIVERSITY IN OREGON, AND THE ONLY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WITH A MINORITY-SERVING MISSION IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WPU WAS OREGON'S FIRST FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL TO EARN THE PRESTIGIOUS HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION (HSI) DESIGNATION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND ALSO ATTAINED THE PRESTIGIOUS FEDERAL DESIGNATION OF ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER-SERVING INSTITUTION (AANAPASI). THE UNIVERSITY HAS ALSO RECEIVED ACCLAIMED RANKINGS BY THE U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT'S BEST COLLEGES IN THE REGIONAL WEST 2026 EDITION; EARNING #1 AS TOP PERFORMER IN SOCIAL MOBILITY; #7 IN OVERALL BEST VALUE; AND #6 (OUT OF 97) IN OVERALL REGIONAL COLLEGES IN THE WEST. WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE RANKING IN THE SOCIAL MOBILITY CATEGORY AS IT RECOGNIZES THAT ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS ARE LESS LIKELY THAN OTHERS TO FINISH COLLEGE, EVEN WHEN CONTROLLING FOR OTHER CHARACTERISTICS. BECAUSE OF OUR ROLE IN SERVING AS A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS FOR MINORITY AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS, IN THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR WPU WAS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE A HISTORIC TITLE V GRANT BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE FIRST UNIVERSITY IN OREGON TO HAVE RECEIVED SUCH AN AWARD. THE 5-YEAR GRANT WILL ALLOW WPU TO PROVIDE INCREASED SERVICES TO DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS INCLUDING TUTORING, MENTORING, LANGUAGE SUPPORT AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. STARTING IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, WPU WAS ALSO CHOSEN TO RECEIVE A HAWKINS GRANT BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BILINGUAL TEACHERS IN OREGON.
  4. $733,624 spent. IN THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY PILOTED A NEW BOOK PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED NEW TRADITIONAL STUDENTS, BOTH FRESHMEN AND TRANSFERS, AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT IN A DIGITAL/RENTAL BOOK PROGRAM FOR A STANDARD PER CREDIT HOUR FEE. THE PROGRAM ENSURED THAT STUDENTS RECEIVED THEIR BOOKS ON-CAMPUS DURING THE WEEKEND BEFORE CLASSES STARTED EACH SEMESTER. BEGINNING IN THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, THIS PROGRAM WAS ROLLED OUT TO ALL TRADITIONAL STUDENTS AND THE COST OF BOOKS WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE COST OF TUITION PROVIDING THIS PROGRAM TO STUDENTS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. BEGINNING IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR THIS WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL STUDENTS AT WARNER PACIFIC UNIVERSITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.