Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 30% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
VNS HEALTH IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST NONPROFIT HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS. WE HELP PEOPLE LIVE, AGE, AND HEAL WHERE THEY FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
- Income
- $56.9 million
- Spending
- $30.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 30%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 82%
- Employees
- 1,058
- Volunteers
- 26
- Highest pay
- $3.2 million, director - ceo/president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1530% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 27 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $4.4 million spent. COMMUNITY BENEFITS & OTHER: IN 2024, VNS HEALTH RECEIVED MONIES FOR GRANTS AND PROVIDED MONETARY SUPPORT TO OTHER TAX EXEMPT AFFILIATES WHICH IMPROVED THE LIVES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS, YOUNG AND OLD, INCLUDING THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED THROUGH EXPANDED ACCESS TO CARE TO UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT AGING IN PLACE, ADVANCE RESEARCH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND DEVELOP THE FUTURE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE. IN ADDITION, VNS HEALTH AND ITS AFFILIATES - TOGETHER WITH ITS GENEROUS SUPPORTERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS - PROVIDED OVER $69 MILLION IN CHARITABLE CARE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS BELOW AND RESEARCH AS DESCRIBED IN 4B, FUNDS RAISED BY VNS HEALTH FOR ITS AFFILIATES ARE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THEM. DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VNS HEALTH TO OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDED: CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD NATURALLY OCCURRING RETIREMENT COMMUNITY ("NNORC"): IN 2024 VNS HEALTH, TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDERS, PROVIDED THE NNORC OVER $530,000 IN FUNDING, ENABLING THE PROGRAM TO SERVE THIS LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY. SINCE INCEPTION, THE VNS HEALTH CHINATOWN NNORC HAS SERVED OVER 1445 SENIORS, 60 AND OLDER. IN 2024, THE NNORC TOUCHED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF SENIORS, WHO RESIDE IN MANHATTAN'S CHINATOWN COMMUNITY. THESE SENIORS RESIDE IN AGING, WALK-UP TENEMENT APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT IDEAL FOR AGING TENANTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE STAIRS. AS A RESULT, MANY ARE HOMEBOUND AND FACE ISOLATION LONELINESS AND DETERIORATING HEALTH. MOST OF THESE SENIORS DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, HAVE LOW LITERACY IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, AND ARE CHALLENGED NEGOTIATING SOCIAL SERVICES AND HEALTH NETWORKS WITHOUT SPECIAL OUTREACH EFFORTS. NNORC TEAM MEMBERS DELIVER SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE THESE VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEALTH, SOCIAL AND TRANSLATION SERVICES THEY NEED IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY AGE IN PLACE. OUR CULTURALLY COMPETENT COLLEAGUES PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE ASSESSMENT AND LINKAGE TO RESOURCES TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THESE NUMEROUS SERVICES, INCLUDING ACCESS TO ENTITLEMENTS AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES, PROVIDE IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS TO NNORC MEMBERS IN ITS STOREFRONT SPACE AT 7 MOTT STREET, WHICH IT SHARES WITH THE VNS HEALTH CHINATOWN COMMUNITY CENTER. THE NNORC ALSO RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS BY COORDINATING A MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE AS WELL AS THE NY ASIAN AMERICAN ADVANCE DIRECTIVES TASK FORCE. NNORC TEAM MEMBERS SUPPORT MEMBERS WHO ARE FRAIL OR HOMEBOUND IN THEIR APARTMENTS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL AND HEALTH CONCERNS, AND ASSIST MEMBERS IN MAKING THEIR HOME SAFE AND HAZARD-FREE. OUR NNORC TEAM ALSO PROVIDES REFERRALS AND LINKS TO THE SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH VNS HEALTH'S MISSION TO SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY LIVING. VNS HEALTH OPENED THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY CENTER IN 1999. THE CENTER IS A PLACE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO FIND HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT AS THEY AGE. IN DECEMBER 2022, TWO