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Nonprofit · EIN 56-6049935

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Tax-exempt · WINGATE, NC 28174

Financials

$167.7M$169M2022$164.2M$170.9M2023$178.3M$176.1M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of WINGATE UNIVERSITY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
May 31, 2025990$178,345,647$176,088,784$2,256,863$299,668,007$90,325,565$209,342,442
May 31, 2024990$164,237,457$170,937,687-$6,700,230$295,711,975$91,320,613$204,391,362
May 31, 2023990$167,685,815$168,957,523-$1,271,708$294,510,803$93,246,575$201,264,228
Financial details: 990 for the year ended May 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$10,739,303
of which government grants
$87,631
Program service revenue
$155,725,261
Investment income
$8,379,028
Net rental income
$481,300
Net gain from sales of assets
$5,278,606
Net income from fundraising events
-$25,442
Other revenue
$3,502,055

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$86,203,286
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$2,555,544
Other salaries and wages
$36,640,595
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$48,990,695
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$292,281
Accounting fees
$151,853
Occupancy
$3,084,527
Travel
$2,012,471
Depreciation
$7,069,965
Program services (functional)
$142,807,114
Management and general (functional)
$31,602,187
Fundraising (functional)
$1,679,483

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$295,711,975
Total assets, end of year
$299,668,007
Total liabilities, end of year
$90,325,565
Net assets, end of year
$209,342,442
Land, buildings and equipment
$157,350,649
Publicly traded securities
$105,516,492
Net assets without donor restrictions
$73,626,780
Net assets with donor restrictions
$135,715,662
Gross unrelated business income
$2,553,026
Gross receipts
$239,959,695
Employees
1,809
Volunteers
49
Year formed
1896
State of legal domicile
NC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended May 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Thomas Rhett BrownPresident
Officer
40$388,763$29,246
James R BullockSVP
Officer
40$290,438$23,804
Susan P BruceDean, School of Pharmacy
Highest-paid employee
40$280,256$20,449
Benjamin SidburySVP General Counsel
Officer
40$269,882$21,189
Melissa PerdueCFO
Officer
40$244,092$19,350
Heather Campbell MillerSVP Chief of Staff
Officer
40$241,337$21,780
Eric F SchneiderVice Provost
Highest-paid employee
40$208,450$17,230
Steve ShankVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$187,770$11,183
Shanta DubeChair and Director, Dept of Public Health
Highest-paid employee
40$180,418$15,821
Sergio CastelloDean, School of Business
Highest-paid employee
40$174,133$15,342
Jeffrey FrederickProvost and Executive Vice President
Officer
40$94,960$5,785
Amos BeasonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Angelia DuncanTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Becky BullardTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Benton BraggTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
30 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Bill CrowderTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Bob SpenceTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Carl TuckerTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Carolyn BrownTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Carolyn MatthewsTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Chuck HowardTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Craig HornTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Doug TurnerTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Ed WestTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Fonda SalgueiroTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Frank CagleTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Greg HinrichsTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Jan Beatty-HendleyTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Jason BerndTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Jim MasonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Joel BarhamTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Kacey GranthamTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Kimberly EagleTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Luther MooreTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Lynn MossTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Maria LanderTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Morrison CreechTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Patrick BrownTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Paula BordenTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Rashard JohnsonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Ron HinsonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Russell BookerTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Suzanne PhilemonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Thom DixonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Wayne CooperTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0
990 for the year ended May 31, 2024: 47 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
THOMAS RHETT BROWNPRESIDENT
Officer
40$376,727$69,761
SUSAN P BRUCEDEAN OF SOP
Highest-paid employee
40$274,633$20,089
JAMES R BULLOCKSVP
Officer
40$274,529$19,715
BENJAMIN SIDBURYSVP GENERAL COUNSEL
Officer
40$255,136$19,278
HEATHER CAMPBELL MILLERSVP CHIEF OF STAFF
Officer
40$222,086$32,732
JEFFREY FREDERICKPROVOST & EXECUTIVE VP
Officer
40$226,944$25,608
MELISSA PERDUECFO
Officer
40$218,689$16,640
ERIC F SCHNEIDERVICE PROVOST
Highest-paid employee
40$182,785$15,591
STEVE SHANKVICE PRESIDENT
Highest-paid employee
40$180,569$9,690
SERGIO CASTELLODEAN OF SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Highest-paid employee
40$163,042$22,503
DAVID WEILDIR. OF PHYSICIAN ASST. PRGM.
Highest-paid employee
40$156,150$22,692
JOEL BARHAMTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JANICE G BEATTY-HENDLEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
AMOS BEASONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
AUDLEY L BELLTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JASON BERNDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RUSSELL W BOOKERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PAULA D BORDENTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BENTON BRAGGTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PATRICK C BROWNTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
REBECCA B BULLARDTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
G FRANK CAGLETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WAYNE P COOPERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GEORGE MORRISON CREECHTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WILLIAM T CROWDER JRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CECIL DIXONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
C ANGELIA DUNCANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
KIMBERLY S EAGLETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
KACEY M GRANTHAMTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOHN N HENDLEYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GREGORY I HINRICHSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
RONALD G HINSONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
D CRAIG HORNTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CHARLES A HOWARD IITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARIA LANDERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES W MASON IIITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CAROLYN D MATTHEWSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LUTHER T MOORETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MARIA T MORTISTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
M LYNN MOSSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
FONDA G SALGUEIROTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ANDREW T SMARTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ROBERT J SPENCE IIITRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOHNNY L TILLETTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CARL TUCKERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DOUGLAS E TURNER JRTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
EDWARD L WESTTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
990 for the year ended May 31, 2023: 45 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Thomas Rhett BrownPresident
Officer
40$336,902$67,760
James R BullockSVP
Officer
40$298,507$19,650
Benjamin SidburySVP General Counsel
Officer
40$273,929$18,877
Susan P BruceDean of SOP
Highest-paid employee
40$278,433$13,624
Heather Campbell MillerSVP Chief of Staff
Officer
40$241,468$32,808
Jeffrey FrederickProvost and EVP
Officer
40$246,038$23,809
Melissa PerdueCFO
Officer
40$218,337$5,216
Sherri T SatterfieldVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$207,650$13,473
Eric F SchneiderVice Provost
Highest-paid employee
40$191,978$15,522
Scotty Eugene HunsuckerVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$178,025$21,897
Steve ShankVice President
Highest-paid employee
40$189,638$9,652
Amos BeasonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Janice G Beatty-HendleyTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Audley L BellTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Russell W BookerTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Paula D BordenTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Patrick C BrownTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Rebecca B BullardTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
G Frank CagleTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Wayne P CooperTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
George Morrison CreechTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
William T Crowder JrTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Daniel K DavisTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
C Thomas DixonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
C Angelia DuncanTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Kimberly S EagleTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Kacey M GranthamTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
John N HendleyTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Gregory I HinrichsTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Ronald G HinsonTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
D Craig HornTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Charles A Howard IITrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Thomas J KoontzTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
James W Mason IIITrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Carolyn D MatthewsTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Luther T MooreTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Maria T MortisTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
M Lynn MossTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Claudia S RobinetteTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Fonda G SalgueiroTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Andrew T SmartTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Robert J Spence IIITrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Johnny L TillettTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Douglas E Turner JrTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Edward L WestTrustee
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
315 E WILSON ST, WINGATE, NC 28174-9665
In care of
% MELISSA PERDUE
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
DR T RHETT BROWN, PO BOX 159, WINGATE, NC 28174
Signed the 990
MELISSA PERDUE, CFO
Phone
(800) 755-5550
Return prepared by
BDO USA

