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Non-profit

Liberty University

Location:

Lynchburg, VA
Tax ID:

54-0946734
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $1,343,657,390
Expenses: $1,093,741,798
Assets: $3,367,494,352
Type:

Liberal Arts College
Formation:

1974
President:

Dondi E. Costin
President Emeritus:

Jerry Prevo
Budgt (2021):

Revenue: $1,594,106,664
Expenses: $1,284,086,793
Assets: $3,991,603,424 1

References

  1. Liberty University Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021.

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Liberty University is a non-denominational Protestant Christian liberal arts college located in Lynchburg, Virginia. 1 Liberty aims to provide an education that involves the whole person and claims that is most effective when students and instructors both have a proper relationship with Christ. Liberty University’s vision is to develop Christ-centered individuals, each with the essential values, skills, and knowledge to make an impact on the world. 2

History

Liberty University aims to combine academic knowledge with a Christian worldview, promote an understanding of the Western tradition and free market processes, and further understanding of other cultures. 3

Jerry Falwell was the founder of Liberty University. Falwell was also the cofounder of the conservative political lobbying group Moral Majority, which mobilized voters for the 1980 presidential election in support of Ronald Reagan. 4

Jerry Falwell Jr., the founder’s son and a former president of Liberty, was sued by Liberty in 2021 over allegations that he withheld information about sexual scandals from Liberty’s board of trustees. The suit alleged that this information was potentially damaging to Liberty University’s reputation. 5

Liberty University enrolls more than 130,000 students (most through its online programs), which includes more than 700 international students, and offers more than 700 programs of study. 6

Funding

Liberty University is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While Liberty University does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm contributions from the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation ($750,000 in 2021), 7 the Tulsa Community Foundation ($57,395 in 2015), 8 and the National Collegiate Athletic Association ($51,436 in 2019). 9

Board of Trustees

Dondi Costin is the president of Liberty University as of July 1, 2023. Costin is a retired major general and a former president of Charleston Southern University. 10

Jonathan Falwell is the chancellor of Liberty University and senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church. Falwell is a former vice chancellor for spiritual affairs, executive vice president for spiritual affairs, and campus pastor for Liberty University. He is the son of Liberty’s founder. 11

Jerry Prevo is president emeritus of Liberty University. Prevo is a former chair of the board (2003-2020) and worked as interim president of Liberty University between 2020 and 2023. 12

Tim Lee is the chair of the board of Liberty University and an evangelist. Lee sits on the board of Trinity Baptist College, is a former member of the Bicentennial Committee for the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, and is co-chair of the National Committee of Veterans for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). 13

Will Graham, the grandson of famed evangelist Billy Graham, is the vice chair of the board of Liberty University and the executive vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, where he is also an evangelist. 14

Brian Autry is the executive director of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV). 15

Anthony Beckles is the CFO of Lynchburg City Schools and a former vice president for finance at Liberty University. 16

John Borek is a senior pastor at American Fellowship Church and the president and cofounder of the American Leadership Institute and Seminary. 17

Don Crain is regional strategist for the Central-East region at the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV). 18

Richard Lee is the founding pastor of First Redeemer Church and the president of There’s Hope America. Lee is a member of the National Religious Broadcasters, the Council for National Policy, the Conservative Action Project, and the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. 19

Allen McFarland is the senior pastor of Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church and the president of the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia. McFarland sits on the boards of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, the Atlantic Shores Christian Schools, and Kids Across America. 20

Gene Mims is the senior pastor of Judson Baptist Church and sits on the boards of the Kingstone Media Group and the Timothy Initiative. Mims is a former vice president of Lifeway Christian Resources and former president of the International Baptist Network.

Penny Nance is the CEO and president of Concerned Women for America and the president of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee. Nance is a former member of former President Donald Donald Trump‘s Life Advisory Council. 21

References

  1. “What We Believe: Liberty University’s Mission and Values.” Liberty University Residential, July 11, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/residential/what-we-believe/.
  2. “Educational Philosophy & Mission Statement.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/purpose-and-mission-statement/.
  3. “Educational Philosophy & Mission Statement.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/purpose-and-mission-statement/.
  4. “Founder.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/founder-jerry-falwell-senior/.
  5. Graham, Ruth. “Liberty University Sues Jerry Falwell Jr., Alleging Deception.” New York Times, April 16, 2021. Accessed August 1, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/16/us/jerry-falwell-jr-liberty-university-lawsuit.html.
  6. “Liberty University Quick Facts.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/liberty-university-quick-facts/.
  7. Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2021, Part XV, Line 3.
  8.  Tulsa Community Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2015, Schedule I, Part II.
  9. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
  10. “President of Liberty University.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/president-of-liberty-university/.
  11. “Chancellor of Liberty University.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/chancellor-of-liberty-university/.
  12. “President Emeritus Jerry Prevo.” Liberty University. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.liberty.edu/about/president-emeritus-jerry-prevo/.
  13. “Tim’s Biography.” Tim Lee Ministries. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://timlee.org/about-tim/.
  14. “Will Graham.” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://billygraham.org/about/biographies/will-graham/.
  15. “Executive Director.” SBCV. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.sbcv.org/executive-director/.
  16. “Anthony Beckles.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-beckles-45136884/
  17. “Meet the Pastor.” American Fellowship Church. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://americanfchurch.org/meet-the-pastor/.
  18. “Don Crain.” SBCV. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.sbcv.org/staff/don-crain/.
  19. “About.” There’s Hope America. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.thereshope.org/about/
  20. “Meet Pastor McFarland.” Calvary Evangelical Baptist Church. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://www.cebclive.org/meet-pastor-mcfarland.
  21. “Penny Nance.” Concerned Women for America. Accessed July 31, 2023. https://concernedwomen.org/penny-nance-about/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1974

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $1,343,657,390 $1,093,741,798 $3,367,494,352 $457,774,457 Y $16,444,061 $1,309,847,537 $22,974,649 $7,617,567 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,111,310,499 $877,282,413 $2,571,559,687 $467,549,845 Y $13,964,116 $1,037,526,114 $17,240,009 $6,460,446 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $1,060,105,120 $844,586,108 $2,265,165,058 $450,422,401 Y $20,246,077 $1,013,111,816 $15,310,512 $8,020,793 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $1,001,828,550 $778,497,912 $2,072,987,998 $446,757,836 Y $11,445,389 $963,220,931 $20,667,348 $7,027,567 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $988,883,153 $705,889,580 $1,847,567,734 $420,235,925 Y $25,408,018 $922,131,897 $21,631,560 $3,813,975 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $884,784,138 $616,193,457 $1,564,185,422 $458,248,354 Y $16,339,798 $830,727,756 $28,508,701 $3,232,038 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $758,788,905 $543,795,594 $1,274,806,592 $423,509,799 Y $15,138,369 $736,429,841 $6,974,284 $2,869,555 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $628,185,434 $424,850,148 $940,284,054 $302,816,638 Y $13,022,228 $606,076,628 $7,580,869 $2,547,768 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Liberty University


    Lynchburg, VA