NEW VNS HEALTH COMMUNITY CENTERS OPENED TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN FLUSHING, QUEENS AND IN SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN. IN 2024, OVER 42,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED AT THESE CENTERS, AND 979 EVENTS WERE HELD, INCLUDING HEALTH WORKSHOPS AND OTHER SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS. HOSPICE PHYSICIAN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: SINCE 2004, VNS HEALTH HAS OPERATED A HIGHLY REGARDED PHYSICIAN FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM. IT OFFERS PARTICIPANTS CAREFULLY DESIGNED HOSPICE ROTATIONS LASTING UP TO THREE MONTHS. THESE ROTATIONS GIVE THE FELLOWS A UNIQUE, HUMANISTIC HOME HOSPICE CARE EXPERIENCE THAT AIMS TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF PHYSICIANS AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS. THE 2024 ACADEMIC CLASS COMPRISED OF 42 FELLOWS FROM NINE MEDICAL CENTERS (ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI, MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL COLUMBIA CAMPUS, NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN QUEENS, LINCOLN MEDICAL CENTER, JAMAICA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, BROOKDALE HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CANCER AND ALLIED DISEASES). CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES: VNS HEALTH SUPPORTS SEVERAL PEDIATRIC AND FAMILY PROGRAMS. THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM PAIRS SPECIALLY TRAINED NURSES WITH FIRST-TIME, LOW-INCOME MOTHERS FROM PREGNANCY THROUGH THE CHILD'S SECOND BIRTHDAY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES IN THE BRONX AND IN NASSAU COUNTY. AS OF DECEMBER 2024, THE PROGRAM HAD A CENSUS OF 582 MOTHERS. PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES: IN 2024 VNS HEALTH PROVIDED $129,000 IN SUPPORT TO PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES. THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2009 IN COLLABORATION WITH KEY HOSPITAL PROVIDERS AND SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN INTEGRATED PALLIATIVE CARE MODEL, WITH INTERVENTIONS BEGINNING AT DIAGNOSIS AND INCORPORATES BOTH CURATIVE AND COMFORT MEASURES. VNS HEALTH SERVES AN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE MULTICULTURAL POPULATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH LIFE THREATENING AND LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS. THE TEAM CONSISTS OF A PEDIATRIC ELNEC (END OF LIFE NURSING CONSORTIUM) TRAINED INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS AND REHAB CLINICIANS COVERING BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN AND QUEENS. HOSPICE INTERDISCIPLINARY STAFF ATTEND PEDIATRIC ELNEC TRAINING TO INCREASE CLINICAL COMPETENCY IN CARING FOR CHILDREN AT END OF LIFE. IN 2024, VNS HEALTH COMPLETED TWO PEDIATRIC ELNEC TRAININGS BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CLINICIANS TRAINED TO 225. HOSPICE TEAMS IN ALL REGIONS CARE FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS THROUGH END OF LIFE WITH PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION. THE CONCURRENT CARE ACT FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ALLOWS CHILDREN ON HOSPICE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CURATIVE THERAPIES SUCH AS CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION WHILE RECEIVING HOSPICE CARE. IN 2024, THERE WERE 86 PEDIATRIC ADMISSIONS WITH A TOTAL OF 760 VISITS MADE. THE MAJORITY OF PALLIATIVE CARE REFERRALS ARE FOR INFANTS WITH COMPL
- $4.9 million spent. RESEARCH: THE CENTER FOR HOME CARE POLICY & RESEARCH AT VNS HEALTH, ESTABLISHED IN 1993, CONDUCTS SCIENTIFICALLY RIGOROUS RESEARCH TO PROMOTE THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE CARE IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY. THE FINDINGS FROM OUR WORK SUPPORT INFORMED DECISION MAKING BY POLICY MAKERS, PAYERS, MANAGERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND CONSUMERS OF HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES. IT IS THE ONLY HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH CENTER HOUSED IN AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS VNS HEALTH. THE RESEARCH CENTER TEAM REGULARLY PUBLISH IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES TO DISSEMINATE THE FINDINGS TO THE SCIENTIFIC AND POLICY COMMUNITIES. ALIGNING WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM DEBATE, THE RESEARCH CENTER FOCUSES ON HOME CARE'S ROLE WITHIN THE ENTIRE HEALTH CARE CONTINUUM. THE RESEARCH