Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by THE CORPORATION OF MERCER UNIVERSITY.

Totals

Total revenue
$484,697,995
Total expenses
$453,782,267
Contributions and grants received
$69,638,691
Grants paid
$108,440,473
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$433,570,709
Management and general expenses
$16,737,487
Fundraising expenses
$3,474,071
Program service expenses (Part III)
$433,570,709

Program services were 95.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Listed in Part VII

  • THOMAS P BISHOP

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM UNDERWOOD

    PRESIDENT/PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $613,384
    From this org
    $558,447
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,937
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $558,447
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,437
    Filer's total
    $613,384

  • AMY MILLER WALL

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ASHLEY AMOS COPELAN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BENJAMIN W GRIFFITH

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CAROYN TOWNSEND MCAFEE BRUNER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CATHY CALLAWY ADAMS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHARLES L CANTRELL III

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHARLES WATSON JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHRIS R SHERIDAN JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAVID E HUDSON

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAVID E LINCH

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DERICUS K HARVEY

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DR BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DR JAMES C ELDER JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DR SPENCER B KING

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DWIGHT J DAVIS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • EDWARD SCHUTTER JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ELI MORGAN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ERIN KELLER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GENE GABBARD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GENELLE JENNINGS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • HEATHER DARDEN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • J HENRY WALKER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • J THOMAS MCAFEE

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JACQUELINE BAUGH MOORE

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JAMES WILLIAM THOMAS JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JENNIFER NUNN TARBUTTON

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JERRY S WILSON

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JIMMY CARTER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOE SAM ROBINSON JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JULIE LONG

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KEVIN HEAD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LARRY BRADEN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LIZA CHAPMAN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • M TROY WOODS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MALCOM S BURGESS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARC TREADWELL

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARY DIANE OWENS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MATTHEW P SAPP

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MAXINE C MORRIS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MICHAEL BOGGS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MILTON L CRUZ

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • NANCY GRACE

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • NATHAN DEAL

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RABUN MATTHEWS III

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RAYMOND McLEOD WARRN III

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RICHARD SCHNEIDER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ROBERT F HATCHER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ROBERT G GODDARD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • STANLEY DEMETRIUS JONES

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TERRY ENGLAND

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • VIRGIL L ADAMS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • W LOUIS SANDS

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM A MOYE

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM BRADLEY TURNER JR

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM H ANDERSON

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM KNOX POU

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • YVETTE MILLER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAVID DAVIS

    PROVOST

    Total calculated
    $401,637
    From this org
    $348,262
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,375
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $348,262
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,875
    Filer's total
    $401,637

  • JAMES NETHERTON

    EXEC VP-ADMIN & FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $410,543
    From this org
    $357,169
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,374
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $357,169
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,874
    Filer's total
    $410,543

  • JOHN PATTERSON

    SENIOR VP FOR ADVANCEMENT

    Total calculated
    $336,677
    From this org
    $288,189
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,488
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $288,189
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $30,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,488
    Filer's total
    $336,677

  • JULIA DAVIS

    AVP FINANCE & TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $211,031
    From this org
    $189,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,531
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $189,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,950
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,581
    Filer's total
    $211,031

  • KELLIE APPEL

    SENIOR VP FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

    Total calculated
    $293,740
    From this org
    $248,661
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,079
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $248,661
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $26,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,279
    Filer's total
    $293,740

  • LARRY BRUMMLEY

    SENIOR VP FOR MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $288,050
    From this org
    $259,034
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,016
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $259,034
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $26,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,016
    Filer's total
    $288,050

  • MATTHEW HALL

    GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $255,644
    From this org
    $215,286
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,358
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $215,286
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,350
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,008
    Filer's total
    $255,644

  • PENNY ELKINS

    Executive VP FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

    Total calculated
    $367,205
    From this org
    $316,300
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,905
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $316,300
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $32,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,405
    Filer's total
    $367,205

  • ANDREA MITCHELL

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $308,063
    From this org
    $264,392
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,671
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $264,392
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $27,344
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,327
    Filer's total
    $308,063

  • JEAN SUMNER

    DEAN/PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $516,560
    From this org
    $462,294
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,266
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $462,294
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,766
    Filer's total
    $516,560

  • DON NAKAYAMA

    SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN/SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

    Total calculated
    $970,596
    From this org
    $942,494
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,102
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $942,494
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,750
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,352
    Filer's total
    $970,596

  • EDWIN GRIMSELY

    PROFFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $354,993
    From this org
    $304,991
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,002
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $304,991
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $31,325
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,677
    Filer's total
    $354,993

  • JOHN HAWKINS

    ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $545,673
    From this org
    $491,169
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,504
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $491,169
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,004
    Filer's total
    $545,673

  • KAREN SNEDDON

    DEAN/PROFESSOR

    Total calculated
    $345,210
    From this org
    $296,150
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $49,060
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $296,150
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $30,450
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,610
    Filer's total
    $345,210

  • RYAN RIDDER

    HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

    Total calculated
    $332,525
    From this org
    $290,827
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,698
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $290,827
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,173
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,525
    Filer's total
    $332,525

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 — 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
  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1a · Personal services (maid, chauffeur, chef)
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a HOUSING ALLOWANCE, PERSONAL SERVICES AND CLUB DUES
WILLIAM UNDERWOOD, MERCER UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, RECEIVED A PROVISION OF HOUSING, INCLUDING CUSTODIAL SERVICES, FOR BUSINESS USE. THIS WAS NOT TREATED AS TAXABLE COMPENSATION. JAMES NETHERTON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, RECEIVED A CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP TO A SOCIAL CLUB. THIS WAS NOT TREATED AS TAXABLE INCOME THERE ARE SOME ATHETIC COACHES THAT RECEIVE A MEMBERSHIP TO A SOCIAL CLUB. THE MEMBERSHIPS ARE USED FOR THE SPORT (I.E. GOLF) AND FOR RECRUITING. THE ALTHETIC COACHES ARE REQUIRED TO TRACK THEIR TIME AND CERTIFY THE USE. THIS IS NOT TREATED AS TAXABLE INCOME.

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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
7 May 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202611279349301536

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.