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← WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.

Totals

Total revenue
$15,076,895
Total expenses
$18,895,763
Contributions and grants received
$8,241,605
Grants paid
$3,720,081
Program service revenue
$6,244,679
Investment income
$489,135
Other revenue
$101,476
Total assets, end of year
$11,776,282
Total liabilities, end of year
$580,182
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$11,196,100
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$17,767,843
Management and general expenses
$1,127,920
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$17,767,843

Program services were 94.0% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $8,241,605

  • 2a · Program service revenue: NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNEY

    total $2,342,151 · related or exempt $2,342,151

  • 2b · Program service revenue: EXIT FEE

    total $2,000,000 · related or exempt $2,000,000

  • 2c · Program service revenue: MEMBER ASSESSMENTS

    total $827,000 · related or exempt $827,000

  • 2d · Program service revenue: ESPN TELEVISION CONTRACT

    total $600,000 · related or exempt $600,000

  • 2e · Program service revenue: TOURNAMENT REVENUE

    total $206,300 · related or exempt $206,300

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $269,228 · related or exempt $269,228

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $478,640 · excluded $478,640

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $9,476 · excluded $9,476

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $82,129

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $82,129

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $82,129 · excluded $82,129

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $10,495

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $10,495

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $10,495 · excluded $10,495

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $9,871 · related or exempt $9,871

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $9,871

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $3,720,081 · program services $3,720,081

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $633,848 · program services $228,547 · management and general $405,301

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $683,506 · program services $678,882 · management and general $4,624

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $52,861 · program services $47,021 · management and general $5,840

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $136,295 · program services $108,996 · management and general $27,299

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $83,015 · program services $58,600 · management and general $24,415

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $149,522 · management and general $149,522

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $10,107 · management and general $10,107

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $222,498 · program services $218,255 · management and general $4,243

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $64,710 · management and general $64,710

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $367,988 · program services $259,763 · management and general $108,225

  • 17 · Travel

    total $136,436 · program services $96,310 · management and general $40,126

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $44,273 · program services $41,419 · management and general $2,854

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $19,582 · program services $17,134 · management and general $2,448

  • 24a · Other expenses: MEMBER PAYOUTS

    total $10,488,770 · program services $10,488,770

  • 24b · Other expenses: ATHLETIC EVENTS

    total $1,804,065 · program services $1,804,065

  • 24c · Other expenses: BAD DEBT

    total $278,206 · management and general $278,206

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $412,141 · end of year $673,094

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $5,257,759 · end of year $3,186,746

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $2,376,447 · end of year $116,054

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

    $211,371

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

    $91,655

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $139,298 · end of year $119,716

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $6,705,418 · end of year $7,120,292

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $766,884 · end of year $560,380

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $109,785 · end of year $55,937

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $751,703 · end of year $524,245

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $13,125,479 · end of year $10,855,375

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,670,980 · end of year $340,725

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE CONFERENCE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING STUDENT-ATHLETES AN EXEMPLARY UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE - BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD OF PLAY. WITH HIGH STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AT THE CORE OF OUR ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCES, OUR GOAL IS TO UNLOCK THE POTENIAL OF THE NATION'S PREMIER STUDENT ATHLETES AND TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME THE LEADERS OF THE FUTURE.

  • THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE IS TO FORM AN ATHLETICS CONFERENCE, THE MEMBERS OF WHICH SHALL INCORPORATE PROGRAMS AND SHALL PLACE AND MAINTAIN SUCH ATHLETICS UNDER THE SAME ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC CONTROL AS EXISTS IN THEIR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE CONFERENCE ESTABLISHES THE REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE FOR ALL SPONSORED TEAM SPORTS AS WELL AS PARTICIPATORY GUIDELINES FOR EACH SPONSORED SPORT. THE CONFERENCE HOSTS 19 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE SPORTS OF MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GOLF, SOFTBALL, MEN'S AND WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD, AND BASEBALL. CHAMPIONSHIPS GOVERNED BY THE CONFERENCE PROVIDE EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE ACCESS TO THE POST SEASON AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

    Expenses $13,581,609 · Revenue $6,074,679

  • AS PART OF THE NCAA STRUCTURE, EACH CONFERENCE RECEIVES A STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND AND ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT FUND THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS AND ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE BENEFITS TO STUDENT ATHLETES, OR THEIR FAMILIES, IN THE MEETING FINANCIAL NEEDS THAT ARISE IN CONJUNCTION WITH PARTICIPATION IN INERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, ENROLLMENT IN AN ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, OR THAT RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE CONFERENCE ALSO INCURS EXPENSES IN THIS AREA THAT ENSURE THAT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS AND ITS ENTIRE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING COACHES, STUDENT ATHLETES, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH BYLAWS AND RULES ESTABLISHED BY THE NCAA.

    Expenses $3,720,081 · Grants $3,720,081

  • THE UNITED ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (UAC) IS AN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FORMED FOR THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL. ITS MEMBERS COMPETE IN THE NCAA DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION (FCS). THE UAC ORIGINATED AS A MERGER OF THE EXISTING FOOTBALL LEAGUES OF THE WAC AND ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE (ASUN).

    Expenses $466,153 · Revenue $170,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Rebekah Ray

    COMMISSIONER

    Total calculated
    $138,380
    From this org
    $119,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,380
    Hours/week
    40

  • Brian Thornton

    COMMISS TO 1

    Total calculated
    $161,083
    From this org
    $125,333
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,750
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $125,333
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $12,533
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,217
    Filer's total
    $161,083

  • Russell Warren

    SR ASSOCIATE

    Total calculated
    $134,095
    From this org
    $114,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,095
    Hours/week
    40

  • Dave Chaffin

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $85,925
    From this org
    $85,925
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • Dr James Hurley

    CHAIRPERSON

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Ronald Ellis

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Astrid Tuminez

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Phil Schubert

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Mindy Benson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Dr Jennifer Cowley

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Courtney White

    BOARD MEMBER

    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

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 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

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
22 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.0
Source object
202532959349301483

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