Multnomah University

The information on this page was last updated 1/5/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Multnomah University is an accredited Christian university in Portland, Oregon, serving and equipping a community to love Christ and their neighbors through careers of impact. We don't shy away from the effort or sacrifice required for education or for the life of faith, because we know that perseverance produces character.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Multnomah University
8435 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR 97220

Website: multnomah.edu

Phone: 503-255-0332

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 930398802

CEO/President: Rev. Dr. Eric Anthony Joseph

Chairman: Dr. Ben Ochs

Board size: 17

Founder: Rev. John G. Mitchell

Ruling year: 1939

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 06/30

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 1988


Purpose

It is the vision for Multnomah University to be a diverse community that equips students to love Christ and serve their neighbors through their lives and work.


Mission statement

It is the mission of Multnomah University to equip Christian students through higher education to become biblically competent, academically proficient, spiritually formed, and culturally engaged servant leaders, shaped to be a transforming force in the church, community, and world.


Statement of faith

Article I. Revelation, Scripture, and Authority

We believe that God is revealed in creation, in the Holy Scriptures, and in Jesus Christ, the apex of revelation. The Scriptures, all sixty-six Old and New Testament books, are divinely authoritative in all they affirm. (Ps. 19:1-6; Heb. 1:1-2; John 17:17)

We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture. This means the Holy Spirit dynamically superintended the verbal expressions of the human authors of Scripture so that the very thoughts God intended were accurately penned in the wording of the original manuscripts. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 1 Cor. 2:13)

We believe the Scripture is inerrant as to fact and infallibly trustworthy and true and should be interpreted in context to ascertain each author's intended meaning. Our present Bible continues to bear the final authoritative instruction of God for the church and the world. (John 10:35b; Ps. 19:7; Matt. 5:17-18)

Article II. The Divine Trinity

We believe in God, the one triune, infinite, personal spirit who created and governs all things and who is the sole object of our worship. This one God has always existed in eternal relationship as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-each identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having precisely the same divine attributes. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 4:24)

Article III. God the Father

We believe that God the Father is the holy and loving Creator of all things. Unlimited in time, space, knowledge, and power, the Father has planned all that comes to pass. Although distinct from His creation, He is immanently at work in it. (Ps. 139: 1-16; 1 Cor. 8:6; John 5:17)

Article IV. God the Son

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He became man, without ceasing to be God, and was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in order to redeem sinful humanity. He satisfied God's holy and just demands by dying as our substitute on the cross. He assured our redemption by His resurrection from the dead in the same, though glorified, body in which He was crucified. (John 1:1-2; Luke 1:35; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)

We believe Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is exalted at the right hand of the Father. As High Priest for His people, He serves as our Intercessor and Advocate. (Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)

Article V. God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the transforming agent who effectively imparts Christ's new life to all who believe. He baptizes them into the body of Christ, dwells within all believers, seals them for the day of redemption, and empowers them in holiness and love to serve God and His church. (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:13-14, Gal. 5:22-25)

Article VI. The Creation and Fall of Humanity

We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God. Through Adam's disobedience, we by nature became alienated from God, acquired a destructive disposition to sin, and came under the judicial sentence of death. (Gen. 1:25-27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12-21; Eph. 2:1-3, 12)

Article VII. Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God offered to all humanity by grace and received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This faith is manifested in works pleasing to God. (Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14) We believe that all true believers, having been justified, shall be kept saved forever. (Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; John 10:27-30; Phil. 1:6)

Article VIII. The Church

We believe the Church, having begun at Pentecost, is the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual community of all believers. Local gatherings of believers represent Christ's presence on earth as they love one another and manifest Christ's love to the world. (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27; 1 Cor. 12:12-14)

Article IX. Human Destiny

We believe in the physical resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous: the righteous to eternal fellowship with God, the unrighteous to eternal punishment, and conscious separation from God. (Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:15, 22:3-5, 11) We believe in the premillennial return of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His kingdom reign upon the earth, and in a glorious, new heaven and earth where redeemed humanity will dwell forever with God. (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Zech. 14:4-11; Rev. 20:6)

Donor confidence score

Show donor confidence score details

Transparency grade

A

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Colleges/Universities

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating807 of 1077100 of 130
Fund acquisition rating569 of 107867 of 130
Resource allocation rating1031 of 1078123 of 130
Asset utilization rating498 of 107754 of 130

