John Brown University
John Brown University reported $94.6 million in revenue and $81.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.61 went to program services, $10.68 to management and general costs and $2.71 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 64.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $521,804 (PRESIDENT). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 26% 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 $81MFor 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 $95MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.6% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.7% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 23.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 64.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $521,804 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.64% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 49.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 28 of 28 | 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 services - jbu currently enrolls more than 2,300 students in its three primary academic programs: traditional undergraduate, online undergraduate, and graduate. Through its instructional services, jbu offers more than 50 traditional undergraduate majors, 64 undergraduate minors, 12 graduate degrees, and 9 undergraduate online programs. The faculty to student ratio is 14:1. The top traditional programs of study by major enrollment are: nursing, psychology, construction management, graphic design, family & human services, mechanical engineering, kinesiology, computer science…
Auxiliary- John Brown University offers a traditional residential undergraduate program at its siloam springs campus, a formational part of the jbu educational experience. The university requires non-local traditional undergraduate students who do not have senior status to live on campus. Jbu has a wide variety of campus housing, including four residential halls, town homes, apartments, and duplexes. During the traditional academic year, jbu provides full cafeteria service to students
Student services - John Brown University offers spiritual formation, wellness, counseling, and career development services to traditional undergraduate, online undergraduate and graduate students, and, on a limited basis, to the broader jbu community. Jbu also offers traditional undergraduate students opportunities to compete in naia intercollegiate athletic competition. Student services covers a broad variety of co-curricular activities which help students in personal and professional development
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $413,929 | $0 | $107,875 | $521,804 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,675 | $0 | $85,040 | $226,715 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,119 | $0 | $41,080 | $226,199 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,887 | $0 | $38,326 | $222,213 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,454 | $0 | $47,460 | $198,914 |
| DEPARTMENT CHAIR, GENERAL SCIENCE; PROFESSOR OF PH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,516 | $0 | $41,484 | $167,000 |
| CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $128,445 | $0 | $33,865 | $162,310 |
| PROFESSOR OF FINANCE & ECONOMICS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,064 | $0 | $27,184 | $152,248 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from John Brown 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–1b28 · 28 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 4Yes
- 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 51,555
- Volunteers Part I, line 6177
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PIONEER COLLEGE CATERERS Food service | $1,990,442 |
| NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION Construction | $1,763,350 |
| FRESH IDEAS MANAGEMENT LLC Food service | $589,549 |
| COMPASS GROUP USA Food service | $582,000 |
| GOOGLE LLC Advertising | $234,591 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
20 private foundations reported grants to John Brown University totaling $301K 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 John Brown 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 John Brown University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 John Brown University spent in FY2025, $86.61 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Taipei American School FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $95M · programs 83.2% · FY2025
- Husson UniversityBangor, ME · revenue $95M · programs 90.5% · FY2025
- The Westminster SchoolsAtlanta, GA · revenue $94M · programs 85.0% · FY2025
- Brunswick SchoolGreenwich, CT · revenue $95M · programs 82.1% · FY2025
- Saint Michael's CollegeColchester, VT · revenue $94M · programs 88.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of John Brown University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, John Brown University reported that 86.6% of its $81.2 million in expenses went to program services, 10.7% to management and general and 2.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does John Brown University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation John Brown University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $521,804, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does John Brown University get its money?
Of $94.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 23.3% came from contributions and grants (including 2.7% from government grants) and 64.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is John Brown University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 71-0239576 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 202641139349300729 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521009349301027 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202410939349301526 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341299349301439 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211119349301401 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101119349301235 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 71-0239576: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.