Butler Hospital
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE TREATMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND TO CONTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE THROUGH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH WHILE CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THE WAYS THE HOSPITAL SERVICES ITS PATIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT STATEMENT.
- Income
- $184.8 million
- Spending
- $215.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 1,366
- Volunteers
- 103
- Highest pay
- $2.2 million, director - president/ceo/cne
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (mental health, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (mental health, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 17 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, 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 (3)
- $194.2 million spent. EXPENSES INCURRED IN PROVIDING VARIOUS MEDICALLY NECESSARY PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT STATEMENT.
- Butler Hospital ("Butler") is a non-profit psychiatric and addictions Hospital. Butler is recognized by the IRS as an internal revenue code section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Pursuant to its charitable purposes, Butler provides medically necessary healthcare services to all individuals in a non-discriminatory manner regardless of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, culture, language, disability, marital status, education, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, income, or ability to pay bill. Moreover, Butler operates consistently with the following criteria outlined in IRS revenue ruling 69-545: 1. Butler provides medically necessary healthcare services to all individuals regardless of ability to pay, including charity care, self- pay, Medicare and Medicaid patients; 2. Butler operates an active emergency room for all persons; which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year; 3. Butler maintains an open medical staff, with privileges available to all qualified physicians; 4. Control of Butler rests with the board of directors of Care New England Health System and is comprised of independent civic leaders and other prominent members of the community; and 5. Surplus funds are used to improve the quality of patient care, expand and renovate facilities and advance medical care; programs and activities. The operations of Butler, as shown through the factors outlined above and other information contained herein, clearly demonstrate that the Hospital provides substantial community benefit and that the use and control of Butler is for the benefit of the public and that no part of the income or net earnings of the organization inures to the benefit of any private individual nor is any private interest being served other than incidentally. History ======= Butler is an affiliate within the Care New England Health System ("Care New England"). Care New England is the tax-exempt parent of the health system. This tax-exempt integrated healthcare delivery system consists of a group of affiliated healthcare organizations. Founded in 1844, Butler is Rhode Island's only private, non-profit psychiatric and addictions Hospital for adults, adolescents, and seniors. Butler is affiliated with the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and is the flagship Hospital for its department of psychiatry, which has been recognized by its peers as one of the top ten in the United States. A national leader in the development of acute psychiatric and substance abuse treatment, Butler is involved in a variety of research efforts which has earned it a national reputation as a major teaching and research facility. Care New England was formed in February 1996 by founding members Butler Hospital, Kent County Memorial Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. These three Hospitals are all internal revenue code section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. In June 1999, Kent County Visiting Nurse Association, later changing its name to VNA of Care New England, became a member of the Care New England family. In 2000, Healthtouch, Inc., a private duty nursing service, joined the VNA. As of September 3, 2013, Southeastern Healthcare System, Inc. ("SHS"), an internal revenue code section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization located in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, became a subsidiary of Care New England. Care New England was founded on the vision that we can build a better system of healthcare for the people and communities of Southeastern New England. The system offers the latest advances in medicine, specialty-trained doctors, and respected services and care. An integrated health system that offers a continuum of quality care, Care New England is moving healthcare forward and reinventing the way healthcare is delivered. This approach puts a broad spectrum of care - addressing primary care, medical care, surgery, women's health, cardiology and behavioral health and an array of specialty and subspecialty programs - all under one umbrella so they are easily accessible to patients and families. Care New England is currently comprised of six members: Butler Hospital, Rhode Island's only private, nonprofit psychiatric and addictions hospital for adults, young adults, adolescents and seniors; Kent County Memorial Hospital, the second largest community hospital in the state, providing a full spectrum of primary and secondary acute care services; Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, one of the nation's busiest obstetrical facilities with one of the nation's largest single-family room neonatal intensive care units, the area's only tertiary neonatal facility, and various specialty services; the Memorial Hospital, until its closure on May 1, 2018, was a community Hospital based in Pawtucket, RI, the VNA of Care New England, which provides a broad spectrum of home health and hospice services; and The Providence Center, providing outpatient mental health and substance use services in clinics, patients' homes, schools and neighborhoods. The system includes a solid, diverse combination of physician specialists and generalists and a strong commitment to education. Butler, Women & Infants Hospitals are major teaching affiliates of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, while Kent is a teaching site for the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, Care New England is committed to advance the field of knowledge in medicine through national and internationally-funded and recognized research projects. Care New England provides medically necessary healthcare services to patients who meet certain criteria under its charity care policy without charge or at amounts less than the established rates. Because Care New England does not pursue collection of amounts determined to qualify as charity care, they are not reported as revenue. Charity care includes services to uninsured patients who qualify for charity care under
