Berea College is a 501(c)(3) educational institution located in Berea, Kentucky. Founded in 1855, it is a four-year undergraduate liberal arts college that is distinctive in American higher education for its commitment to accessibility and affordability. The college was the first integrated, co-educational college in the South and has not charged students tuition since 1892. Every admitted student receives a four-year tuition scholarship and participates in a campus work program of 10 hours per week.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1B
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$892K
-55.1% YoY
Grant Count
51
-7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-51.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Berea College is distinctive among institutions of higher learning in awarding four-year tuition scholarships to all its students, who because of financial circumstances cannot otherwise afford a high-quality, residential, liberal arts education.
The college's program areas include:
- Instruction — Academic departments and instruction activities benefiting approximately 1,500 students
- Student Services — Support services including admissions, student life, health services, labor program, and financial aid
- Public Service — Engagement with Appalachian communities through multiple initiatives:
- Partners for Education — Cradle-to-career work with 50,000+ pre-K through high school students in Appalachian Kentucky, funded primarily through the Department of Education
- Grow Appalachia — Addresses food insecurity in central Appalachia through private, state, and federal funding
- Brushy Fork Leadership Institute — Supports emerging leaders in rural communities
- The Appalachian Fund — Sub-grants monies from Berea College's Appalachian Fund endowment to improve health, education, and general welfare of people living in Appalachia
- Residence Halls and Dining
Grantmaking
Berea College makes grants with a focus on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, primarily in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. According to the most recent tax filing (2023), the college reported total giving of $4,988,153.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Berea College's grantmaking and public service activities focus primarily on Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, with particular emphasis on Appalachian communities. The college operates in 14 countries internationally.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,976,552,784
- Total Revenue: $157,457,303
- Total Expenses: $134,094,613
- Total Liabilities: $110,000,000
- Employees: 1,084
Annual Revenue: $132,238,258
The college is tax-exempt since February 1953 (EIN: 61-0444650) and holds a Four-Star rating based on a 99% overall score.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,105,673,831 | $1,976,552,784 | $1,868,201,097 |
| Revenue | $139,250,388 | $157,457,303 | $243,070,272 |
| Expenses | $121,442,033 | $134,094,613 | $155,512,051 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $65,583,930 | $31,504,233 | $99,875,932 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Cheryl Nixon — President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EARP SAMANTHA | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| ZEIGLER STEPHANIE BOWLING | CHAIR | 7 | — |
| ALLUMSVICKI E | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| ARMSTRONG CASSIE CHAMBERS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ARMSTRONG CELESTE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| BEASON CHARLOTTE F | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| BLADE VANCE | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| BONNYMAN ANNE BERRY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| BRIDY JOSEPH JOHN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| CAMPBELL STEPHEN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CHOW DAVID H | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| COMPTON DWAYNE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CROWE CHARLES | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| DAUGHERTY BILL | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| DEAN DONNA J | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| FLEMING JOHN E | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| FLOWERS MICHAEL D | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| GALLARDO YOLI | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JENKINS SCOTT M | VICE CHAIR | 4 | — |
| JENNINGS GLENN R | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JOHNSON SHAWN C D | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LANE BRENDA W | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LOWE JR EUGENE Y | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| PRIDE MIRIAM | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| RICHARDSON WILLIAM B | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROBBINS WILLIAM L | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROOP DENNIS R | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| SEABURY II CHARLES WARD | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| SHELTON DAVID E | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| SLOAN DAVID | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| THOMPSON TYLER S | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| TORRES MEGAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TUAN ROCKY S | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TUFFOUR EMMANUEL A | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| AMBURGEY JEFFREY S | VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE | 50 | $201,571 |
| BERRY CHAD | VP FOR ALUMNI, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PHILANTHROPY | 50 | $251,979 |
| Gus Gerassimides | Interim Vice President for Student Life | 50 | $112,924 |
| LOGSDON PHILLIP | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER | 40 | $138,646 |
| MACK DWAYNE | VP FOR DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION | 50 | $134,550 |
| NIXON CHERYL L STARTED JULY 2023 | PRESIDENT | 60 | $236,227 |
| ROBINSON COLLIS | DEAN OF LABOR | 50 | $125,558 |
| ROELOFS LYLE D | (President through June 2023) PRESIDENT EMERITUS (through June 2024) | 60 | $497,421 |
| SADERHOLM MATT | DEAN OF FACULTY | 50 | $173,270 |
| SINGLETON DERRICK | VP FOR OPERATIONS & SUSTAINABILITY | 50 | $196,665 |
| STEELE SCOTT | PROVOST | 50 | $193,185 |
| THOMPSON TERI | Chief Strategy Officer | 50 | $146,504 |
| WILSON II JUDGE B | SECRETARY/GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $274,325 |
| GARY MAHONEY | Professor of Engineering Technologies and Applied Design | 40 | $127,348 |
| KENNISON MONICA | CHAIR OF NURSING | 40 | $182,263 |
| LAWSON STEVE | ASSOC VP FOR HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $140,525 |
| NORRIS JOHN DAVID | PROFESSOR/CO-DIR OF EPG | 40 | $129,277 |
| TERESA DAVIS | Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni and Philanthropy | 40 | $151,818 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Berea College's Brushy Fork Leadership Institute launched an initiative to strengthen central Appalachia's nonprofit ecosystem. The institute supports emerging leaders in rural communities through funding from Berea College, contract revenue, and private funding.
Berea College\u2019s Brushy Fork Leadership Institute Launches Initiative\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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