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Limestone University

Gaffney, SC · EIN 57-0314402 · 501(c)(3) · School
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Limestone University reported $46.5 million in revenue and $57.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $75.64 went to program services, $23.53 to management and general costs and $0.83 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 86.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $257,222 (PRESIDENT). 15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 7% 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 $58M

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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $47M

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)
75.6%84.4%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
23.5%13.4%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
0.8%0.8%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
$0.32$0.04
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
3.2%19.1%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
1.1%1.1%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
86.2%69.9%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$257,222$331,578
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.45%1.28%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
158
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
2.913.3
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
12 of 12100.0%

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
$44M expenses · 100.0% of program spending · grants $15M · revenue $40M

Limestone University provided post-secondary education for approximately 2,150 fte degree-seeking students, including academic/student support and auxiliary services

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, 40.00 hrs/week
$245,469$0$11,753$257,222
CFO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$235,596$0$8,375$243,971
VP FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$222,773$0$8,084$230,857
INTERIM PROVOST
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$150,000$0$5,878$155,878
DEAN
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$146,000$0$4,820$150,820
FOOTBALL COACH
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$131,667$0$0$131,667
DIRECTOR INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$125,000$0$4,175$129,175
VP OF ENROLLMENT
Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week
$121,193$0$4,605$125,798

15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Limestone University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $605K (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$47M$58M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$47M$58M75.6%$14M$257,222
FY2024 ⓘ$47M$53M82.5%$25M$242,056
FY2023 ⓘ$46M$58M79.4%$32M$369,159
FY2022 ⓘ$59M$60M80.9%$47M$376,156
FY2021 ⓘ$49M$52M80.6%$56M$343,860
FY2020 ⓘ$50M$50M80.2%$52M$292,918

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–1b12 · 12 independent
  • Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
  • 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 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 5782
  • Volunteers Part I, line 612

Private foundation grants it received

7 private foundations reported grants to Limestone University totaling $228K 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 Limestone 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 Limestone University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All education charities · Largest charities in South Carolina

Questions people ask

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

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Limestone University reported that 75.6% of its $57.6 million in expenses went to program services, 23.5% to management and general and 0.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Limestone University pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Limestone University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $257,222, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Limestone University get its money?

Of $46.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 3.2% came from contributions and grants (including 1.1% from government grants) and 86.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Limestone University a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 57-0314402 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 202601949349300950 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531329349301123 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401349349308350 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311369349301511 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221119349301117 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111379349309296 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 57-0314402: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.