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Fresno Pacific University

EIN 94-1021164 · Fresno, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE UNIVERSITY IS THE CENTRAL VALLEY'S ONLY ACCREDITED CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, OFFERING LEADING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TRADITIONAL BACHELOR'S DEGREE, ADULT DEGREE COMPLETION, MASTER'S, CERTIFICATE, AND CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS.

Income
$79.5 million
Spending
$85.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
1,314
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$296,995, university 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: 39 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 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)
  1. $56.0 million spent. FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (FPU) IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT OFFERS MORE THAN 100 AREAS OF STUDY THROUGH DEGREE, CREDENTIAL, AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. ACADEMIC OFFERINGS INCLUDE 40 UNDERGRADUATE AND 37 GRADUATE PROGRAMS DELIVERED THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND THE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS. THE UNIVERSITY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 3,500 STUDENTS THROUGH CAMPUSES LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST FRESNO, NORTH FRESNO, VISALIA, AND BAKERSFIELD, AS WELL AS THROUGH FULLY ONLINE PROGRAMS. FPU OFFERS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY, PRE-HEALTH SCIENCES, NURSING, AND SOCIAL WORK. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)STUDENTS SERVED BY THE UNIVERSITY ARE PRIMARILY FROM CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AND REFLECT THE REGION'S CULTURAL, ETHNIC, AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY. MANY STUDENTS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 98 PERCENT OF TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. FPU PROVIDES AN EDUCATION EMPHASIZING ACADEMIC RIGOR, ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CHRISTIAN VALUES. THE UNIVERSITY IS AFFILIATED WITH THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (WASC). FPU OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE EDUCATION, INCLUDING MASTER'S-LEVEL DEGREES, AND OPERATES AS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY GRANTING MASTER'S DEGREES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
  2. $7.2 million spent. IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, FRESNO PACIFIC UNIVERSITY PROVIDES STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDE COUNSELING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES, ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES, HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE, COMMUTER STUDENT SERVICES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION PROGRAMMING.
  3. $245,030 spent. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO SERVES APPROXIMATELY 5,500 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY THROUGH ITS OFFICE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION. CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED ONLINE AND THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, CORRESPONDENCE COURSES, AND CUSTOMIZED CORPORATE TRAINING. OFFERINGS CONSIST PRIMARILY OF GRADUATE-LEVEL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES AND CERTIFICATES INTENDED FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT RATHER THAN ACADEMIC CREDIT TOWARD A DEGREE.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 September 1948.

    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 November 4, 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.