Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Vanguard University of So Ca

EIN 95-6002998 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF VANGUARD UNIVERSITY IS TO PURSUE KNOWLEDGE, CULTIVATE CHARACTER, DEEPEN FAITH, AND EQUIP EACH STUDENT FOR A SPIRIT-EMPOWERED LIFE OF CHRIST-CENTERED LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

Income
$97.6 million
Spending
$96.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
1,043
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$428,686, 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 25% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $68.8 million spent. TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE: BACHELORS DEGREES IN 37 MAJORS AND ONE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING. VANGUARD STUDENTS ARE IMMERSED IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENT SUCCESS BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. VANGUARD'S COMMITMENT TO STUDENT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROMOTES ACADEMIC TRANSFORMATION BY CULTIVATING STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY, COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, INTERACT INTELLIGENTLY AND ENGAGE IN CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES. VANGUARD'S RELATIONAL CULTURE REFLECTS THE UNIVERSITY'S CORE VALUES TO ENCOURAGE SPEAKING TO ONE ANOTHER WITH UNCOMPROMISED TRUTH IN LOVE; LIVE IN COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY AND UNYIELDING MORAL CHARACTER; AND TO CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ONE ANOTHER. THESE CORE VALUES ARE EVIDENCED IN LOCAL AND GLOBAL PROJECTS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. THE PROFESSIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM IS A NON-TRADITIONAL PROGRAM BY WHICH STUDENTS CAN EARN AN ACCELERATED BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS, PSYCHOLOGY, THEOLOGY, NURSING (REGISTERED NURSE TO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING), AND EARLY CHILDHOOD. THERE ARE ALSO THREE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE: EARLY CHILDHOOD, ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND MINISTRY LEADERSHIP THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO NON-DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS. THE VISION FOR OUR NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT PROGRAM IS TO BE ORANGE COUNTY'S TOP CHOICE FOR AN ACCELERATED EDUCATION WITH A CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION, A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO DISCERN THEIR CALLING, DISCOVER THEIR GIFTEDNESS, AND DEVELOP THEIR COMPETENCIES.
  3. $1.0 million spent. THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION OFFERS A PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL PROGRAM AND A MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM. ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MAY APPLY THEIR CREDENTIAL COURSEWORK TOWARD A SUBSEQUENT MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION. THE PRELIMINARY TEACHING CREDENTIAL PROGRAM IS COMPOSED OF THE MULTIPLE SUBJECT CREDENTIAL AND THE SINGLE SUBJECT CREDENTIAL. BOTH CREDENTIAL OPTIONS ARE ACCREDITED BY THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING. THE MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION IS OFFERED WITH FOUR CONCENTRATIONS: (1) CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION (WITH PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL), (2) CHRISTIAN EDUCATION LEADERSHIP (WITH PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL), (3) CHRISTIAN EDUCATION LEADERSHIP (WITHOUT PRELIMINARY CREDENTIAL), AND (4) TEACHER LEADERSHIP.
  4. $4.3 million spent. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.