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Nonprofiteer
← SHORTER UNIVERSITY INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by SHORTER UNIVERSITY INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$42,563,904
Total expenses
$38,434,856
Contributions and grants received
$8,161,611
Grants paid
$12,655,286
Program service revenue
$33,654,214
Investment income
$800,019
Other revenue
-$51,940
Total assets, end of year
$62,896,123
Total liabilities, end of year
$16,167,053
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$46,729,070
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$28,834,608
Management and general expenses
$9,251,044
Fundraising expenses
$349,204
Program service expenses (Part III)
$28,834,608

Program services were 75.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $260,487

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $1,786,689

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $4,782,140

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,332,295

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $27,759

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Tuition and Fees

    total $26,216,847 · related or exempt $26,216,847

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Student Support

    total $5,982,184 · related or exempt $5,982,184

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Academic Support

    total $1,455,183 · related or exempt $1,455,183

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $802,806 · excluded $802,806

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $300

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $300 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $300 · excluded $300

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $15,550,540 · other assets $0

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $15,550,540 · other assets $2,787

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets -$2,787

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$2,787 · excluded -$2,787

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $260,487

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $52,240

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$52,240 · excluded -$52,240

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $12,655,286 · program services $12,655,286

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $342,619 · management and general $326,688 · fundraising $15,931

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $96,177 · management and general $96,177

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $10,699,120 · program services $9,154,704 · management and general $1,353,783 · fundraising $190,633

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,178,551 · management and general $1,177,034 · fundraising $1,517

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $714,893 · program services $642,214 · management and general $56,895 · fundraising $15,784

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $20,129 · management and general $20,129

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $131,810 · program services $11,537 · management and general $120,273

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,731,596 · program services $537,310 · management and general $1,191,383 · fundraising $2,903

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $29,356 · program services $11,922 · management and general $11,287 · fundraising $6,147

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $894 · management and general $894

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,207,114 · program services $87,992 · management and general $1,119,122

  • 17 · Travel

    total $723,374 · program services $715,525 · management and general $6,543 · fundraising $1,306

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,452,487 · program services $675,697 · management and general $703,555 · fundraising $73,235

  • 20 · Interest

    total $895,182 · program services $689,290 · management and general $205,892

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,535,150 · program services $1,182,065 · management and general $353,085

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $968,701 · program services $553,852 · management and general $414,849

  • 24a · Other expenses: Bad Debt Expense

    total $650,312 · management and general $650,312

  • 24b · Other expenses: Repairs and Maintenance

    total $59,117 · program services $39,325 · management and general $19,792

  • 24c · Other expenses: Student Reengagement

    total $7,629 · fundraising $7,629

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $3,335,359 · program services $1,877,889 · management and general $1,423,351 · fundraising $34,119

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $5,712,087 · end of year $1,216,282

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $19 · end of year $5,557,854

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,256 · end of year $1,015

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $287,868 · end of year $661,663

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $49,387 · end of year $20,515

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $406,318 · end of year $430,317

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $69,560,677

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $33,694,129

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $33,994,488 · end of year $35,866,548

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $15,838,238 · end of year $16,514,102

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $1,594,272 · end of year $1,713,363

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $895,239 · end of year $584,540

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $357,515 · end of year $329,924

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,232,087 · end of year $1,234,739

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $396,289 · end of year $371,498

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $13,763,171 · end of year $13,623,171

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,505,634 · end of year $937,645

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $27,819,452 · end of year $32,194,229

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $14,420,054 · end of year $14,534,841

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

Advancing God's Kingdom through a commitment to academic excellence, spiritual growth, Christian leadership, and global service within the context of a biblical worldview.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Shorter University is a private Christian non-profit comprehensive liberal arts institution.

  • Instructional - Funds expended for instructional activities in Associate, Bachelor, and Master degree programs. Enrollment in 2023-2024 included 1300 students. Scholarship and financial aid - Comprehensive financial assistance program includes scholarships, grants, loans and part-time campus employment. Every student enrolled full time at Shorter University receives some form of financial assistance.

    Expenses $18,817,303 · Grants $12,655,286 · Revenue $26,216,847

  • Student support - Funds expended for activities contributing to students' well being and intellectual, cultural, and social development outside of formal instruction.

    Expenses $6,417,899 · Revenue $5,982,184

  • Academic support - Expenditures integral to the operation and support of the academic services of the University. Auxiliary enterprises - Expenditures to provide services to student, faculty, and staff including housing, cafeteria, and bookstore.

    Expenses $3,599,406 · Revenue $1,455,183

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Bryan Rice

    Board Vice-Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Danny Cochran

    Secretary (Part Year)/Trustee (Part Year)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Thomas Hammond

    Ex Officio Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jerry Emerson

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Randy Bowen

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Amy Patterson

    Trustee (Part Year)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Carey Strange

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Chase Camp

    Trustee/MAL Executive Committee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Cheryl Cox

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Chris Cowart

    Trustee/MAL Executive Committee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Cliff Duren

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Whitener

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Joe Tanner

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Keith McBroom

    Trustee/MAL Executive Committee (Part Year)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Stacy Dyer

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Stephen Anthony

    Trustee (Part Year)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Steve Parr

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Greg Polley

    Trustee (Part Year)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Hatcher

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ken Guice

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lamar Pinson

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Larry Maxey

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lilianna Lewis

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mrs Julianna Rogers

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Mrs Michelle Sabou

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Randall Farrell

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Barry Peppers

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Ben Smith

    Chair of Finance

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Brian Carroll

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Jason Britt

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Jon Price

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Keith Moore

    Trustee/MAL Executive Committee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Matthew Bowden

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rev Mike Hardy

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rick Ferrin

    Trustee (Part Year)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Russ Brown

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ted Fuller

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tim Brown

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Wayne Angel

    Trustee/MAL Executive Committee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Donald V Dowless

    President

    Total calculated
    $205,316
    From this org
    $180,334
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,982
    Hours/week
    60

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,334
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,982
    Filer's total
    $205,316
  • Michelle Stricklin

    VP of Finance, CFO

    Total calculated
    $135,307
    From this org
    $122,457
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,850
    Hours/week
    60
  • Dr Ben Bruce

    VP of Advancement

    Total calculated
    $107,499
    From this org
    $106,623
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $876
    Hours/week
    40
  • Dr John Reams

    Provost

    Total calculated
    $133,002
    From this org
    $103,122
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,880
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Housing allowance or residence for personal use
As a condition of employment, and as a convenience to the University, the President is provided a home on University grounds. The home is provided as a nontaxable benefit to the President.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments
The board of directors approved discretionary bonuses for employees during the year.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
28 March 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202530879349300523

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