Otterbein University
Otterbein University reported $107.5 million in revenue and $114.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.62 went to program services, $10.77 to management and general costs and $1.61 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 84.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $449,142 (President of the University). 36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $115MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $107MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.23 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 7.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 84.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $449,142 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.39% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 36 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 21.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 24 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseOtterbein University's commitment is to the liberal arts as the base of all learning. Three features create a distinctive learning culture: 1) from our founding otterbein has been intentionally inclusive of women and persons of color; 2) otterbein's governance system includes students and faculty in decision-making through a single college senate; and 3) interdisciplinary experiences through integrative studies (study of world culture to understand human nature and our place in the universe) and the senior year experience (connecting majors to an interdisciplinary experience). The autumn term…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President of the University Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $391,490 | $0 | $57,652 | $449,142 |
| Executive VP for Strategic Initiatives Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $199,920 | $0 | $39,528 | $239,448 |
| Provost Key employee, 45.0 hrs/week | $224,282 | $0 | $8,747 | $233,029 |
| VP of Institutional Advancement Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $182,775 | $0 | $46,835 | $229,610 |
| VP of Student Affairs Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $142,945 | $0 | $48,165 | $191,110 |
| Executive Director of Development Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $125,508 | $0 | $47,979 | $173,487 |
| Executive Director - The Point Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $129,013 | $0 | $43,494 | $172,507 |
| Trustee and Professor Director/trustee, 50.0 hrs/week | $105,802 | $0 | $15,794 | $121,596 |
36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Otterbein University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b24 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,497
- Volunteers Part I, line 6220
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Eat' N Park Hospitality Group Campus Dining Service | $3,177,380 |
| Ellucian LLC I.T Service Provider | $2,523,619 |
| Turner Construction Company Construction Contractor | $2,102,162 |
| Heapy Solutions LLC Construction Contractor | $1,904,683 |
| Encore One LLC Campus Janitorial Service | $1,136,743 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 32 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
20 private foundations reported grants to Otterbein University totaling $420K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Otterbein University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Otterbein University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Otterbein University spent in FY2025, $87.62 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Bethune-Cookman UniversityDaytona Beach, FL · revenue $107M · programs 83.2% · FY2025
- Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · revenue $108M · programs 88.8% · FY2025
- Palmer College FoundationDavenport, IA · revenue $107M · programs 73.7% · FY2025
- Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical CenterWest Des Moines, IA · revenue $108M · programs 68.8% · FY2025
- New England Institute of TechnologyEast Greenwich, RI · revenue $107M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Otterbein University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Otterbein University reported that 87.6% of its $114.5 million in expenses went to program services, 10.8% to management and general and 1.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Otterbein University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Otterbein University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $449,142, for the role of President of the University (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Otterbein University get its money?
Of $107.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 7.3% came from contributions and grants (including 1.2% from government grants) and 84.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Otterbein University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-4379532 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631319349307003 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511359349303036 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349310445 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311359349301491 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201259349301325 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141349349305189 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-4379532: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.