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Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC · EIN 56-0554199 · 501(c)(3) · School
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Chowan University reported $27.4 million in revenue and $31.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.57 went to program services, $13.53 to management and general costs and $2.90 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 79.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $221,036 (PRESIDENT). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 45% 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 $32M

For 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 $27M

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 5,499 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
MeasureFY2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
83.6%84.4%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
13.5%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
$0.22$0.04
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
15.1%19.1%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.6%1.1%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
79.3%69.9%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$221,036$331,578
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.70%1.28%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
98
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
27.913.3
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
37 of 38100.0%

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 expense
$26M expenses · 100.0% of program spending · grants $10M · revenue $22M

Chowan University is a comprehensive, coeducational, residential university with both undergraduate and graduate programs. The university offers a variety of academic programs with a liberal arts basis in career-oriented fields such as business, teacher education, criminal justice, etc. In all, the university offers degrees in 20 programs. Students participate in, and are exposed to, various cultural arts programs and events. They are also encouraged to be involved in community and volunteer programs. The university offers various styles of student housing for residential students.…

Highest reported compensation

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
PRESIDENT
Officer, 40.0 hrs/week
$213,710$0$7,326$221,036
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$134,156$0$17,311$151,467
Vice President for Enrollment & Advancement
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$130,224$0$19,152$149,376
AVP FOR HUMAN RESOURCES/RECORDING SECRETARY
Officer, 40.0 hrs/week
$118,818$0$28,728$147,546
VP FOR ACAD. AFFAIRS, PROVOST
Officer, 40.0 hrs/week
$134,504$0$6,300$140,804
Vice President for Business Affairs/Corporate Secretary
Officer, 40.0 hrs/week
$108,591$0$15,591$124,182
Director of Information Technology
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$111,400$0$11,692$123,092
FORMER PRESIDENT
Former, 0.0 hrs/week
$109,375$0$0$109,375

9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chowan University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $856K (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$20M$40M$60M$80MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$27M$32M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$27M$32M83.6%$74M$221,036
FY2024 ⓘ$30M$33M83.9%$77M$295,153
FY2023 ⓘ$36M$40M86.3%$78M$278,645
FY2022 ⓘ$41M$39M86.2%$83M$269,419
FY2021 ⓘ$45M$42M81.1%$85M$252,437
FY2020 ⓘ$50M$45M83.7%$77M$252,437

Governance 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–1b38 · 37 independent
  • Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
  • Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
  • Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
  • Document retention policy Part VI 14No
  • 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 2Yes
  • 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 18No
  • Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
  • Employees Part I, line 5530
  • Volunteers Part I, line 641

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
PIONEER COLLEGE CATERERS INC
Food service
$1,621,289
HEALTHGRAM INC
Health Insurance
$806,983
DOMINION ENERGY NORTH CAROLINA
Utility
$773,925
FOLLETT CAMPUS RESOURCES
Bookstore operations
$748,536
ARAMARK CORPORATION
Custodial
$639,523

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 24 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

6 private foundations reported grants to Chowan University totaling $186K 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 Chowan 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 Chowan University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All education charities · Largest charities in North Carolina

Questions people ask

How much of Chowan University's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Chowan University reported that 83.6% of its $31.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.5% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Chowan University pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Chowan University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $221,036, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Chowan University get its money?

Of $27.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 15.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.6% from government grants) and 79.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Chowan University a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 56-0554199 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 202621009349300827 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202501019349300925 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202441029349300244 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202301059349300410 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202201039349300835 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202140979349301809 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 56-0554199: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.