Lee University
Lee University reported $111.3 million in revenue and $93.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.70 went to program services, $19.30 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $242,578 (PRESIDENT AND CHANCELLOR). 18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 5% 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 $93MFor 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 $111MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 19.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $242,578 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.26% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 18 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 24 | 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 expenseInstructional expenses - instruction is provided to approximately 2,961 full time equivalent students in various programs throughout the academic year. This includes both undergraduate and graduate programs
Academic support - provides support services to various attendees of the university, as well as, support of programs within the university. Academic support includes faculty development, the library and research centers
Student services - provides services to enrolled students including student athletics, health clinic, spiritual life programs, residential life programs, etc
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 AND CHANCELLOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $170,643 | $0 | $71,935 | $242,578 |
| FORMER PRESIDENT Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $146,090 | $0 | $93,276 | $239,366 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS & FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,984 | $0 | $32,030 | $173,014 |
| PROFESSOR OF VOICE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $158,297 | $0 | $8,410 | $166,707 |
| CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,025 | $0 | $12,762 | $137,787 |
| PROVOST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,819 | $0 | $11,951 | $135,770 |
| DEAN, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $119,472 | $0 | $8,744 | $128,216 |
| ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF VIOLIN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $119,300 | $0 | $1,713 | $121,013 |
18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lee University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $638K (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–1b24 · 24 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 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 51,868
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SODEXO Food service/catering | $4,612,845 |
| FOLLETT HIGHER EDUCATION GROUP LLC Bookstore | $906,926 |
| FIRST AMERICAN EQUIPMENT FINANCE Computer leases | $632,618 |
| WRIGHT SPECIALTY PREMIUM TRUST Fiber optics | $626,765 |
| ELLUCIAN LLC Software maintenance | $513,398 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 27 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to Lee University totaling $1.3M 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 Lee 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 Lee University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Lee University spent in FY2025, $80.70 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Somerset Academy of Las VegasHenderson, NV · revenue $111M · programs 90.0% · FY2025
- University of MaryBismarck, ND · revenue $112M · programs 84.4% · FY2025
- Texas A&M University 12th Man FoundationCollege Station, TX · revenue $111M · programs 76.8% · FY2025
- Blue Ridge AcademyMaricopa, CA · revenue $112M · programs 91.9% · FY2025
- University of LynchburgLynchburg, VA · revenue $111M · programs 86.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Lee University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Lee University reported that 80.7% of its $93.2 million in expenses went to program services, 19.3% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lee University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lee University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $242,578, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CHANCELLOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lee University get its money?
Of $111.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 19.6% came from contributions and grants (including 1.6% from government grants) and 77.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lee University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 62-0502739 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 202641319349304169 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500939349301555 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401319349302970 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202330599349300803 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202200469349301430 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141379349306839 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 62-0502739: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.