Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University reported $325.5 million in revenue and $295.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.78 went to program services, $28.59 to management and general costs and $1.63 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 68.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $694,994 (PRESIDENT). 22 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 29% 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 $295MFor 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 $325MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.8% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 28.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.15 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 68.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $694,994 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.24% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 22 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 31 of 31 | 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 expenseAbilene Christian University is a higher education institution which serves approximately 6,300 graduate and undergraduate students. In addition to educating the students, the university offers on-campus and off-campus housing, on-campus food service, athletic programs and assistance with student aid. Acu also operates programs to foster relationships with alumni of the university
Auxiliary enterprises integrate living, learning, and faith, whereby students learn to live lives of christian service and leadership throughout the world. It combines what students learn in the classroom with practical application that will prepare them for real-world experiences
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 | $551,569 | $0 | $143,425 | $694,994 |
| CIO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $505,623 | $0 | $70,700 | $576,323 |
| HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $418,439 | $0 | $40,142 | $458,581 |
| CEO, DALLAS CAMPUS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $317,329 | $0 | $43,073 | $360,402 |
| HEAD BASKETBALL COACH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $315,355 | $0 | $43,560 | $358,915 |
| SVP OF OPERATIONS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $303,408 | $0 | $44,296 | $347,704 |
| DIRECTOR OF NEXT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $284,551 | $0 | $62,536 | $347,087 |
| PROVOST Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $279,205 | $0 | $41,632 | $320,837 |
22 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Abilene Christian University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.7M (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–1b31 · 31 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 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 53,124
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LINBECK GROUP LLC Construction | $13,986,682 |
| ENFRA MCC LLC Contract services for central plant desi | $9,071,492 |
| CHARTWELLS HIGHER EDUCATION Food service | $7,657,847 |
| GOOGLE LLC Enrollment marketing data | $4,333,341 |
| CORE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Construction | $3,544,223 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 96 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
40 private foundations reported grants to Abilene Christian University totaling $14M 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 Abilene Christian 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 Abilene Christian University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Abilene Christian University spent in FY2025, $69.78 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of New EnglandBiddeford, ME · revenue $323M · programs 89.6% · FY2025
- The University of Georgia FoundationAthens, GA · revenue $327M · programs 94.3% · FY2025
- Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover, MA · revenue $322M · programs 90.9% · FY2025
- Uplift EducationDallas, TX · revenue $328M · programs 95.4% · FY2025
- University of New BrunswickCanada, · revenue $322M · programs 80.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Abilene Christian University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Abilene Christian University reported that 69.8% of its $295.1 million in expenses went to program services, 28.6% to management and general and 1.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Abilene Christian University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Abilene Christian University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $694,994, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Abilene Christian University get its money?
Of $325.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 9.7% came from contributions and grants (including 2.1% from government grants) and 68.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Abilene Christian University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 75-0851900 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 202640589349301804 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202500489349301250 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202440479349301369 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202310729349301341 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202240419349300014 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020 (amended), object 202132229349300513 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 75-0851900: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.