University of Northwestern - St. Paul 
The information on this page was last updated 4/6/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Developing leaders through academically excellent, Christian education since 1902. University of Northwestern (UNW) is a Christian university located in the heart of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Contact information
Mailing address:
University of Northwestern - St. Paul
3003 Snelling Ave N
St. Paul, MN 55113
Website: unwsp.edu
Phone: 651-631-5100
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 410711610
CEO/President: Alan S. Cureton
Chairman: Dan Stolrtz
Board size: 17
Founder: William Bell Riley
Ruling year: 1965
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Because of God's compelling love, we will teach wisdom and understanding to reach all nations for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:14, Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 28:19
Mission statement
University of Northwestern - St. Paul exists to provide Christ-centered higher education equipping students to grow intellectually and spiritually, to serve effectively in their professions, and to give God-honoring leadership in the home, church, community and world.
Statement of faith
Northwestern's educational programs and media ministries are firmly founded upon definitely formulated and explicitly stated biblical doctrines as follows:
I. The Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally and plenarily inspired of God, are inerrant in the original writings, and are the infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:16).
II. The Godhead
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-2). These three are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation and redemption (John 15:2).
III. The Father
We believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power (Genesis 1:1, Exodus 15:11, Job 12:13, Matthew 19:26). We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer (Matthew 6:6), and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 1:12).
IV. The Son, Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, sinless in His life, making atonement for the sin of the world by His substitutionary death on the cross. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, His present high priestly intercession for His people (Hebrews 9:24), and His personal, visible, imminent (Hebrews 9:28), and premillennial return to this earth according to His promise.
V. The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe in Jesus Christ (John 16:7-8).
VI. The Salvation of Man
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), that he sinned in Adam, and that all men by nature and by choice are sinners having incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God (Romans 3:23). We also believe that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Therefore, those who by faith, apart from human merit, works, or ceremonies, accept Christ as Lord and Saviour are justified on the grounds of His shed blood and become children of God. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust (I Corinthians 15:22, Acts 17:31). The saved will rejoice forever in God's presence, and the lost will be forever separated from God in everlasting conscious punishment. We believe that every human being is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith (Jude 24).
VII. The Church
We believe in the Church-a living, spiritual body of which Christ is the Head and of which all regenerated people are members. We believe that a visible church is a company of believers in Jesus Christ, buried with him in baptism and associated for worship, work, and fellowship (Ephesians 1:22-23). We believe that to these visible churches were committed for observance "till He come" the ordinances of baptism (Matthew 3:13-15) and the Lord's Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-26); and that God has laid upon these churches the task of persuading a lost world to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour and to enthrone Him as Lord and Master. We believe that human betterment and social improvement are essential products of the Gospel. We believe that Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from the dictation or patronage of the other.
VIII. The Responsibility
We believe that we are under divine obligation to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints by proclaiming to a lost world the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and the enthroning of Him as Lord and Master (Jude 3, Acts 16:30, Colossians 3:1-3).
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 143 of 1102 | 8 of 127 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 306 of 1103 | 38 of 127 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 301 of 1103 | 28 of 127 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 262 of 1102 | 27 of 127 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 10% | 9% | 12% | 17% | 19% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 17% | 31% | 31% | 28% | 26% | 21% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 83% | 69% | 69% | 72% | 74% | 79% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 88% | 89% | 72% | 71% | 70% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 91% | 91% | 92% | 97% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 81% | 81% | 66% | 69% | 68% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 3% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 3% | 3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 8% | 8% | 25% | 24% | 25% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.52 | 0.74 | 0.81 | 0.70 | 0.76 | 0.77 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.58 | 2.71 | 3.24 | 3.16 | 3.71 | 3.63 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.41 | 2.01 | 2.62 | 2.22 | 2.81 | 2.80 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.23 | 8.36 | 5.71 | 5.74 | 5.10 | 4.87 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.18 | 0.17 | 0.20 | 0.21 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.38 | 5.25 | 3.78 | 4.47 | 3.43 | 3.40 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 25% | 14% | 15% | 22% | 27% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 5% | 8% | 15% | 19% | 18% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 117% | 106% | 111% | 96% | 95% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $26,484,640 | $20,761,319 | $22,282,127 | $16,545,457 | $17,495,459 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $5,530,996 | $4,527,141 | $3,636,858 | $4,278,301 | $3,859,783 |