CENTER ADVANCES A BROAD VISION OF "HOME CARE" IN THE CONTEXT OF OVERALL PERSON-CENTERED CARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALTH, SUPPORT POSITIVE AGING, FACILITATE RECOVERY, MANAGE CHRONIC ILLNESS AND PREPARE FOR END OF LIFE. RESEARCHERS WORK TO EMBODY THIS VISION IN FUNDED RESEARCH AND CONCRETE PRACTICES THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY INCORPORATED INTO DAILY PATIENT CARE. THE RESEARCH CENTER'S WORK ENCOMPASSES RESEARCH AVENUES DIRECTED AT NATIONAL PROBLEMS: IMPROVING CARE AND REDUCING HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG LOW INCOME, CULTURALLY DIVERSE PATIENTS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS FOR TRANSITIONAL, POST-ACUTE, LONG-TERM CHRONIC CARE AND CARE MANAGEMENT, AND UNDERSTANDING AND PREDICTING THE DRIVERS OF RESOURCE USE FOR THESE POPULATIONS. IN 2024 VNS HEALTH, TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDERS PROVIDED THE RESEARCH CENTER $3,743,000 OF SUPPORT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS, THESE RESEARCH GRANTS ARE INCLUDED WITHIN CORE FORM, PART VIII, LINE 1 AND THEREFORE THESE AMOUNTS ARE NOT INCLUDED AS PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE WITHIN CORE FORM, PART III, LINE 4B.
- VISITING NURSE SERVICE OF NEW YORK D/B/A VNS HEALTH ("VNS HEALTH") IS ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST NONPROFIT HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS. INNOVATING IN HEALTH CARE FOR MORE THAN 130 YEARS, OUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IS WHAT DRIVES US-WE HELP PEOPLE LIVE, AGE, AND HEAL WHERE THEY FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE, IN THEIR OWN HOMES, CONNECTED TO THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. VNS HEALTH OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, SOLUTIONS AND HEALTH PLANS DESIGNED TO SIMPLIFY THE HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE AND MEET THE DIVERSE AND COMPLEX NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE IN NEW YORK AND BEYOND. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY. VNS HEALTH SHARES THIS MISSION WITH ITS INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT AFFILIATES. IN 2024, VNS HEALTH AND ITS AFFILIATES - TOGETHER WITH ITS GENEROUS SUPPORTERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS - PROVIDED OVER $69 MILLION IN CHARITABLE CARE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS, WHICH IMPROVED THE LIVES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS, YOUNG AND OLD, INCLUDING THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED INDIVIDUALS. DONORS CONTRIBUTED $5.7 MILLION TO SUPPORT VNS HEALTH CHARITABLE CARE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS, AND THE REMAINING FUNDING CAME FROM VNS HEALTH'S CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION, AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. VNS HEALTH'S COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS, CARRIED OUT THROUGH ITS AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS, EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE TO UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT AGING IN PLACE, ADVANCE RESEARCH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND DEVELOP THE FUTURE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE. VNS HEALTH AFFILIATES SERVE OVER 117,000 PATIENTS, CLIENTS AND MEMBERS EACH YEAR. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE AFFILIATES ARE SUPPORTED BY CONTRIBUTIONS. THESE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: CHARITABLE CARE; BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP; MATERNITY, NEWBORN, AND PEDIATRICS; LGBTQ+ OUTREACH, VETERANS OUTREACH, CHINATOWN NNORC AND THREE COMMUNITY CENTERS; AND CERTAIN HOSPICE CARE PROGRAMS. PLEASE REFER TO WWW.VNSHEALTH.ORG FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. VNS HEALTH ALSO PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE, TO ITS AFFILIATES IN ORDER TO ENABLE THEIR PROGRAM-SERVICE DELIVERY, BY: (I) LENDING ADMINISTRATIVE, MANAGEMENT, POLICY SETTING, INVESTMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT; AND (II) MAKING GRANTS OF PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS - WITH MONIES FROM DONORS AND FROM ITS OWN RESERVES - TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OF ITS NOT-FOR-PROFIT AFFILIATES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 February 1985.
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 November 4, 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.