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Nonprofiteer
← FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY.

Totals

Total revenue
$94,699,869
Total expenses
$89,156,450
Contributions and grants received
$1,121,897
Grants paid
$13,117,951
Program service revenue
$85,911,440
Investment income
$6,901,933
Other revenue
$764,599
Total assets, end of year
$143,856,355
Total liabilities, end of year
$26,872,039
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$116,984,316
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$75,543,339
Management and general expenses
$13,471,045
Fundraising expenses
$142,066
Program service expenses (Part III)
$75,543,339

Program services were 84.7% 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.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $0

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $0

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $0

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $0

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $468,690

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $653,207

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $0

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Tuition and fees

    total $85,360,897 · related or exempt $85,360,897 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $550,543 · related or exempt $550,543 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,311,778 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $2,311,778

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

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

  • 5 · Royalties

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

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $639,321 · personal property $0

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $574,984 · personal property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $64,337 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $64,337 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $64,337

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $87,856,492 · other assets $0

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

    securities $83,266,337 · other assets $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $4,590,155 · other assets $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $4,590,155 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $4,590,155

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

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

    $0

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

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

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

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

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $700,262 · related or exempt $700,262 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $700,262

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0 · program services $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $13,117,951 · program services $13,117,951

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0 · program services $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0 · program services $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $4,229,759 · program services $2,722,678 · management and general $1,507,081 · fundraising $0

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $39,124,082 · program services $32,585,639 · management and general $6,458,045 · fundraising $80,398

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $3,122,817 · program services $2,600,930 · management and general $515,470 · fundraising $6,417

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $4,621,588 · program services $3,849,225 · management and general $762,866 · fundraising $9,497

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $3,262,351 · program services $2,717,145 · management and general $538,502 · fundraising $6,704

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $124,550 · program services $0 · management and general $124,550 · fundraising $0

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0 · fundraising $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $552,701 · program services $0 · management and general $552,701 · fundraising $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $2,794,754 · program services $2,327,693 · management and general $461,318 · fundraising $5,743

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $7,329,309 · program services $7,329,309 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $2,633,411 · program services $2,193,313 · management and general $434,686 · fundraising $5,412

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $1,897,531 · program services $1,580,415 · management and general $313,217 · fundraising $3,899

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,679,676 · program services $1,175,170 · management and general $493,837 · fundraising $10,669

  • 17 · Travel

    total $383,995 · program services $319,822 · management and general $63,384 · fundraising $789

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $186,388 · program services $155,239 · management and general $30,766 · fundraising $383

  • 20 · Interest

    total $621,896 · program services $0 · management and general $621,896 · fundraising $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,712,849 · program services $1,198,380 · management and general $503,590 · fundraising $10,879

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $222,330 · program services $185,174 · management and general $36,699 · fundraising $457

  • 24a · Other expenses: Bad debt provision

    total $850,000 · program services $850,000 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24b · Other expenses: Library

    total $303,648 · program services $303,648 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $384,864 · program services $331,608 · management and general $52,437 · fundraising $819

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,396,868 · end of year $1,227,730

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $59,728 · end of year $402,759

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $5,319,575 · end of year $6,757,147

  • 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

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $4,000,000 · end of year $3,000,000

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $973,614 · end of year $1,095,517

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

    $57,154,877

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

    $36,799,713

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $20,276,233 · end of year $20,355,164

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $78,226,963 · end of year $75,306,755

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $22,920,869 · end of year $35,390,511

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $297,187 · end of year $320,772

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $9,189,290 · end of year $9,924,727

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,041,851 · end of year $3,913,031

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 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 $9,890,450 · end of year $9,034,281

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $4,000,000 · end of year $4,000,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $98,584,568 · end of year $106,289,366

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,764,878 · end of year $10,694,950

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

Since 1902, Franklin University has been a pioneer in meeting the needs of adult students who have the ambition to continue their education in combination with other responsibilities, receiving its status as a tax exempt organization in 1964. As a learner-centered institution of higher education, the four cornerstones of the Franklin educational philosophy are (a) Ensuring academic quality (b) Providing equal access to educational opportunities (c) Adapting to the needs of students (d) Responding to changes in society, professions, and the business community. Franklin continuously seeks and appreciates strategic partner relationships that support our learning environment and experiences of our students. Investments from strategic partners may include contributions for student scholarships as well as contributions to enhance program offerings, facilities, and technology.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Franklin University is a student-centered, nonprofit, independent institution providing high quality, relevant education to enable the broadest possible community of learners to achieve their goals and enrich the world.

  • Franklin University served 13,377 unique students in the 2023-24 Academic Year, granting 91 Associate's degrees, 1,175 Bachelor's degrees, 877 Master's degrees, 67 Doctoral degrees, and 19 graduate certificates. Franklin has a total of 84 academic program offerings (48 undergraduate, 1 undergraduate certificates, and 21 graduate, 5 doctorate and 9 graduate certificates). Globally, Franklin offers its MBA and undergraduate programs to students through international partnerships.