Mission

THE MISSION OF WINGATE UNIVERSITY IS TO DEVELOP EDUCATED, ETHICAL, AND PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL CITIZENS. FOLLOWING ITS JUDEO-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, THE UNIVERSITY SEEKS TO CULTIVATE THE FOLLOWING IN ITS STUDENTS: KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, AND SERVICE.

990 for the year ended May 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • WINGATE UNIVERSITY SERVES STUDENTS ON TWO CAMPUSES IN WINGATE AND HENDERSONVILLE, NC. THE UNIVERSITY OFFERS 40 UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS, 68 MINORS AND CAREER CONCENTRATIONS, NUMEROUS PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, GRADUATE DEGREES IN BUSINESS, ACCOUNTING, EDUCATION, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES AND SPORT MANAGEMENT, AND DOCTORATES IN PHARMACY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND EDUCATION. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2025, FALL STUDENT ENROLLMENT WAS 3,458 AND SPRING STUDENT ENROLLMENT WAS 3,218. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES WAS 864. FINANCIAL AID WAS RECEIVED BY 3,497 STUDENTS. SCHOLARSHIPS WERE GRANTED TO 2,956 STUDENTS.
    Expenses $142,807,114 · grants $86,203,286 · revenue $156,218,432

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in May, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025May 31, 2026October 15, 2026Not on file
2024May 31, 2025October 15, 2025990 on file
2023May 31, 2024October 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
56-6049935
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
School
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1946
Accounting year ends
May
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B430)
Assets (IRS master file)
$299,668,007
Income (IRS master file)
$239,959,695

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990May 2025$178,345,647$176,088,784$299,668,007XML
990-TMay 2025–––IRS
990May 2024$164,237,457$170,937,687$295,711,975XML
990-TMay 2024–––IRS
990May 2023$167,685,815$168,957,523$294,510,803XML
990-TMay 2023–––IRS
990May 2022$175,018,399$163,636,695$288,837,936IRS
990-TMay 2022–––IRS
990May 2021–––IRS
990-TMay 2021–––IRS
990May 2020–––IRS
990May 2019–––IRS
990May 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 56-6049935).

Questions about WINGATE UNIVERSITY

What is the EIN of WINGATE UNIVERSITY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of WINGATE UNIVERSITY is 56-6049935.
Is WINGATE UNIVERSITY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1946.
Are donations to WINGATE UNIVERSITY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does WINGATE UNIVERSITY file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of WINGATE UNIVERSITY due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending May 31, 2026) is due October 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did WINGATE UNIVERSITY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended May 2025.
Who is the principal officer of WINGATE UNIVERSITY?
The 990 for the year ended May 31, 2025 names DR T RHETT BROWN.
Who are the officers and directors of WINGATE UNIVERSITY?
The 990 for the year ended May 31, 2025 lists 45 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $388,763 (Thomas Rhett Brown, President).
How much revenue does WINGATE UNIVERSITY have?
On its 990 for the year ended May 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $178,345,647, expenses of $176,088,784 and total assets of $299,668,007 at year end.

Other nonprofits in WINGATE

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