Mars Hill University
Mars Hill University reported $61.9 million in revenue and $62.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.75 went to program services, $17.51 to management and general costs and $1.74 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 76.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $302,610 (PRESIDENT). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 0% 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 $62MFor 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 $62MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.8% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 76.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $302,610 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.48% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 21.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 32 of 32 | 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 expenseInstruction - private liberal arts university offering programs leading to five degrees: bachelor of arts, science, music, social work, and fine arts. Approximately 1,051 students benefited
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 Officer, 43.00 hrs/week | $280,000 | $0 | $22,610 | $302,610 |
| PROVOST & VP FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Officer, 43.00 hrs/week | $178,000 | $0 | $17,100 | $195,100 |
| VP-FINANCE Officer, 43.00 hrs/week | $169,583 | $0 | $8,745 | $178,328 |
| VP-INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMEMENT Officer, 43.00 hrs/week | $127,625 | $0 | $14,459 | $142,084 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND STRATEGY Officer, 43.00 hrs/week | $124,377 | $0 | $14,592 | $138,969 |
| VP-STUDENT LIFE Officer, 43.00 hrs/week | $123,439 | $0 | $14,372 | $137,811 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Mars Hill 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–1b32 · 32 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5617
- Volunteers Part I, line 624
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CHARTWELLS Food service contractor | $2,777,846 |
| NATIONAL MANAGEMENT RESOURCES CORPORATIO Facilities contractor | $1,440,756 |
| ALPHA MECHANICAL SERVICE INC Facilities reparis | $237,809 |
| STRADA COLLABORATIVE LLC Coaching & capacity building program | $206,337 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
21 private foundations reported grants to Mars Hill University totaling $405K 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 Mars Hill 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 Mars Hill University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Mars Hill University spent in FY2025, $80.75 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- South Carolina Connections AcademyColumbia, SC · revenue $62M · programs 92.3% · FY2025
- Windward SchoolLos Angeles, CA · revenue $62M · programs 91.6% · FY2025
- William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA · revenue $62M · programs 86.2% · FY2025
- Immaculata UniversityImmaculata, PA · revenue $62M · programs 76.7% · FY2025
- Springside Chestnut Hill AcademyPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $62M · programs 90.2% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in North Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Mars Hill University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Mars Hill University reported that 80.8% of its $62.5 million in expenses went to program services, 17.5% to management and general and 1.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Mars Hill University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Mars Hill University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $302,610, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Mars Hill University get its money?
Of $61.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 9.9% came from contributions and grants (including 2.2% from government grants) and 76.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Mars Hill University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 56-0554207 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 202610999349301961 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202521059349302667 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202421039349301807 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202301079349300800 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202240989349300909 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202141039349300309 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 56-0554207: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.