California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University reported $204.8 million in revenue and $191.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.53 went to program services, $8.24 to management and general costs and $1.23 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 79.4% of the total. Government grants made up 5.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,389,578 (PRESIDENT (THRU 05/24)). 160 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% 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 $191MFor 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 $205MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 9.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 79.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,389,578 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.73% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 160 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 23 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 expenseHigher education: provided quality education for undergraduate students and graduate students. California Lutheran University offers undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs through its college of arts and sciences, school of management, graduate school of education, graduate school of psychology and pacific lutheran theological seminary. The university offers 40 undergraduate majors and 42 undergraduate minors are offered through our undergraduate programs. Master's degree programs are offered in education, business administration, public policy and administration, computer…
Student services: this program provides support for student life activities, athletics, student health and other services to students
Higher education academic support departments include university library, computer & media labs, and faculty development programs. Public service departments include the day care center, kclu (public radio station) and event services to serve the community
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 (THRU 05/24) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $1,320,882 | $0 | $68,696 | $1,389,578 |
| PROVOST/VP, ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $281,646 | $0 | $13,895 | $295,541 |
| DEAN, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $245,166 | $0 | $19,131 | $264,297 |
| PRESIDENT (AS OF 06/24) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $263,221 | $0 | $863 | $264,084 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $238,777 | $0 | $20,940 | $259,717 |
| ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT, MARKETING Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $239,741 | $0 | $14,027 | $253,768 |
| VP, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $237,149 | $0 | $11,327 | $248,476 |
| VP, ADMIN. & FIN. (THRU 11/24) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $232,088 | $0 | $3,597 | $235,685 |
160 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from California Lutheran University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.2M (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–1b24 · 23 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 26Yes
- 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 52,266
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SODEXO INC & AFFILIATES Food services provider | $5,927,948 |
| CHRISTIE BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT INC Construction | $3,986,471 |
| ALLCAMPUS Enrollment management | $1,838,720 |
| FIELDTURF USA INC Turf replacement | $892,195 |
| KIOSK CREATIVE LLC Media planning & buying | $780,922 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 52 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
23 private foundations reported grants to California Lutheran University totaling $2.8M 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 California 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 California Lutheran University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 California Lutheran University spent in FY2025, $90.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Yeled V'Yalda Early Childhood CenterBrooklyn, NY · revenue $204M · programs 90.1% · FY2025
- Wikimedia FoundationSan Francisco, CA · revenue $205M · programs 77.1% · FY2025
- Barry UniversityMiami Shores, FL · revenue $203M · programs 79.5% · FY2025
- Tuskegee UniversityTuskegee Institute, AL · revenue $208M · programs 83.4% · FY2025
- State University of Iowa FoundationIowa City, IA · revenue $202M · programs 79.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of California Lutheran University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, California Lutheran University reported that 90.5% of its $191.3 million in expenses went to program services, 8.2% to management and general and 1.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does California Lutheran University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation California Lutheran University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $1,389,578, for the role of PRESIDENT (THRU 05/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does California Lutheran University get its money?
Of $204.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 9.7% came from contributions and grants (including 5.1% from government grants) and 79.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is California Lutheran University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-2962604 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 202611049349302356 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202500939349300915 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202411029349300746 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202310959349301531 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202200889349301415 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202130709349300748 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-2962604: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.