Samford University
Samford University reported $370.6 million in revenue and $328.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.43 went to program services, $10.28 to management and general costs and $1.29 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 74.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $750,671 (President). 235 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 59% 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 $328MFor 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 $371M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$16.09 $60M
- Government grants$0.77 $2.9M
- Program service revenue$74.68 $277M
- Investment income$8.46 $31M
Other revenue was negative: −$603K. 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) | 88.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 16.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 74.8% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $750,671 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.23% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 235 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 22.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 40 of 40 | 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 expenseSamford University, with its 14:1 student to faculty ratio in the 2024-2025 academic year, offered 41 degree programs in 126 majors to students in ten academic schools. Students were enrolled from 44 states (plus puerto rico) and 16 foreign countries. The tuition and fees derived from these students paid the salaries, wages and benefits of the university's faculty and staff
Samford University awarded over $103 million in aid to over 5,900 students during the 2024-2025 aid year
Additional program services include food services and vending, educational workshops/programs and other types of program services
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, 40.0 hrs/week | $561,048 | $0 | $189,623 | $750,671 |
| Head Coach, Basketball (term 4/30/2025) Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $638,505 | $0 | $36,562 | $675,067 |
| Dean, Cumberland School of Law Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $326,418 | $0 | $40,018 | $366,436 |
| Vice President for Finance, Business Affairs and Strategy Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $301,721 | $0 | $49,446 | $351,167 |
| FORMER OFFICER Former, 40.0 hrs/week | $201,592 | $0 | $146,519 | $348,111 |
| Director of Athletics Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $299,650 | $0 | $44,119 | $343,769 |
| Vice President for Advancement and Marketing Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $291,582 | $0 | $46,954 | $338,536 |
| Head Coach, Football Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $277,369 | $0 | $45,978 | $323,347 |
235 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Samford University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.1M (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–1b40 · 40 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 52,876
- Volunteers Part I, line 6500
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Hoar Construction LLC Construction contractor | $19,953,431 |
| ARAMARK Services Inc Dining services | $15,113,231 |
| Johnson Controls Inc Building technology systems | $3,831,657 |
| Creactiva LLC Cleaning services | $3,044,259 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 71 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
67 private foundations reported grants to Samford University totaling $2.6M 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 Samford 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 Samford University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Samford University spent in FY2025, $88.43 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Loyola University MarylandBaltimore, MD · revenue $369M · programs 85.9% · FY2025
- Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · revenue $371M · programs 78.8% · FY2025
- Adelphi UniversityGarden City, NY · revenue $369M · programs 89.5% · FY2025
- The Kansas University Endowment AssociationLawrence, KS · revenue $375M · programs 91.3% · FY2025
- Trustees of the College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA · revenue $367M · programs 84.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Samford University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Samford University reported that 88.4% of its $328.2 million in expenses went to program services, 10.3% to management and general and 1.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Samford University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Samford University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $750,671, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Samford University get its money?
Of $370.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 16.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.8% from government grants) and 74.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Samford University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 63-0312914 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 202621209349301807 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531289349303673 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349311155 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331259349301038 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241339349305834 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202111309349302611 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 63-0312914: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.