Bethel University
Bethel University reported $138.5 million in revenue and $132.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.66 went to program services, $24.84 to management and general costs and $1.50 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 79.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $381,562 (PRESIDENT). 48 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 6% 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 $132MFor 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 $138M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$15.94 $22M
- Government grants$1.10 $1.5M
- Program service revenue$79.15 $110M
- Investment income$3.81 $5.3M
Other revenue was negative: −$477K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 24.8% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 17.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 79.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $381,562 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.29% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 48 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 28 of 29 | 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 expenseEducational instruction:college of arts & sciences (liberal arts, undergraduate): 2,295 students; graduate school and college of adult & professional studies (adult degree completion): 815 graduate students and 232 undergraduate students;bethel seminary: 284 students
Academic support services:services including but not limited to: Bethel University library, office of university registrar, information technology services, health services, counseling center, and athletics
Auxiliary services:services including but not limited to: student housing, food service, campus store
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $350,639 | $0 | $30,923 | $381,562 |
| VP OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,519 | $0 | $35,806 | $210,325 |
| CFO & VP FINANCE & OPERATIONS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $161,496 | $0 | $36,316 | $197,812 |
| CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,533 | $0 | $39,809 | $196,342 |
| VP OF TRANSFORMATIONAL GIVING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,149 | $0 | $36,306 | $194,455 |
| HVAC, PLUMBING & ELECTRIC SUPERVISOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,405 | $0 | $39,599 | $191,004 |
| UNIVERSITY PROVOST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,519 | $0 | $14,951 | $189,470 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,375 | $0 | $39,453 | $178,828 |
48 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Bethel University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (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–1b29 · 28 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 11aNo
- 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 52,223
- Volunteers Part I, line 630
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SODEXO AMERICA LLC Food service management | $6,119,300 |
| DYNAMIC CAMPUS SOLUTIONS INC Its management | $3,857,782 |
| MODERN CLIMATE LLC Marketing | $2,696,657 |
| METROPOLITAN MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS Constructon/remodeling | $1,101,979 |
| SLINGSHOT LP Campus store management | $937,678 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 53 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
33 private foundations reported grants to Bethel University totaling $987K 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 Bethel 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 Bethel University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Bethel University spent in FY2025, $73.66 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Concordia College CorporationMoorhead, MN · revenue $138M · programs 86.9% · FY2025
- University of Mount Saint VincentRiverdale, NY · revenue $138M · programs 87.8% · FY2025
- Concordia University IrvineIrvine, CA · revenue $138M · programs 80.9% · FY2025
- University Family PhysiciansIndianapolis, IN · revenue $139M · programs 100.0% · 2024
- Lawrence University of WisconsinAppleton, WI · revenue $138M · programs 85.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Bethel University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Bethel University reported that 73.7% of its $132.3 million in expenses went to program services, 24.8% to management and general and 1.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Bethel University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Bethel University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $381,562, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Bethel University get its money?
Of $138.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 17.1% came from contributions and grants (including 1.1% from government grants) and 79.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Bethel University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-0708577 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 202610229349300221 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202501039349301200 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202411059349301161 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202311049349300316 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202231039349301523 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202111059349300546 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-0708577: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.