    Expenses $75,543,339 · Grants $13,117,951 · Revenue $85,883,409

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Dr David R Decker

    President

    Total calculated
    $1,427,101
    From this org
    $1,378,789
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,312
    Hours/week
    55

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $532,247
    Bonus
    $844,257
    Other
    $2,285
    Deferred
    $33,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,312
    Filer's total
    $1,427,101
  • Dr Christopher Washington

    Provost and SVP-Academic Affairs

    Total calculated
    $422,894
    From this org
    $369,620
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,274
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $269,317
    Bonus
    $103,072
    Other
    -$2,769
    Deferred
    $33,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,274
    Filer's total
    $422,894
  • Dr Godfrey Mendes

    SVP Global Programs & Strategic Initiatives

    Total calculated
    $418,873
    From this org
    $364,133
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,740
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $269,317
    Bonus
    $103,072
    Other
    -$8,256
    Deferred
    $33,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,740
    Filer's total
    $418,873
  • Christi Farley-Cabungcal

    Chief of Staff & SVP Administration

    Total calculated
    $417,256
    From this org
    $368,944
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,312
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $268,310
    Bonus
    $103,072
    Other
    -$2,438
    Deferred
    $33,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,312
    Filer's total
    $417,256
  • Rick Sunderman

    SVP and Chief Information Officer

    Total calculated
    $389,601
    From this org
    $336,320
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,281
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $246,174
    Bonus
    $93,702
    Other
    -$3,556
    Deferred
    $33,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,281
    Filer's total
    $389,601
  • Dr Marv Briskey

    Treasurer/SVP-Chief Financial Officer

    Total calculated
    $385,664
    From this org
    $337,349
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,315
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $244,834
    Bonus
    $93,702
    Other
    -$1,187
    Deferred
    $33,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,315
    Filer's total
    $385,664
  • Bill Chan

    VP-Strategic Alliances

    Total calculated
    $341,769
    From this org
    $301,198
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,571
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $218,065
    Bonus
    $83,457
    Other
    -$324
    Deferred
    $30,152
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,419
    Filer's total
    $341,769
  • Dr Lynnette Rouzer

    VP-Student Affairs

    Total calculated
    $341,376
    From this org
    $300,403
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,973
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $218,065
    Bonus
    $83,457
    Other
    -$1,119
    Deferred
    $30,152
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,821
    Filer's total
    $341,376
  • Carl Brown

    VP-Campus Services

    Total calculated
    $312,727
    From this org
    $266,148
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,579
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $192,343
    Bonus
    $70,709
    Other
    $3,096
    Deferred
    $26,305
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,274
    Filer's total
    $312,727
  • Dr Patrick Bennett

    VP Operations, Franklin Learning Solutions

    Total calculated
    $302,526
    From this org
    $258,077
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,449
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $202,655
    Bonus
    $39,030
    Other
    $16,392
    Deferred
    $24,168
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,281
    Filer's total
    $302,526
  • Randolph Snyder

    VP-Financial Services

    Total calculated
    $279,474
    From this org
    $238,723
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,751
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $202,655
    Bonus
    $40,783
    Other
    -$4,715
    Deferred
    $24,344
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,407
    Filer's total
    $279,474
  • Dr Alyncia Bowen

    Dean, College of Business

    Total calculated
    $247,953
    From this org
    $217,007
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,946
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,234
    Bonus
    $25,831
    Other
    $29,942
    Deferred
    $20,557
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,389
    Filer's total
    $247,953
  • Dr Wendell Seaborne

    Dean Doctoral Studies and Academic Research

    Total calculated
    $226,132
    From this org
    $196,881
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,251
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,241
    Bonus
    $27,073
    Other
    $8,567
    Deferred
    $18,831
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,420
    Filer's total
    $226,132
  • Dr Jonathan W McCombs

    Dean, College of Health

    Total calculated
    $215,554
    From this org
    $194,703
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,851
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,234
    Bonus
    $30,256
    Other
    $3,213
    Deferred
    $19,149
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,702
    Filer's total
    $215,554
  • Stan Partlow

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • David White

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ralph Sanese

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Stacey Armstrong

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jamie Crane

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mary Duchi

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Phil Fankhauser

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Gary Flynn

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ted Ford

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Anthony Gonsalves

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bruce Hagen

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Gary James

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Peter Roche

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Matthew Toussant

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Melissa Gutierrez

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Thomas Shoupe

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jennifer Thomas

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Pamela Springer

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bill Balderaz

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Oyauma Garrison

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Carrie Harris-Muller

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Joseph Patrick

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Denise Zabawski

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Valerie Pitteroff

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

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
  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 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
Pursuant to his employment agreement, Dr. Decker receives a monthly housing allowance, treated as taxable compensation, and membership in a dinner/fitness club, not treated as taxable compensation.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 3
Compensation reviews, prepared by an independent compensation consulting team, are periodically conducted. A thorough examination of external documented pay data (published surveys and 990 filings) for comparable positions at peer institutions (as mutually agreed upon by Franklin University and the consultants) are conducted. Compensation levels are reviewed for market competitiveness and reasonableness and are compared for all components of pay including cash compensation, benefits and perquisites. The results include individual market data as well as an aggregate perspective. The Human Resources Committee of the Board of Trustees approves the resulting reviews and receives a letter of comfort from the consultants.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 7
Bonuses are paid depending on the achievement of various performance criteria. The Board of Trustees determines the bonus of the President.

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 June 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202511609349300976

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