Berea College - GuideStar Profile
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Berea College
HQ
Investing in Lives of Great Promise
Berea, KY
Learn how to support this organization
Mission
Berea College seeks to uplift students, families, and communities through education and other services provided within the Appalachian region and beyond. On campus in Berea, Kentucky, this mission is accomplished by providing liberal arts education without charging tuition to approximately 1,500 talented students with exceptional financial need. In the surrounding region, Berea College initiatives foster positive growth by empowering families and communities. Eight Great Commitments guide Berea's work promoting educational opportunity, interracial cooperation, and social justice. The College's mission statement can be viewed in its entirety at www.berea.edu/about/mission/.
Notes from the nonprofit
Thank you for visiting Berea College's nonprofit profile. We hope you've discovered something here to inspire and engage. As a philanthropist, only you can activate Berea's mission through your support, so that deserving students have a place designed for their learning and advancement, and financial resources never dictate who can enter and persist in college.
Berea College is the engine of mobility higher education was meant to be. Each year 1,500+ low-income students choose Berea by learning, working, and serving, while knowing their tuition is covered by generous friends like you. Here is what our alumni say about the difference that choice has made in their lives and in subsequent generations. Will you too choose Berea?
The value of free, for me, was freedom. I was able to create a career path that objectively did not exist
when I started college, because I didnt have the burden of debt.Akilah H. 10
Berea gives us the opportunity to end generational poverty.Jamie O. 13
Ruling year
info
1953
President
Cheryl Nixon
Main address
Cpo 2216 101 Chestnut St.
Berea, KY 40404-0001 USA
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Contact Information
Contact
Email contact available with a
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Fundraising Contact
Chad Berry
Vice President for Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy
Fundraising contact phone: (859) 985-3005
[email protected]
Physical Address
Cpo 2216 101 Chestnut St.
Berea, KY 40404-0001
Payment Address
Cpo 2216 101 Chestnut St.
Berea, KY 40404-0001
Donation Payable
Legal name of organization: Berea College
EIN for payable organization: 61-0444650
EIN
61-0444650
NTEE code
info
Higher Education Institutions (B40)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Talent is abundant, but opportunity is not. At Berea College, we believe talented students should not miss out on a high-quality education just because they cannot afford tuition costs. Berea College offers access to a top-tier liberal arts education to students of academic promise and very limited financial means. No Berea student has ever paid a dime for the cost of tuition since 1892. Dating back as far is the Berea tradition of required work: every student works at least ten hours per week.
Berea was founded in a slaveholding state in 1855 expressly to educate female and male, Black and white, students. As the South’s first coeducational and interracial higher education institution, it has continued an unwavering commitment to equality and social justice. Today, its policy of enrolling only deserving, low-income students (students eligible for a Pell grant, excluding citizenship status) and waiving their tuition is a refreshing counterpoint to current higher education challenges.
Our programs
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success,
and who do the programs serve?
Serving Appalachia
Berea College commits itself to engage Appalachian communities, families, and students in partnership for mutual learning, growth, and service. Appalachia is defined by rich traditions and unique cultures that we seek to preserve and celebrate, to share our students’ pride in their homes. The needs are many, as are the difficulties, and we would not be servants of the region if we did not attempt to work with communities in an effort to improve Appalachians' quality of life. Most importantly, we teach our students how to be of service to their families and neighbors and to build brighter futures in the region. The Berea Fund supports this Commitment by helping provide several outreach programs supporting the Appalachian region. Or visit https://give.berea.edu/donate, choose Other in the drop-down menu, and type out the initiative of your choice from the options below. Brushy Fork Leadership Institute: Your gift helps grow regional leadership and guide local development efforts.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
Supportive and Sustainable Living
Berea College commits itself to maintain a residential campus and to encourage in all community members a way of life characterized by mindful and sustainable living, health and wellness, zest for learning, high personal standards, and a concern for the welfare of others. This means we pay close attention to our impact on our environment as we seek to reduce it. We take care of the earth as we take care of ourselves. We immerse ourselves in learning and seek to learn as much as we can our entire lives. And it means that we acknowledge we are not on this journey alone—we will need each other along the way. Your gift to the Berea Fund supports our residential campus, where nearly all students live in residence halls and have access to programming to help them with everything from homework to health. Division III Athletics: Our ascent to the NCAA Division III in 2017-18 is challenging student-athletes to excel on the field and deepening the camaraderie and pride around Berea athletics.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
Gender Equality
Berea College commits itself to create a democratic community dedicated to education and gender equality. In the 19th century, the concept of women going to college, especially alongside men, was controversial. Our founders insisted coeducation could work and that it would work to the benefit of society as a whole. We’ve come a long way since then. In the 21st century, gender equality means more than equality of the sexes. It means ensuring all have a seat at the table, a chance to succeed, and to enjoy the benefits afforded to others. Berea College makes every effort to ensure a democratic and safe campus environment, whether it involves students, staff, or faculty. Your Berea Fund gift supports such programs at the Ecovillage and Child Development Laboratory, and in the classroom.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