- Values ====== At Butler, we put the patient and their families at the center of all we do. In our day-to-day interactions with patients and each other, our actions and decisions are guided by the following core values: - accountability, - caring, and - teamwork. Overview ======== Butler is the only adolescent, adult and geriatric psychiatric treatment Hospital serving Rhode Island and Southeastern New England. It provides assessment and treatment for all major psychiatric illnesses and substance abuse disorders. Butler's inpatient program has seven treatment units with specialty programs for adolescents, young adults and seniors, people with substance abuse problems, and patients needing intensive care. Butler's Partial-Hospital program has separate programs for psychiatric disorders and substance abuse disorders, including an ambulatory detoxification program. Butler's neurology department provides outpatient care in its memory and aging and movement disorders programs. Butler is a member of the Care New England Health System and is a major teaching affiliate of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. It is the flagship Hospital for Brown's Department of Psychiatry which has been recognized as one of the top ten in the United States. It is also a training facility for residents, medical students, interns, and students in adult psychiatry and psychology at Brown University as well as nursing, pharmacy, social work and occupational therapy students and interns from other colleges and universities in the region and across the country. A nationally and internationally recognized research center, Butler leads cutting-edge research initiatives which include studies in depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders, movement disorders, anxiety, caregiver stress, substance abuse and family violence, risk-taking behaviors, and smoking cessation. Butler employs approximately 900 full-time and part-time clinical and non-clinical staff. More than 100 volunteers assist the staff in nearly all areas of the Hospital. As a regional center in psychiatry, Butler provides services to people dealing with a wide range of psychiatric and substance use problems including but not limited to: - depression - bipolar disorder - suicidal behavior - substance use disorders - psychotic disorders - obsessive compulsive disorder - movement disorders - memory disorders - Alzheimer's disease - anxiety disorders Comprehensive services ====================== Butler provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and treatment in these primary settings: Patient assessment services - 24-hour evaluations and assessments for people with psychiatric illnesses, such as major depression, anxiety, or addiction disorders. Inpatient care - provides 24-hour treatment for major psychiatric illnesses including depression, manic-depressive illness, psychotic disorders and substance abuse detoxification. The Hospital also provides specialized programs for adolescents, seniors affected by Alzheimer's disease, memory loss and other problems associated with aging. Partial Hospital programs - combines Hospital treatment with a patient's life at home and in the community. The partial Hospital has specialized services including abused women, young adult and adult psychiatric illnesses and behavioral problems, and adult substance abuse. Outpatient services - the Hospital provides specialized services through its memory and aging program and movement disorders program as well as Intensive outpatient services for obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders. Community service ================= The Hospital supports the following organizations in a variety of ways including community education and awareness programs, providing meeting and conference and office space, and participation on various boards and committees working to improve the mental health status of people and families. Alcoholics Anonymous Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University American Occupational Therapy Association Autism Project Behavioral Health Council of Community Mental Health Centers Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals Department of Health Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Gamblers Anonymous Ivy League Psychiatric Hospitals Latino Public Radio Manic Depressive and Depressive Association Mental Health Association of Rhode Island National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Rhode Island National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems Narcotics Anonymous OCD Rhode Island, OCD international foundation Rhode Island Parenting Information Network National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island State Nurses Association Rhode Island Blood Center Rhode Island Psychotherapy Society United Way Public and Professional education programs ========================================== Butler Hospital believes community education and information is critical to reducing stigma and improving treatment outcomes through early recognition of a possible problem. Annually, the Hospital sponsors public and professional education programs including the annual Antonio Capone, MD conference on the aging brain and OCD monthly education lecture series. In addition, the Hospital is a yearly sponsor of the annual May is Mental Health month programs offered by the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island. The Hospital also participates in ongoing health education activities offered by its Care New England partners. Patient Family Education Center & On-line Mental Health Screenings ================================================================== The Butler Hospital Patient/Family Education Center provides free information on behavioral disorders, addiction, and other medical issues. Computer searches are provided on request. Developed in association with the Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Manic Depressive and Depressive Illness association, the Center is the largest Hospit
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1919.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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