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Nonprofiteer
← GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY.

Totals

Total revenue
$1,870,735,835
Total expenses
$1,836,959,828
Contributions and grants received
$20,241,103
Grants paid
$360,591,247
Program service revenue
$1,824,330,311
Investment income
$25,806,082
Other revenue
$358,339
Total assets, end of year
$2,047,713,640
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,536,311,527
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$511,402,113
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,797,355,753
Management and general expenses
$37,604,485
Fundraising expenses
$1,999,590
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,797,355,753

Program services were 97.8% 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

    $22,693

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $0

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $36,723

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $20,181,687

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $466,771

  • 2a · Program service revenue: INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES

    total $1,798,798,786 · related or exempt $1,798,798,786

  • 2b · Program service revenue: AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES

    total $16,378,927 · related or exempt $6,776,005 · unrelated business $9,602,922

  • 2c · Program service revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $9,152,598 · related or exempt $8,273,306 · unrelated business $879,292

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

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

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $25,806,082 · excluded $25,806,082

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $458,941

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $275,795

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $183,146 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $183,146 · excluded $183,146

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $271,302

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

    $22,693

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $96,109

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $175,193 · excluded $175,193

  • 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.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $388,072 · program services $388,072

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $360,203,175 · program services $360,203,175

  • 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 $2,202,533 · program services $0 · management and general $2,202,533 · fundraising $0

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $310,468 · program services $310,468

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $233,296,743 · program services $221,428,321 · management and general $10,892,476 · fundraising $975,946

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $5,350,998 · program services $4,423,518 · management and general $927,480 · fundraising $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $16,703,622 · program services $14,390,038 · management and general $2,313,584

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $17,755,475 · program services $16,784,385 · management and general $917,334 · fundraising $53,756

  • 11a · Fees: management

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

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $4,836,455 · program services $0 · management and general $4,836,455 · fundraising $0

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $435,045 · program services $0 · management and general $435,045 · fundraising $0

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $80,000 · program services $0 · management and general $80,000 · fundraising $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0 · fundraising $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

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

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $907,840,907 · program services $906,490,014 · management and general $1,347,752 · fundraising $3,141

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $895,420 · program services $478,648 · management and general $353,021 · fundraising $63,751

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $18,710,290 · program services $17,328,182 · management and general $1,307,585 · fundraising $74,523

  • 14 · Information technology

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

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $431,005 · program services $431,005 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $25,765,486 · program services $20,213,361 · management and general $5,546,338 · fundraising $5,787

  • 17 · Travel

    total $7,324,935 · program services $7,108,511 · management and general $117,184 · fundraising $99,240

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

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

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $248,547 · program services $201,984 · management and general $46,364 · fundraising $199

  • 20 · Interest

    total $63,025,617 · program services $61,871,616 · management and general $1,075,001 · fundraising $79,000

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

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

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $62,208,764 · program services $62,208,764 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $4,845,294 · program services $970,904 · management and general $3,874,390 · fundraising $0

  • 24a · Other expenses: BAD DEBT

    total $29,180,662 · program services $29,172,505 · management and general $0 · fundraising $8,157

  • 24b · Other expenses: LICENSING FEES-TEXTBOOKS

    total $25,005,909 · program services $25,005,909 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

  • 24c · Other expenses: FOOD SERVICE COSTS

    total $20,494,338 · program services $20,483,381 · management and general $9,414 · fundraising $1,543

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK FEES

    total $7,484,861 · program services $7,224,336 · management and general $260,525 · fundraising $0

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $21,935,207 · program services $20,238,656 · management and general $1,062,004 · fundraising $634,547

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $137,226,185 · end of year $119,477,501

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $293,449,306 · end of year $317,185,869

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,116,542 · end of year $3,899,674

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $23,861,744 · end of year $26,748,808

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $1,083,522

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $138,600 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $2,004,722 · end of year $1,443,783

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $4,205,460 · end of year $4,535,764

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

    $1,732,188,764

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

    $296,530,904

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $1,426,929,897 · end of year $1,435,657,860

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $98,500,000 · end of year $97,000,000

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $39,645,085 · end of year $40,680,859

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $62,367,542 · end of year $58,837,129

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $182,188,655 · end of year $197,127,606

  • 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 $67,402,686 · end of year $66,032,970

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,239,492,552 · end of year $1,214,313,822

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $469,867,162 · end of year $503,203,439

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $7,758,944 · end of year $8,198,674

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

GCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit that addresses the world's deep needs by cultivating compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing. Through academic excellence, the university equips students with knowledge of the Christian worldview, instilling in them a sense of purpose and vocational calling that enables them to be innovative thinkers, effective communicators, global contributors and transformative leaders who change their communities by placing the interests of others before their own.

Activities or mission (Part I)

GCU IS A PREMIER CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING PEOPLE TO LEAD AND SERVE BY PROVIDING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES ON ITS TRADITIONAL ARIZONA CAMPUS AS WELL AS ONLINE.

  • INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES - INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE ALL ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY TIED TO THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY. GCU HAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000 ENROLLED STUDENTS (ON CAMPUS AND ONLINE) IN UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE, AND DOCTORAL LEVEL PROGRAMS. GCU PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED AND ACADEMIC MEASURES.

