Multnomah University 
The information on this page was last updated 7/2/2024. 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: Dr. Jessica Taylor
Chairman: Dr. Jay Mosser
Board size: 17
Founder: Rev. John G. Mitchell
Ruling year: 1939
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
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
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 | | 819 of 1115 | 103 of 130 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 818 of 1116 | 109 of 130 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1015 of 1116 | 115 of 130 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 260 of 1115 | 25 of 130 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 28% | 7% | 11% | 12% | 13% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 18% | 7% | 34% | 23% | 33% | 41% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 82% | 93% | 66% | 77% | 67% | 59% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 75% | 67% | 67% | 62% | 55% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 140% | 106% | 109% | 110% | 88% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 104% | 71% | 74% | 68% | 49% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -40% | -6% | -9% | -10% | 12% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | -29% | -4% | -5% | -7% | 9% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 24% | 31% | 30% | 35% | 38% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.51 | 0.72 | 0.65 | 0.52 | 0.59 | 0.58 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.61 | 3.13 | 2.80 | 2.21 | 2.15 | 2.30 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.41 | 2.25 | 1.82 | 1.16 | 1.26 | 1.33 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.92 | 6.04 | 10.32 | 14.60 | 14.35 | 12.47 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.17 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.43 | 4.45 | 5.95 | 9.65 | 8.87 | 8.30 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 29% | 15% | 14% | 18% | 12% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 12% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 98% | 130% | 164% | 140% | 153% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $332,050 | $3,072,268 | $5,751,624 | $6,379,065 | $4,082,525 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $3,072,314 | $1,193,785 | $1,102,922 | $2,134,084 | $3,033,637 |
| Short-term investments | $5,324,767 | $6,110,758 | $7,564,504 | $6,627,965 | $6,882,512 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $8,729,131 | $10,376,811 | $14,419,050 | $15,141,114 | $13,998,674 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $12,824,477 | $13,012,194 | $11,172,892 | $12,478,992 | $12,685,796 |
| Other long-term assets | $5,745,313 | $5,655,101 | $6,238,244 | $4,967,986 | $5,552,481 |
| Total long-term assets | $18,569,790 | $18,667,295 | $17,411,136 | $17,446,978 | $18,238,277 |
| Total assets | $27,298,921 | $29,044,106 | $31,830,186 | $32,588,092 | $32,236,951 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,170,171 | $798,667 | $987,560 | $1,055,400 | $1,122,706 |
| Other current liabilities | $275,254 | $207,093 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,445,425 | $1,005,760 | $987,560 | $1,055,400 | $1,122,706 |
| Debt | $3,200,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $3,321,307 | $3,414,532 | $3,498,455 | $4,759,244 | $2,686,842 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $6,521,307 | $3,414,532 | $3,498,455 | $4,759,244 | $2,686,842 |
| Total liabilities | $7,966,732 | $4,420,292 | $4,486,015 | $5,814,644 | $3,809,548 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $5,407,116 | $8,718,000 | $10,235,000 | $10,329,000 | $13,763,036 |
| With donor restrictions | $13,925,073 | $15,905,814 | $17,109,171 | $16,444,448 | $14,664,367 |
| Net assets | $19,332,189 | $24,623,814 | $27,344,171 | $26,773,448 | $28,427,403 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $1,051,006 | $6,093,352 | $3,495,961 | $5,740,918 | $8,611,000 |
| Program service revenue | $12,631,084 | $11,251,000 | $10,633,134 | $10,986,660 | $11,635,141 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $65,584 | $215,210 | $129,323 | $706 | $238,008 |
| Other revenue | $326,425 | $320,761 | $997,591 | $540,638 | $687,772 |
| Total other revenue | $13,023,093 | $11,786,971 | $11,760,048 | $11,528,004 | $12,560,921 |
| Total revenue | $14,074,099 | $17,880,323 | $15,256,009 | $17,268,922 | $21,171,921 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $14,695,379 | $12,668,521 | $11,249,369 | $11,768,281 | $10,325,966 |
| Management and general | $4,663,988 | $5,813,399 | $5,063,001 | $6,598,678 | $7,125,190 |
| Fundraising | $296,690 | $403,061 | $386,599 | $698,395 | $1,157,163 |
| Total expenses | $19,656,057 | $18,884,981 | $16,698,969 | $19,065,354 | $18,608,319 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($5,581,958) | ($1,004,658) | ($1,442,960) | ($1,796,432) | $2,563,602 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($5,581,958) | ($1,004,658) | ($1,442,960) | ($1,796,432) | $2,563,602 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Eric Joseph | President & CEO (thru 12/22) | $153,479 |
| Ted Allen | Executive VP (thru 01/23) | $147,495 |
| Alin Vrancila | VP of Academics | $126,316 |
| Robert Larson | VP of Advancement (thru 06/23) | $119,079 |
| Jessica Taylor | Interim President | $113,699 |
| Joe Slavens | VP of Student Life | $113,046 |
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 7/2/2024. 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.