Christian Values
Berea College commits itself to stimulate understanding of the Christian faith and its many expressions and to emphasize the Christian ethic and the motive of service to others. Berea College welcomes people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds, because of our Christian commitment, not in spite of it. The education we provide is not engineered to indoctrinate students into a particular viewpoint on Christianity. The education we provide is just one of many expressions of impartial love, made available to people of any faith or no faith at all. Explore the Cause of Christ as Berea's founder understood it: https://www.berea.edu/the-great-commitments/christian-values. Gifts support the College’s work in carrying out Rev. John G. Fee’s “gospel of impartial love.” Visit our Planned Giving page at https://berea.giftlegacy.com/ to learn how your support can endure.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
The Kinship of All People
Berea College commits itself to assert the kinship of all people and to provide interracial education with a particular emphasis on understanding and equality among blacks and whites as a foundation for building community among all peoples of the earth. The “gospel of impartial love” moved Berea College’s founders to set up a school open to everyone in need of education regardless of color, gender, or “caste” in the 1850s. The movement to make education available to all saw violence, rebellions from even within the school, a Supreme Court case, a long hiatus from interracial education, and the eventual 20th century realization of a school for all people. Today, Berea College’s commitment to interracial education evolves as programs and curriculum seek to promote understanding between races and to emphasize the common dignity of being human. Your gift to the Berea Fund helps make all this possible.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
The Dignity of Labor
Berea College commits itself to promote learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program. Educating and developing the whole individual and preparing that individual for success in adulthood means our students must put both their minds and bodies to work. Berea requires all students to work at least 10 hours per week at different campus jobs, from the dining hall to the president’s office. Student labor is not only an integral part of daily operations at Berea, it’s essential for a complete learning experience that prepares our students for life after college. The Berea Fund: Giving to the Berea Fund helps keep Berea’s commitment to labor going strong and provides students with the experience they need to join the workforce. Matching Gifts: Many employers match employees’ charitable giving. To find out if your employer participates, visit our Matching Gifts page at ttps://www.berea.edu/give/matching-gifts/.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
Grow Appalachia at Berea College
Grow Appalachia is a program of Berea College dedicated to alleviating food insecurity. The program partners with well-established non-profit agencies throughout Central Appalachia to help families grow as much of their own food as possible. Grow Appalachia seeks to solve pervasive food insecurity issues by restoring the relationship between the people and the land. When food grows, communities and families grow too. The gardens are worked by nonprofits, farmers market entrepreneurs, the elderly, the Girl Scouts, inmates, the disabled, and others who believe a better food system equals better lives. Some participants garden to save money. Others garden to make money. The program seeks both to educate communities and to learn from communities. It works to preserve the past, build hope for the future, and empower Appalachians to live healthy, productive lives. More program details are available at growappalachia.berea.edu.
Population(s) Served
Families
Educational Opportunity
Berea College commits itself to provide an educational opportunity for students of all races, primarily from Appalachia, who have great promise and limited economic resources. The average annual cost of going to a private, four-year college in the United States is over $48,000 (Trends in College Pricing 2016, 2016). The average tuition and fees alone—almost $36,000—exceed the total annual income of many economically disadvantaged households, especially in Appalachia (Socioeconomic Overview of Appalachia, 2010). Since its interracial founding in 1855, Berea College has sought to offer access to a top-tier liberal arts education to those who cannot afford it. The Berea Fund: (Greatest Need) No student ever pays tuition, while receiving a nationally recognized education and other learning opportunities that level the field for low-income students to succeed. Planned Philanthropy: Much of Berea College’s operating expense is covered by friends who have supported our endowment.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
The Liberal Arts
Berea College commits itself to offer a high-quality liberal arts education that engages students as they pursue their personal, academic, and professional goals. The liberal arts allows an avenue by which we can better understand the world we live in by delving into the central concerns of humanity. In doing so, students develop the critical thinking necessary to address the toughest questions. The Berea Fund: Your gift to the Berea Fund supports our ability to educate students in the great liberal arts tradition, funding everything from poetry to physics. Science Excellence Fund: Your gift provides support for curriculum and program development as well as resources for students and faculty, stimulating intellect and curiosity at the highest levels. Computer Science Alumni Advisory Fund: Your gift will allow students and faculty to participate in supplemental research opportunities, travel to conferences or interviews, and gain access to special software and hardware.
