Cornerstone University
Cornerstone University reported $47.2 million in revenue and $48.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.04 went to program services, $21.04 to management and general costs and $2.92 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 86.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $381,329 (President). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 15% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $48MFor 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 May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $47MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.24 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 12.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 86.6% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $381,329 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.79% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 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 expenseAcademic instruction and academic support make up the educational expenses. The university has over 270 full- and part-time staff and faculty. We have just under 2000 students on a 120-acre campus and online
Student services includes campus life and activities including athletics, health counseling services, enrollment services financial aid, etc. Organized activities include summer sports camps, golf outings, special academic and athletic trips, banquets, and other miscellaneous activities
Auxiliaries include room and board, apartment rentals, hospitality and events, and radio ministries. Cornerstone Radio Ministries includes the operations of five noncommercial radio stations WCSG, Grand Rapids with signals also in Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor and Battle Creek. 3,536,960 is included in contribution revenue on Part VIII, Line 1f
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 Director/trustee, officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $331,836 | $0 | $49,493 | $381,329 |
| VP Chief of Staff Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $213,873 | $0 | $36,923 | $250,796 |
| VP Finance / CFO Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $245,406 | $0 | $5,176 | $250,582 |
| Controller & Advancement Officer Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $134,655 | $0 | $73,598 | $208,253 |
| VP for Strategic Initiatives Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $177,605 | $0 | $30,242 | $207,847 |
| VP for Academics Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $145,016 | $0 | $21,125 | $166,141 |
| Sec Dir of Accreditation Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $141,138 | $0 | $9,880 | $151,018 |
| Asst VP for Academics Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $111,774 | $0 | $37,298 | $149,072 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Cornerstone University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (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–1b17 · 16 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,117
- Volunteers Part I, line 6170
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Michigan Software Labs Software development | $2,262,560 |
| Google Inc Advertising | $1,211,803 |
| Slingshot LP TextBook/Mail service | $947,410 |
| Gordon Food Service Food Supplier | $786,309 |
| Entheon Institute Llc Academic Consulting Services | $515,309 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 23 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Cornerstone University totaling $811K 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 Cornerstone 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 Cornerstone University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Cornerstone University spent in FY2025, $76.04 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Landon SchoolBethesda, MD · revenue $47M · programs 79.9% · FY2025
- University of Maryland Anesthesiology Associates PaBaltimore, MD · revenue $47M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
- Reinhardt UniversityWaleska, GA · revenue $47M · programs 88.3% · FY2025
- Pacific Union CollegeAngwin, CA · revenue $47M · programs 90.7% · FY2025
- Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA · revenue $47M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Cornerstone University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Cornerstone University reported that 76.0% of its $48.2 million in expenses went to program services, 21.0% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Cornerstone University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Cornerstone University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $381,329, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Cornerstone University get its money?
Of $47.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 12.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 86.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Cornerstone University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-1443369 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 May 31, 2025, object 202542889349301324 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202402889349302285 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202342849349300204 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202232869349300423 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202142879349300349 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202002879349300805 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-1443369: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.