Northwest University
Northwest University reported $52.4 million in revenue and $48.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.10 went to program services, $16.31 to management and general costs and $1.59 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 82.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $413,349 (PRESIDENT). 27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 6% 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 $48MFor 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 $52MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.3% | 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 | $0.09 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 16.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 82.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $413,349 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.85% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 27 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 21 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 expensePostsecondary education: Northwest University provides postsecondary education to approximately 2405 students on campus in kirkland, wa, and via online learning modalities. Northwest University prepares our students to be professionals, lay leaders for church ministries and other not-for-profit ministry organizations. Many students have the opportunity to go on mission trips to other countries or to study abroad. Northwest University seeks to carry the call of god through our students and around the world as we build a learning community dedicated to spiritual vitality, academic excellence…
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 Director/trustee, officer, 32 hrs/week | $289,512 | $0 | $123,837 | $413,349 |
| CFO Officer, 32 hrs/week | $163,606 | $0 | $37,391 | $200,997 |
| PROVOST Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $175,969 | $0 | $19,461 | $195,430 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $154,321 | $0 | $19,517 | $173,838 |
| DEAN Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $132,194 | $0 | $28,036 | $160,230 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $120,303 | $0 | $34,267 | $154,570 |
| DEAN Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $106,500 | $0 | $45,596 | $152,096 |
27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Northwest University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $549K (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 · 21 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 11aNo
- 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 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 5740
- Volunteers Part I, line 6146
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 15 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Northwest University totaling $390K 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 Northwest 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 Northwest University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Northwest University spent in FY2025, $82.10 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk, NC · revenue $52M · programs 79.1% · FY2025
- Emma Willard SchoolTroy, NY · revenue $52M · programs 70.7% · FY2025
- Rex and Margaret Fortune School of EducationSacramento, CA · revenue $52M · programs 92.5% · FY2025
- Scholarship AmericaMinneapolis, MN · revenue $52M · programs 89.1% · 2025
- Scus Head Start ProgramsFairfield, CT · revenue $52M · programs 87.0% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Northwest University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, Northwest University reported that 82.1% of its $48.5 million in expenses went to program services, 16.3% to management and general and 1.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Northwest University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Northwest University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $413,349, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Northwest University get its money?
Of $52.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 16.5% came from contributions and grants (including 0.5% from government grants) and 82.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Northwest University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-0615846 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 202611059349301661 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202531059349301978 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202401039349300310 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202331079349300928 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202200959349301550 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202002879349301325 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-0615846: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.