    Expenses $1,784,124,699 · Grants $360,591,247 · Revenue $1,807,950,496

  • AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES - AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES REPRESENT VARIOUS BUSINESS UNITS THAT OPERATE TO ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY'S STUDENTS, INCLUDING AN ARENA, HOTEL, RESTAURANTS, GOLF COURSE, AND CAMPUS/ONLINE SHOPS.

    Expenses $13,231,054 · Revenue $16,378,927

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Fred Miller

    Chairman of the Board (from 08/03/23)

    Total calculated
    $10,000
    From this org
    $10,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.1 related

  • Will Gonzalez

    Chairman of the Board (thru 08/03/23)

    Total calculated
    $7,500
    From this org
    $7,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.1 related

  • Jim Rice

    Director

    Total calculated
    $10,000
    From this org
    $10,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.1 related

  • Lupita Hightower

    Director

    Total calculated
    $10,000
    From this org
    $10,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.1 related

  • Marion Kelly

    Director

    Total calculated
    $10,000
    From this org
    $10,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.1 related

  • Peggy Chase

    Director

    Total calculated
    $10,000
    From this org
    $10,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.1 related

  • Brian Mueller

    President

    Total calculated
    $789,563
    From this org
    $789,563
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    20 + 0.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $320,999
    Bonus
    $465,820
    Other
    $2,744
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $789,563

  • Junette West

    CFO/Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $591,980
    From this org
    $413,969
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $178,011
    Hours/week
    40 + 0.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $212,973
    Bonus
    $42,593
    Other
    $158,403
    Deferred
    $175,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,011
    Filer's total
    $591,980

  • Randall Gibb

    Provost

    Total calculated
    $766,114
    From this org
    $590,424
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $175,690
    Hours/week
    40 + 0.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $354,957
    Bonus
    $58,669
    Other
    $176,798
    Deferred
    $175,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $690
    Filer's total
    $766,114

  • Raymond Kaselonis

    CAO/General Counsel/Secretary

    Total calculated
    $528,163
    From this org
    $345,708
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $182,455
    Hours/week
    40 + 0.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $247,738
    Bonus
    $60,846
    Other
    $37,124
    Deferred
    $175,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,455
    Filer's total
    $528,163

  • Bryce Drew

    Head Basketball Coach

    Total calculated
    $1,460,810
    From this org
    $1,455,880
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,930
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $1,345,070
    Bonus
    $110,000
    Other
    $810
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,930
    Filer's total
    $1,460,810

  • Jennifer Lech

    Vice Provost

    Total calculated
    $720,429
    From this org
    $537,546
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $182,883
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $266,474
    Bonus
    $60,846
    Other
    $210,226
    Deferred
    $175,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,883
    Filer's total
    $720,429

  • Kenneth Wooden

    Dean, College of Natural Sciences

    Total calculated
    $522,425
    From this org
    $378,494
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $143,931
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $192,949
    Bonus
    $17,691
    Other
    $167,854
    Deferred
    $140,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,931
    Filer's total
    $522,425

  • Lisa Smith

    Dean, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

    Total calculated
    $519,090
    From this org
    $375,699
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $143,391
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $189,666
    Bonus
    $18,179
    Other
    $167,854
    Deferred
    $140,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,391
    Filer's total
    $519,090

  • Timothy Griffin

    Dean of Students

    Total calculated
    $595,890
    From this org
    $417,737
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $178,153
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,637
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $211,100
    Deferred
    $175,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,153
    Filer's total
    $595,890

  • Daniel Majerle

    Former Head Basketball Coach

    Total calculated
    $1,000,000
    From this org
    $1,000,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,000,000
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $1,000,000

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 · First-class or charter travel
  • 1a · Travel for companions
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 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 First-class or charter travel
CERTAIN EXECUTIVES AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OF GCU MAY TRAVEL FIRST-CLASS OR CHARTER AS BUSINESS NEED DICTATES. THESE ARE CONSIDERED NECESSARY BUSINESS EXPENSES.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Travel for companions
Spouses and dependent children of certain executives and other GCU employees are authorized to travel on university charter flights. Per university policy, these benefits are considered taxable compensation to the individual unless the 50% capacity rule is met.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a Severance or change-of-control payment
IN 2020, THE ORGANIZATION ENTERED A MULTI-YEAR SEVERANCE AGREEMENT WITH DAN MAJERLE. THE ORGANIZATION PAID $1,000,000 OF SEVERANCE TO MR. MAJERLE IN 2023 AS PER THE AGREEMENT.
Schedule J, Part I, Line 4b Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
THE ORGANIZATION HAS ADOPTED A NONQUALIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN. IT IS INTENDED THAT THIS PLAN BE AN INELIGIBLE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 457(F) AND BE OPERATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 409A. THE AMOUNTS RECORDED IN COLUMN (C) OF PART II (I.E. RETIREMENT AND OTHER DEFERRED COMPENSATION) REPRESENT DEFERRED COMPENSATION AWARDS UNDER THIS PLAN. THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED PAYOUTS FROM A 457(F) SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN: RANDY GIBB $175,204 JUNETTE WEST $157,500 RAYMOND KASELONIS $36,750 JENNIFER LECH $209,817 TIMOTHY GRIFFIN $209,817 KENNETH WOODEN $167,854 LISA SMITH $167,854

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

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.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 February 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202530459349300523

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