Western Governors University
Wgu's mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. Wgu does this by operating and administering an institution of higher education and learning.
Western Governors University at a glance
In short: Western Governors University gave $2.5M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $2.5M), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,489,217
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $2,489,217
- Median grant
- $2,489,217
- Total assets
- $852,320,868
- +29.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Western Governors University funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Social Finance Inc ($2.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 4 grants of 7 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Western Governors University gives
- Giving fell 88% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2025) to $22.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Social Finance Inc Boston, MA | Establishment of Renew Fund | $2,489,217 |
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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 | $852,320,868 | $1,684,644,684 | $1,527,430,486 | $2,489,217 | 1 | $51,019 |
| 2024 | $658,288,517 | $1,462,468,978 | $1,280,651,233 | — | — | $305,042 |
| 2023 | $393,807,673 | $654,374,330 | $619,062,159 | — | — | $46,231 |
| 2022 | $30,227,281 | $79,386,691 | $70,012,401 | $20,535,000 | 3 | $193,554 |
| 2021 | $2,449,192 | $11,961,161 | $28,338,732 | $22,423,216 | 3 | $-20,747 |
| 2020 | $18,294,694 | $10,328,970 | $4,168,618 | — | — | $44,524 |
About Western Governors University
Based on IRS filings
Western Governors University is a public charity focused on Education, based in Salt Lake City, UT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $852.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $2.5M. Net investment income was $51K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Western Governors University is led by Scott Pulsipher, Trustee & President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 12 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Pulsipher
Trustee & President
Director & President → Trustee & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1.9M (2023) → $0 (2025)
Stacey Ludwig Johnson
Executive Director & Work-Based Pathways
Senior Vice President & School of Education → Executive Director & Work-Based Pathways, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$393K (2024) → $427K (2025)
Joe Fuller
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cole Clark
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David E. Simmons
Trustee
Director & Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessie Wooley-Wilson
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April Chou
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gov Eric Holcomb
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gov Jared Polis
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John W. Bluford III
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerry Healy
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Talia Milgrom-Elcott
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dwana Franklin-Davis
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harold Lee Martin Sr.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Watkins
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David R. Grow
Chief Operating Officer
Director & Treasurer → COO, 2023
COO → Chief Operating Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$687K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Robert Hunt
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Secretary → Senior Vice President, General Council & Secretary, 2022
Senior Vice President, General Council & Secretary → Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$137K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Nadeem Syed
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$167K (2022) → $0 (2025)
David Perkinson
Senior Vice President & Program Development
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$389K (2024) → $481K (2025)
Deborah Fowler
Senior Vice President & Academic Delivery
Senior Vice President & Student Successor → Senior Vice President & Academic Delivery, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$407K (2024) → $527K (2025)
Gene Hayes
Senior Vice President & Regional Operations
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$388K (2024) → $444K (2025)
Joseph Dery
Vice President & Dean - School of Tech
Vice President & Dean-School of Technology → Vice President & Dean - School of Tech, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$306K (2024) → $340K (2025)
Mitsu Frazier
Senior Vice President & Business College
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$459K (2024) → $534K (2025)
Paul Bingham
Senior Vice President & School of Technology
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$361K (2024) → $441K (2025)
Sarah Demark
Vice Provost
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$332K (2024) → $360K (2025)
Scott Neuner
Senior Vice President & Marketing
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$356K (2024) → $397K (2025)
Kimberly Estep
Regional Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$326K (2025)
Richard Benbow
Regional Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$358K (2025)
Tonya Drake
Regional Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$326K (2025)
Lenny Mendonca
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Hills McBeth
Chief Academic Officer & Provost
CAO & Provost → Chief Academic Officer & Provost, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Keith Smith (2024–2025) — Senior Vice President & Leavitt School of Health · Filing note: Thru 824
- Former: Samuel H. Smith (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Charles Sorenson (2023–2024) — Chair
- Former: Ashutosh Tiwary (2024) — Senior Vice President & School of Technology
- Former: Eric Weaver (2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Rebecca Watts (2024) — Regional Vice President
- Former: The Honorable Jim Geringer (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Tammy Johns (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bonnie Pattee (2022–2023) — Senior Vice President & People
- Former: Paul Droubay (2022–2023) — Vice President & Total Rewards
- Former: Sam Smith (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Annalisa Holcombe (2023) — President & Wgu Advancement
- Former: Jason Thompson (2023) — Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion
- Former: Jeremy Robinson (2023) — Vice President & People Development
- Former: Jim Geringer (2023) — Director
- Former: Marni Baker-Stein (2023) — Chief Academic Officer
- Former: Sara Reed (2023) — Vice President, People & Talent
- Former: Curt Defriez (2020–2022) — Vice President of Accounting
- Former: Matthew Sanders (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President & University Development
- Former: Andre Bennin (2021–2022) — Senior Vice President & Managing Partner
- Former: Maia Sharpley (2022) — Senior Vice President & Managing Partner
- Former: Scott Tanner (2022) — Vice President of Finance
- Former: Wesley Smith (2022) — Senior Vice President, Policy & Public Affairs
- Former: Andre Bueno (2020–2021) — University Development Director
- Former: Michael Morris (2020–2021) — Senior Manager & Head of Strategy
- Former: Rebecca Marquette (2020–2021) — University Development Director
- Former: Sean Brown (2020–2021) — Senior Associate & General Counsel
- Former: Charlie Nguyen (2021) — University Development Director
- Former: Jacob Hancock (2020) — Business Ops & Production Manager
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 $585K, to Keith Smith (Sr VP, Leavitt School of Health (Thru 8/2024)). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Western Governors University
How much does Western Governors University give each year?
Western Governors University gave $2.5M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Western Governors University?
Western Governors University reported $852.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.7B.
What is Western Governors University?
Western Governors University is a public charity focused on Education, based in Salt Lake City, UT. It holds $852.3M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Western Governors University operate?
Western Governors University has awarded grants in Massachusetts, Utah.
What is Western Governors University's EIN?
Western Governors University's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4365018. 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
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- 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 Western Governors University's focus areas in our free grants database
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To support the educational and charitable purposes of western governors university by engaging in fund-raising activities, including identifying opportunities for funded research projects, building alumni outreach, soliciting support from government agencies and private foundations, and other related activities.
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Mellen Charitable Fdn (FKA TF Fdn)
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Mellen Charitable Foundation supports organizations in areas including cancer care, reproductive health, employment and education, youth services, and environmental and marine conservation, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Connecticut and Massachusetts. Its 17 grants totaled $35.7 million; amounts ranged from $200,000 to about $25 million, with a median of $425,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
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Total Given
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Western Governors University down — hundreds of funders to go?