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Hospice of Southern Maine

EIN 01-0540180 · Scarborough, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Compassion, care, and comfort through end of life.

Income
$25.1 million
Spending
$22.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
186
Volunteers
185
Highest pay
$363,604, ceo/ex officio

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $17.6 million spent. Hospice of Southern Maine's (HSM) Mission is to provide compassion, care, and comfort through end-of-life for patients with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. Our stated vision is as follows: "As a leading provider of Hospice and Palliative Care in Southern Maine, our focus is quality and excellence in patient and family centered care. Striving to be the hospice provider of choice for patients and families, and the hospice employer of choice for healthcare professionals, we endeavor to positively shift societal attitudes concerning death and dying, grief and loss."To meet our Mission, HSM offers comprehensive hospice care to patients in York and Cumberland Counties by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, grief counselors, and volunteers. Our patients have life-limiting illnesses with a prognosis of six months or less. In addition to providing medical, emotional, social and spiritual support to our patients, we also provide care before and after the death for their loved ones. Our core vision includes a focus on shifting societal attitudes concerning death and dying. To fulfill this vision, HSM organizes an annual regional conference on end-of-life topics; provides education to clinical staff in area hospitals; nursing homes; assisted living facilities; colleges and universities; businesses; churches; and the community. Our bereavement program, which is an important part of our mission, offers support for 13 months following the death of a loved one. Our program is unique in that it offers one-on-one counseling at no cost. We also offer eight-week group sessions for people who are interested in connecting with others in a similar situation. Additionally, we provide counseling and group support to anyone in the community who is grieving, whether or not their loved one died while under our care.Formed through a collaborative effort among York and Cumberland County community leaders and health care providers, HSM began providing direct patient services in 2004. In 2007, HSM opened the area's first inpatient hospice facility - the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. Today, HSM is the only free-standing, state licensed, Medicare-certified nonprofit in Maine that is solely focused on providing professional and volunteer direct hospice services to dying patients and their families, regardless of their ability to pay. Demand for our services continues to grow; HSM provides hospice care to 2,100 patients and their families. We employ approximately 157 staff and engage approximately 138 direct care volunteers and 11 admin/event volunteers. Our highly skilled, multidisciplinary team includes physicians, nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains, occupational and physical therapists and grief counselors. This team works together to provide direct patient care in alignment with our mission to provide compassion, care and comfort through the end of life.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.