Conference USA
- operate with integrity and advance high standards of academic performance, sportsmanship and equity. - organize, administer and promote intercollegiate athletics at nationally competitive levels on behalf of our members and their student-athletes.
Conference USA at a glance
In short: Conference USA gave $41.9M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $4.7M), top state Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $41,862,748
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,651,416
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,482,863
- Total assets
- $22,131,810
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (14% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Conference USA funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Liberty University ($5.7M). Together the top 9 received $41.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 36 grants of 57 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Conference USA gives
- Giving grew 30% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28.8M (2021) to $41.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $41.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Annual Distribution | $5,710,256 |
| Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL | Annual Distribution | $4,822,948 |
| Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX | Annual Distribution | $4,758,258 |
| Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | Annual Distribution | $4,609,200 |
| Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY | Annual Distribution | $4,482,863 |
| Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA | Annual Distribution | $4,480,391 |
| New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM | Annual Distribution | $4,447,755 |
| Florida International University Miami, FL | Annual Distribution | $4,442,291 |
| Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA | Annual Distribution | $4,108,786 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,131,810 | $51,751,187 | $52,816,756 | $41,862,748 | 9 | $563,671 |
| 2024 | $23,628,121 | $49,873,678 | $46,258,335 | $35,879,236 | 9 | $328,388 |
| 2023 | $21,120,893 | $50,118,036 | $53,877,226 | $36,696,996 | 11 | $811,096 |
| 2022 | $22,244,952 | $50,435,525 | $43,650,040 | $32,212,680 | 14 | $332,218 |
| 2021 | $10,604,528 | $37,424,827 | $37,271,486 | $28,751,028 | 14 | $252,042 |
| 2020 | $10,605,312 | $40,861,629 | $41,257,050 | $30,317,553 | 14 | $239,879 |
About Conference USA
Based on IRS filings
Conference USA is a public charity focused on Recreation & Sports, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $22.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $41.9M. Net investment income was $564K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Conference USA's 2025 filing lists 17 officers; 6 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Judy Macleod
Commissioner
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$683K (2020) → $1.2M (2025)
Keisha Dunlap
Deputy Commissioner
Senior Associate Commissioner → Deputy Commissioner, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$161K (2020) → $232K (2025)
Kelly Carney
Senior Associate Commissioner
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$154K (2020) → $178K (2025)
Cornelius Stallings
Associate Commissioner
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$111K (2024) → $116K (2025)
Robert Philippi
Executive Associate Commissioner
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$183K (2024) → $190K (2025)
Scott Hays
Former Chief of Staff & General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Heather Wilson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sidney A. McPhee
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy C. Caboni
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Jessell
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alisa White
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Killingsworth
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dondi Costin
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Henderson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Schwaig
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Torres
Former Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerio Ferme
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Andrew C. Mitchell (2020–2024) — Former Associate Commissioner
- Former: Leslie K. Guice (2020–2024) — Former Board Member
- Former: Jay Gogue (2024) — Board Member
- Former: John Kelly (2020–2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Neal Smatresk (2020–2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Ray L. Watts (2020–2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Thomas Taylor Eighmy (2020–2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Rob Philippi (2021–2023) — Executive Associate Commissioner
- Former: Sharon Gaber (2021–2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Cameron Campbell (2023) — Associate Commissioner
- Former: Drew Mitchell (2023) — Associate Commisioner
- Former: Reginald Desroches (2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Brian Mackin (2020–2022) — Deputy Commissioner
- Former: David Leebron (2020–2022) — Former Board Member
- Former: Jerome A. Gilbert (2020–2022) — Former Board Member
- Former: Mark B. Rosenberg (2020–2022) — Former Board Member
- Former: Rodney D. Bennett (2020–2022) — Former Board Member
- Former: Brad Smith (2022) — Former Board Member
- Former: Brian Hemphill (2022) — Former Board Member
- Former: John R. Broderick (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Philip Dubois (2020–2021) — Former Board Member
- Former: Diana S. Natalicio (2020) — Former Board Member
- Former: Merton Hanks (2020) — Associate Commissioner
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.2M, to Judy Macleod (Commissioner). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Conference USA
How much does Conference USA give each year?
Conference USA gave $41.9M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $35.9M across 9 grants.
What is Conference USA's typical grant size?
Conference USA's median grant in 2025 was $4,482,863, and its average grant was $4,651,416, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Conference USA give grants?
Conference USA's top state is Virginia, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Alabama (12%) and Texas (11%).
Does Conference USA give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Conference USA's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Annual Distribution" (9 grants).
Who are Conference USA's largest grantees?
Conference USA's largest 2025 grantees include Liberty University ($5,710,256), Jacksonville State University ($4,822,948) and Sam Houston State University ($4,758,258), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Conference USA?
Conference USA reported $22.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $51.8M.
What is Conference USA?
Conference USA is a public charity focused on Recreation & Sports, based in Dallas, TX. It holds $22.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Conference USA's EIN?
Conference USA's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4021594. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Conference USA's focus areas in our free grants database
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