| Short-term investments | $24,371,689 | $17,917,728 | $19,842,861 | $16,259,592 | $15,611,161 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $56,387,325 | $43,206,188 | $45,761,846 | $37,083,350 | $36,966,403 |
| Long-term investments | $754,803 | $998,242 | $1,664,549 | $1,957,609 | $2,274,657 |
| Fixed assets | $72,039,991 | $77,048,090 | $79,483,871 | $80,364,003 | $81,211,029 |
| Other long-term assets | $23,892,811 | $18,706,591 | $17,822,681 | $18,042,838 | $13,812,343 |
| Total long-term assets | $96,687,605 | $96,752,923 | $98,971,101 | $100,364,450 | $97,298,029 |
| Total assets | $153,074,930 | $139,959,111 | $144,732,947 | $137,447,800 | $134,264,432 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $5,869,620 | $6,329,655 | $6,801,707 | $5,536,571 | $6,156,164 |
| Other current liabilities | $876,051 | $1,238,721 | $1,173,348 | $1,731,776 | $1,438,185 |
| Total current liabilities | $6,745,671 | $7,568,376 | $7,975,055 | $7,268,347 | $7,594,349 |
| Debt | $7,539,298 | $10,701,373 | $21,368,081 | $26,039,839 | $24,714,943 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $6,482,962 | $2,106,002 | $3,205,464 | $3,737,515 | $3,899,654 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $14,022,260 | $12,807,375 | $24,573,545 | $29,777,354 | $28,614,597 |
| Total liabilities | $20,767,931 | $20,375,751 | $32,548,600 | $37,045,701 | $36,208,946 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $110,150,738 | $100,803,845 | $92,283,519 | $83,373,640 | $81,299,832 |
| With donor restrictions | $22,156,261 | $18,779,515 | $19,900,828 | $17,028,459 | $16,755,654 |
| Net assets | $132,306,999 | $119,583,360 | $112,184,347 | $100,402,099 | $98,055,486 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $38,339,415 | $38,212,344 | $30,511,155 | $27,931,959 | $22,543,537 |
| Program service revenue | $78,813,122 | $81,280,084 | $74,949,111 | $78,425,279 | $82,848,906 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $6,652,827 | $4,305,035 | $4,200,650 | $1,046,198 | $1,118,382 |
| Other revenue | $454,211 | $507,316 | $339,523 | $124,014 | $185,816 |
| Total other revenue | $85,920,160 | $86,092,435 | $79,489,284 | $79,595,491 | $84,153,104 |
| Total revenue | $124,259,575 | $124,304,779 | $110,000,439 | $107,527,450 | $106,696,641 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $100,209,126 | $100,506,767 | $72,966,603 | $74,168,721 | $72,939,329 |
| Management and general | $9,454,572 | $9,045,461 | $24,978,645 | $25,483,700 | $26,371,674 |
| Fundraising | $3,773,629 | $3,575,659 | $3,537,114 | $4,635,123 | $4,331,521 |
| Total expenses | $113,437,327 | $113,127,887 | $101,482,362 | $104,287,544 | $103,642,524 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $10,822,248 | $11,176,892 | $8,518,077 | $3,239,906 | $3,054,117 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $10,822,248 | $11,176,892 | $8,518,077 | $3,239,906 | $3,054,117 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr Alan Cureton | President Thru 7/22 | $615,460 |
| Dr April Moreton | VP For Inst. Advancement Thru 11/22 | $222,779 |
| Jason Sharp | Sr. VP For Media | $190,002 |
| Dr Janet Sommers | Provost/Sr. VP For Academic Affairs | $189,893 |
| Dr Corbin Hoornbeek | President | $181,011 |
| John Sommerville | CFO / Treasurer | $180,914 |
| Scott Jones | Asst VP For Bus Ops & Tech/Media | $158,696 |
| David Gattorna | Media Station Manager | $158,187 |
| Dave Gordon | Media Station Manager | $154,096 |
| Nina Barnes | VP For Student Life and HR | $152,991 |
| Arnold Lindstrand | Trustee | $699 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/6/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
1902-1947
Northwestern opens on October 2, 1902 as Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School, founded by William Bell Riley, well-known pastor and evangelist. Classes are held in First Baptist Church in Minneapolis and Jackson Hall, First Baptist's education building.
1948-1966
In a brief four-year tenure, Northwestern's second president, Rev. Billy Graham, launches KTIS and sees the campus move to Memorial Hall in Loring Park. Despite gaining national prominence under Graham, the college temporarily closes in 1966 for restructuring and relocation.
1967-1999
Guided by the leadership and faith of William B. Berntsen, the college reopens in 1972 on its current St. Paul campus and begins to expand. The college sees a steady addition of programs and buildings under the leadership of Berntsen, Donald Ericksen, and Wesley Willis.
2000-Present
Alan S. Cureton becomes president, the Mel Johnson Media Center is constructed, Riley Hall undergoes major remodeling, graduate programs begin, Billy Graham Community Life Commons opens, and Maranatha Hall receives new renovations and a new name. Educational facilities continue to expand and receive upgrades: Engineering receives a new home at Rosedale Square North; the School of Nursing moves into new lab, classroom, and chapel spaces in Wilson Center; and updates are made to the Ericksen Center, including new golf training bays featuring PGA-grade technology.