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Pacific Lutheran University

Also known as Na

Tacoma, WA · EIN 91-0565571 · 501(c)(3) · School
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Pacific Lutheran University reported $157.9 million in revenue and $163.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $91.58 went to program services, $7.36 to management and general costs and $1.06 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 90.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $519,606 (President). 84 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 0% 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 $164M

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 May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $158M

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)
91.6%84.4%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
7.4%13.4%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
1.1%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
7.1%19.1%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
1.9%1.1%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
90.9%69.9%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$519,606$331,578
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.32%1.28%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
848
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
15.013.3
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
27 of 28100.0%

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
$109M expenses · 73.0% of program spending · grants $70M · revenue $136M

No description in Part III; see the filing.

$16M expenses · 10.9% of program spending

1) operations and maintenance of plant including depreciation, interest expense and amortization. 2) public service

$16M expenses · 10.5% of program spending · revenue $17M

No description in Part III; see the filing.

$8.4M all other programs (line 4d)

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
Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week
$411,963$0$107,643$519,606
Provost
Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$222,272$0$22,889$245,161
Dean, College of Health Prof
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$202,602$0$22,071$224,673
VP, Student Life
Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$193,018$0$21,645$214,663
VP of University Relations
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$187,145$0$21,295$208,440
Dean, College of Professional Studies
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$171,791$0$20,397$192,188
Dean, College of Natural Science
Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week
$175,007$0$16,813$191,820
Treasurer (LEFT 12/6/2024)
Officer, 40.0 hrs/week
$140,464$0$18,038$158,502

84 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pacific Lutheran University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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$50M$100M$150M$200MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$158M$164M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$158M$164M91.6%$204M$519,606
FY2024 ⓘ$166M$169M92.5%$203M$479,633
FY2023 ⓘ$159M$162M90.9%$184M$632,962
FY2022 ⓘ$156M$152M91.0%$192M$375,258
FY2021 ⓘ$160M$146M85.7%$198M$401,728
FY2020 ⓘ$158M$157M88.6%$161M$437,484

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–1b28 · 27 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 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 52,009
  • Volunteers Part I, line 62,858

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
SYSCO FOOD SERVICES OF SEATTLE
Food service
$544,302
US FOODS
Food service
$528,372
TECHNOLUTIONS INC
System integration
$335,000
RUFFALO NOEL LEVITZ LLC
Mgmt. Consulting
$332,657
RICOH USA INC
System integration
$301,594

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 38 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

44 private foundations reported grants to Pacific Lutheran University totaling $3.4M 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 Pacific Lutheran 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 Pacific Lutheran University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All education charities · Largest charities in Washington

Questions people ask

How much of Pacific Lutheran University's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Pacific Lutheran University reported that 91.6% of its $163.7 million in expenses went to program services, 7.4% to management and general and 1.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Pacific Lutheran University pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Pacific Lutheran University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $519,606, for the role of President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Pacific Lutheran University get its money?

Of $157.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 7.1% came from contributions and grants (including 1.9% from government grants) and 90.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Pacific Lutheran University a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 91-0565571 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 202631039349301108 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202530989349301813 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202431069349301773 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202301089349301310 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202201049349301215 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202130999349301753 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 91-0565571: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.