California Lutheran University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY IS TO EDUCATE LEADERS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY WHO ARE STRONG IN CHARACTER AND JUDGMENT, CONFIDENT IN THEIR IDENTITY AND VOCATION, AND COMMITTED TO SERVICE AND JUSTICE.
- Income
- $204.8 million
- Spending
- $191.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 2,266
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, president (thru 05/24)
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 24 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $108.7 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION: PROVIDED QUALITY EDUCATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY OFFERS UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGH ITS COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PACIFIC LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS 40 UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND 42 UNDERGRADUATE MINORS ARE OFFERED THROUGH OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS. MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, COMPUTER SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMICS, DIVINITY, ARTS, AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PH.D.
- $24.2 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR STUDENT LIFE ACTIVITIES, ATHLETICS, STUDENT HEALTH AND OTHER SERVICES TO STUDENTS.
- $20.2 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMIC SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, COMPUTER & MEDIA LABS, AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENTS INCLUDE THE DAY CARE CENTER, KCLU (PUBLIC RADIO STATION) AND EVENT SERVICES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
- $20.1 million spent. AUXILIARY OPERATION: IT IS CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY'S MISSION TO BE A RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS. THE MAJORITY OF THE TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT POPULATION RESIDES ON CAMPUS TO ATTEND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1983.
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.