Mercy Hospital
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mercy Hospital d/b/a Northern Light Mercy Hospital carries out the healing work of Christ by providing clinically excellent, compassionate healthcare for all, with special concern for the poor and disadvantaged.
- Income
- $328.2 million
- Spending
- $315.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 1,925
- Volunteers
- 77
- Highest pay
- $2.0 million, trustee/ex-off
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $232.2 million spent. Provide healthcare services regardless of ability to pay as well as education, research and promotion of health. Provided other uncompensated care (at cost) of $4,054,831.
- $35.0 million spent. Medicare shortfalls (at cost) 44,347 persons served
- $14.3 million spent. Medicaid shortfalls (at cost) 41,334 persons served
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Charity care provided (at cost): 690 persons served OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Please see the following excerpt from the Northern Light Health Annual Report 2024 to the Community for details of community benefit projects at NLH members:Thinking Globally, Acting LocallyAs we reflect on the past year at Northern Light Health, we are reminded of our responsibility to deliver exceptional care while adapting to and rising up to meet our challenges. This years annual report theme, thinking globally, acting locally, demonstrates how we remain focused on our promise of making healthcare work for Maine people. In this 2024 annual report, we share many remarkable stories. You will read about how we eliminated a common operating room gas out of concern for our environment, how mobile mammography brings services to rural areas, how a youth summit addresses mental health challenges, a patients journey through gender-affirming voice therapy, and one familys experience of becoming caregivers.These stories highlight our promise to meet local needs while contributing to global solutions. Weve persevered, strengthened services, and stayed true to promise.Thank you for your trust, partnership, and support as we navigate this journey together.Timothy J. Dentry, MBA, President & CEO Northern Light Health John Ryan Board Chair Northern Light HealthMember MapBangor Northern Light Acadia Hospital Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical CenterNorthern Light Health Foundation Northern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Pharmacy Northern Light Work Health Northern Light Work ForceBrewer Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Northern Light Health Home Office Northern Light Pharmacy Pittsfield Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital Northern Light Work HealthWaterville Northern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Inland Hospital Northern Light Work HealthEllsworth Northern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital Northern Light Work HealthBlue Hill Northern Light Blue Hill HospitalPortlandNorthern Light Home Care & Hospice Northern Light Laboratory Northern Light Mercy Hospital Northern Light Pharmacy Northern Light Healthy Life EAP Northern Light Work HealthPresque Isle Northern Light AR Gould Hospital Northern Light Home Care & HospiceNorthern Light Work HealthGreenville Northern Light CA Dean HospitalDover Foxcroft Northern Light Mayo Hospital Northern Light Work HealthYouth Mental HealthDont dance around the issueThe needs of teen mental health have reached alarming levels in Maine, and a group of passionate student volunteers at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has responded. The Youth Mental Health Summit was established to provide tools, support, and the understanding necessary to better navigate the complexities of adolescent mental health.Stella Fox, a student volunteer manager and senior at Hampden Academy, says she had her own journey with mental health. Im a pretty busy person. I am someone who, if Im not busy, I try to find things to make my life busier, she laughs, describing her packed schedule.As part of that busy life, Fox struggles with the internal pressures of being a teenager, especially in the demanding world of dance. There is a lot of pressure in dance about a certain look youre supposed to have, she adds, Obviously, thats tough for anybody to hear. But when youre going through your teen years, youre facing a lot of other pressures and challenges. Fox and her fellow student manager and student at John Bapst, Ada Sinclair-Steele, are passionate about making a difference. Each year, high school students who participate in the volunteer program at the medical center work on a passion project for a cause that they choose. In 2024, the group chose youth mental health."I really didnt know that much about mental health when we started, Fox admits, But as we brainstormed and discussed different ideas, I realized how crucial it was to create a space where teens could learn how to take care of their mental health.Stacey Coventry, the director of community engagement at Eastern Maine Medical Center helped guide the students. For this passion project, one of the things we talked about was wanting to have a community forum that brought adults and peers together to openly have a dialogue about all the things that contributed to their mental health. Everything from bullying to stress in schools, social media, suicide awareness and prevention, and grief and bereavement, all the different things that affect our mental health. They wanted to have a dialogue, but also have a way to show kids that there are other ways that they can cope with these things.The summit featured a variety of activities, from art therapy and nature-based therapy to animal-assisted therapy and open panel discussions. We jumped right into adventure-based activities, because to learn about adventure-based activities through a lecture seems counterintuitive. We had them doing things like a pool noodle shuffle, which is when everybody holds a pool noodle and at the same time they have to let go of their pool noodle and grab the noodle of the person next to them without letting it hit the floor, and we let them work through some of their frustrations, explains Shane Mack McPherson, psychiatric technician and activities coordinator, Northern Light Acadia Hospital. Having summits like this is important because there are not many of them around here, especially geared toward high school students, says Sinclair-Steele, So many teens struggle with mental health challenges and this helps provide resources to seek help within our communities.Coventry was moved by the students engagement. I was hoping they would feel less alone and walk away with a new way to manage their mental health, she says, I also hoped theyd be excited to share what theyd learned with their peers and family members. The summit wasnt just about learning new coping mechanisms; it was also about breaking
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.