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
11%11%12%13%10%45%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
2%3%4%5%3%2%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
18%23%33%41%26%5%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
2%2%4%6%2%3%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
82%77%67%59%74%95%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%67%62%55%74%75%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
95%109%110%88%103%77%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
79%74%68%49%76%58%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
5%-9%-10%12%-3%23%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
4%-5%-7%9%-2%20%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
13%30%35%38%24%21%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.500.520.590.580.570.57
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
2.662.212.152.302.612.61
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.541.161.261.331.481.48
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
7.3014.6014.3512.4710.8910.19
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.140.070.070.080.090.10
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
6.419.658.878.307.367.29
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
25%14%18%12%13%14%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
15%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
143%164%140%153%153%151%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20212020201920182017
Cash$5,751,624$6,379,065$4,082,525$3,034,097$4,536,423
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$1,102,922$2,134,084$3,033,637$642,781$693,756
Short-term investments$7,564,504$6,627,965$6,882,512$7,655,097$6,483,098
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$14,419,050$15,141,114$13,998,674$11,331,975$11,713,277
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$11,172,892$12,478,992$12,685,796$12,894,781$13,104,343
Other long-term assets$6,238,244$4,967,986$5,552,481$5,381,444$5,716,059
Total long-term assets$17,411,136$17,446,978$18,238,277$18,276,225$18,820,402
Total assets$31,830,186$32,588,092$32,236,951$29,608,200$30,533,679
 
Liabilities20212020201920182017
Payables and accrued expenses$987,560$1,055,400$1,122,706$1,041,025$1,148,954
Other current liabilities$0$0$0$0$0
Total current liabilities$987,560$1,055,400$1,122,706$1,041,025$1,148,954
Debt$0$0$0$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$3,498,455$4,759,244$2,686,842$2,833,778$3,045,944
Total long-term liabilities$3,498,455$4,759,244$2,686,842$2,833,778$3,045,944
Total liabilities$4,486,015$5,814,644$3,809,548$3,874,803$4,194,898
 
Net assets20212020201920182017
Without donor restrictions$10,235,000$10,329,000$13,763,036$14,082,047$14,230,554
With donor restrictions$17,109,171$16,444,448$14,664,367$11,651,350$12,108,227
Net assets$27,344,171$26,773,448$28,427,403$25,733,397$26,338,781
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20212020201920182017
Total contributions$3,495,961$5,740,918$8,611,000$4,275,000$1,179,792
Program service revenue$10,633,134$10,986,660$11,635,141$11,129,004$12,147,257
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$129,323$706$238,008$512,984$8,949,714
Other revenue$997,591$540,638$687,772$377,125$385,061
Total other revenue$11,760,048$11,528,004$12,560,921$12,019,113$21,482,032
Total revenue$15,256,009$17,268,922$21,171,921$16,294,113$22,661,824
 
Expenses20212020201920182017
Program services$11,249,369$11,768,281$10,325,966$12,338,027$13,122,471
Management and general$5,063,001$6,598,678$7,125,190$4,032,096$3,738,198
Fundraising$386,599$698,395$1,157,163$415,437$531,624
Total expenses$16,698,969$19,065,354$18,608,319$16,785,560$17,392,293
 
Change in net assets20212020201920182017
Surplus (deficit)($1,442,960)($1,796,432)$2,563,602($491,447)$5,269,531
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets($1,442,960)($1,796,432)$2,563,602($491,447)$5,269,531

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Craig WillifordPresident & CEO$194,844
Chandler WilsonCFO$101,052
Robert D LarsonVice President$100,647
Regina BerquistVice President$99,814
Jessica TaylorVice President$93,737

Compensation data as of: 6/30/2020


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 1/5/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

In 1936, Rev. John G. Mitchell was convinced that the Pacific Northwest needed a school that would faithfully instruct men and women in the truths of God's Word. On February 14, 1936, Rev. Mitchell called a meeting of Portland-area ministers and Christian businessmen to discuss his vision. Together, these men labored to make that vision a reality, and Multnomah School of the Bible was born.

Classes began in October 1937 in a former mortuary with 49 students and a half-dozen faculty. In the spring of 1939, Multnomah granted diplomas to thirty-one students in its first graduating class.

The original campus was located adjacent to the site of the present Lloyd Center Shopping Mall in northeast Portland. In the early 1950s, the administration and Board of Trustees realized Multnomah's growing student body would require expanded facilities. In 1952 after much prayer, the board decided to purchase the 17-acre campus of the former Oregon State School for the Blind, where Multnomah University and Seminary are located today.

From School to College and Seminary

Reflecting its growing educational programs, in 1993 Multnomah School of the Bible became Multnomah Bible College and Seminary. Because of our commitment to offering its graduates a regionally accredited biblical education, Multnomah became a member of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in 2005. This additional accreditation allowed even more flexibility for graduates to transfer their Multnomah credits to more institutions.

Becoming Multnomah University

In 2008, Multnomah became Multnomah University, which is a more accurate, umbrella title that encompasses all the structural elements that make up the institution. With the addition of adult degree completion and non-seminary master's degree programs to the existing college and Biblical Seminary divisions, it became necessary to describe Multnomah in new terms. Now, Multnomah alumni and former students enjoy the benefits of a university education that is properly represented when they go overseas to serve or simply apply for jobs here at home.

New Ministries

Multnomah has fostered many ministries and businesses in its history. In 1989, Multnomah created International Renewal Ministries (IRM), a ministry that serves as a catalyst for racial reconciliation and denominational unity in the body of Christ. Multnomah has contributed to the betterment of the Northwest by creating multiple ministries such as Christian Supply, Multnomah Press, and Mission Portland Networking, all of which, including IRM, now function independently of Multnomah.


Program accomplishments


Needs