Northern Kentucky University Foundation Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
237116528
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Highland Heights, KY, USA
Phone
8595725129
Rating
87
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Single Organization Support

Reported finances

Revenue
$22,708,159
Expenses
$11,229,549
Assets
$176,758,742
Liabilities
$19,593,869

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

76 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • KAREN FINAN (PRESIDENT)
  • TOM WIEDEMANN (IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT)
  • KEVIN GESSNER (VICE PRESIDENT)
  • ERIC GENTRY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
  • CADY SHORT-THOMPSON (NKU PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • KAREN FINAN (PRESIDENT)
  • TOM WIEDEMANN (IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT)
  • KEVIN GESSNER (VICE PRESIDENT)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of northern Kentucky university foundation is to secure, invest, steward, and distribute private resources in support of northern Kentucky university, to advocate for the university's best interests, and to build lasting relationships with alumni and friends.

What it reported doing in 2024

Instruction, public service, university facilities and equipment acquisition, libraries, student services, research

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 71% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 88
  • Transparency & Controls: 75
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 92
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 90.7%; rating input score 91
  • Program expense ratio: 85.2%; rating input score 85
  • Fundraising efficiency: $91.88 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 50.5%; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 15.74; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.11; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 3.9% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.6% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 4.7% per year; rating input score 100; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 90.7% of revenue deployed · 85.2% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 43 of 43 board members independent · 7 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $9.6M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 76 people listed
  • Highest-paid contractors: 2 contractors listed · $345K reported
  • Consistency: 31 of 31 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 10 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, and grants
  • Filing history: 16 filing years from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 10 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 10 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.