Linfield University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LINFIELD UNIVERSITY ADVANCES A VISION OF LEARNING, LIFE, AND COMMUNITY THAT PROMOTES INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE AND CREATIVITY, VALUES BOTH THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE, ENGAGES THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE IN A CLIMATE OF MUTUAL RESPECT AND INSPIRES THE COURAGE TO LIVE BY MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES.
- Income
- $114.3 million
- Spending
- $114.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 1,864
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $336,405, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 33 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
- $81.1 million spent. LINFIELD UNIVERSITY IS AN INDEPENDENT, COMPREHENSIVE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS STRONG TEACHING FACULTY, OUTSTANDING SCIENCE PROGRAMS AND DISTINCTIVE INTERNATIONAL EMPHASIS. LINFIELD HAS CHALLENGING AND EXCITING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THAT FEATURE A COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND SCHOOL OF NURSING IN WHICH THERE IS GENUINE CONCERN FOR INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR PROGRESS. THE CURRICULUM FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHOLLY EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS. THE LINFIELD CURRICULUM ENCOURAGES INQUIRY, ANALYSIS AND IMAGINATION HABITS OF MIND THAT PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR REASONED ACTION, WONDER AND CONTINUAL LEARNING IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.
- $14.1 million spent. STUDENT SUPPORT: IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE MISSION OF THE STUDENTS SERVICES DIVISION IS TO OPTIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT BY FACILITATION AND ENCOURAGING THE INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, LIFE PLANNING AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS AND A MEMBERS OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY.
- $6.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE AUXILIARY AREAS OF THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS WHILE THEY CARRY OUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES INCLUDES SUCH AREAS AS BOOKSTORE, DINING SERVICES AND ON CAMPUS LIVING FACILITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.