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Students
Where we work
Global
Kentucky (United States)
Ohio (United States)
Tennessee (United States)
United States
Virginia (United States)
West Virginia (United States)
Videos
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The Value of Free: Free tuition is a conversation worth having. Berea College has been paying for students' tuition for more than 130 years, but this isn't about us. This is about what a tuition-free education could mean for society as a whole. Those best equipped to tell that story are our alumni. And the best way for us to contribute to the national conversation is to amplify their voices. #ValueofFree Join the conversation: https://www.valueoffree.com/
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Sharon's Story - Give to Berea
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Nora: A Craft Story
Our results
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reports
Number of scholars who graduate from four year colleges and university within six years
This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Related Program
Educational Opportunity
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This is the number of first-time, full-time students who became Berea graduates. 2024 measures the cohort entering in 2018, which experienced COVID-related impacts during two years.
Graduation rate for first-time, full-time students
This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Related Program
Educational Opportunity
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the graduation rate (percentage) for first-time, full-time students. 2024 measures the cohort entering in 2018, which experienced COVID-related impacts during their college experience.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Learn more about
Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Graduation rates alone can be misleading. Highly selective colleges can achieve impressive attainment rates simply by enrolling students who are likely to graduate anywhere: those from affluent families, often white, whose parents have college degrees. With this in mind, Berea stands out as much for our success as for whom we serve and for what we stand.
Berea aims to enroll a student population reflective of the principles expressed in our Great Commitments: diverse, economically disadvantaged, and “academically hungry” for the top-notch education the College provides.
Through fundraising and other resources, the College promises to cover every student's tuition so that none ever receives a tuition bill—only a list of the scholarships that make their education possible. The College allows Pell grants to help cover the cost of housing and meals.
Recent support mechanisms have resulted in high retention percentages to the second year of college—currently a three-year average of 84 percent. And Berea is striving for a graduation rate of 75 percent (current three-year average is 65)—early unheard of for the Pell-eligible population we serve. Berea is not only affordable; it produces results, graduating students at many times the national average graduation rate for low-income students nationally.
At graduation, Berea students get the best start possible, with an average student debt below $7,000 (for those with any—over 40 percent graduate with zero debt).
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Berea provides tuition-free education by awarding every enrolled student a Tuition Promise Scholarship. This financial model is made possible through a combination of federal/state financial aid, spendable return from the College's endowment, and the philanthropy of alumni and friends.
Berea hires every student it admits. As a federally recognized Work College, Berea requires every student to work on campus for at least 10 hours each week. This work program provides wages (currently about $2,500 each year) and job experience while offsetting some of the need for additional employees. Evaluated as another aspect of the educational experience, the Labor Program ensures students learn as much from their work in more than 100 campus departments as they do in the classroom. One of these valuable lessons is the dignity of both mental and manual labor, as students encounter jobs from cleaning campus facilities to coding new software programs.
Berea College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone 404-679-4500, at http://www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Berea College.
The institutional policy of Berea College is to conform to all policy requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Each year, Berea College achieves headlines for the quality and affordability of its applied, liberal arts education, and for its distinctive attributes including the Labor Program, tuition guarantee, and commitment to serving the underserved throughout its history.
How we listen
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
done
We shared information about our current feedback practices.
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve
Financials
Berea College
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Board of directors
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees
Highest paid employees
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Berea College
Board of directors
as of
02/11/2025
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair
Samantha
Earp
Anne Bonnyman
Reverend
Bill Daugherty
BlackRidge Resource Partners, LLC
Brenda Lane
Social Worker (retired)
Charles Crowe
Retired
Charles Seabury
Rockwell International (retired)
David Sloan
O'Hara, Taylor, Sloan, & Cassidy
Dennis Roop
Center for Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado Denver
Donna Dean
National Institutes of Health (retired)
Dwayne Compton
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Emmanuel Tuffuor
Grant Thornton LLP; KPMG LLP (retired)
Eugene Lowe
Northwestern University
Glenn Jennings
Delta Natural Gas Company (retired)
Jodi D. Gentry
John Fleming
J.E. Fleming Associates, LLC
Joseph Bridy
Hamlin Capital Management, LLC
Megan Torres
Army Audit Agency
Michael Flowers
American Bridge Company (retired)
Robert W. Phillips
Rocky Tuan
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Samantha Earp
Scott Jenkins
S. M. Jenkins & Co.
Shawn Johnson
Guidon Global, LLC
Stephanie Ziegler
Designer
Stephen Campbell
The James Graham Brown Foundation
Tyler Thompson
Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC
Vance Blade
Kroger (retired)
Vicki Allums
Intellectual Property, Department of Defense
William Robbins
Capital Group
Yolanda Gallardo
Gonzaga University
Board leadership practices
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader
in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations?
yes
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ?
Not applicable
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year?
yes
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership?
yes
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years?
yes
Organizational demographics
info
Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities?
Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
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