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Hospital for Special Surgery Fund Inc

EIN 13-6714749 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 24% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 81 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE,EDUCATIONAL & SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES OF ITS TAX-EXEMPT AFFILIATE THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY, AND OTHER HEALTH CARE RELATED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$34.3 million
Spending
$20.2 million
Spent on programs
24%
Reserves
71.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
54
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$5.3 million, president & ceo

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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 71.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    24% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 81 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 25

    45 of 49 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, 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 (1)
  1. $4.8 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES OF ITS TAX EXEMPT AFFILIATE, THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY, AND ANY OTHER HEALTH CARE RELATED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY PROVIDES WORLD CLASS CARE TO ITS PATIENTS BY HELPING THEM REGAIN THEIR MOBILITY, WHILE ALSO ADVANCING RESEARCH INITIATIVES TO EXPLORE NEW TREATMENTS FOR ORTHOPEDIC AND RHEUMATOLOGIC CONDITIONS. THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE AND IS CONSISTENTLY TOP-RANKED BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS IN ITS SPECIALTIES. THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY IS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS A MAGNET HOSPITAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NURSING SERVICE. IN 2024, HSS FUND INC. PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE HOSPITAL ENABLING IT TO RAISE APPROXIMATELY $71 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR CAPITAL, RESEARCH, ENDOWMENT, EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATING PURPOSES. IN 2024, HSS FUND INC. ALSO CONTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY $113,800 TO OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

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

  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 2024.

    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 1987.

    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.