Bethesda Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $17.1 million
- Spending
- $10.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 86%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 145
- Highest pay
- $2.6 million, trustee
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 61% 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
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 June 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 (1)
- $6.8 million spent. THE BETHESDA FOUNDATION, INC. ("FOUNDATION") IS ORGANIZED TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND BEQUESTS, ENGAGE IN FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, AND MANAGE AND INVEST THE ASSETS FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF BETHESDA HOSPITAL,INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES ("HOSPITAL") IN THE HOSPITAL'S MISSION TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE GROWING COMMUNITY IT SERVES. THE FOUNDATION IS A SELF-FUNDED ORGANIZATION WHICH MEANS 100% OF A DONOR'S GIFT SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM OR SERVICE THAT IS DESIGNATED. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: BETHESDA HOSPITAL GENEROUS GIFTS TO SUPPORT BETHESDA HOSPITAL PROVIDE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WITH THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND HELPS ITS CAREGIVERS DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE. SOME EXAMPLES OF TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS INCLUDE: COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE ROBOTICS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE CENTER FOR SIMULATION & EDUCATION PHYSICIAN MEDICAL RESEARCH OVER THE YEARS, FOUNDATION HAS GRANTED OVER $2 MILLION TO FUND IMPORTANT PHYSICIAN RESEARCH STUDIES. THESE STUDIES HELP BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC. BETTER MEET THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY. PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICIAN RESEARCH IS JUST ONE MORE WAY THAT FOUNDATION SAVES LIVES AND CHANGES LIVES. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS A SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY THROUGH A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTERVENTION - WHAT STARTED OUT AS AN EFFORT TO PLACE NURSES IN CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUICKLY SNOWBALLED INTO A PREVENTION-FOCUSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES, WITH DONOR SUPPORT, TO PLACE CLINICIANS IN SCHOOLS. TODAY, THE PROGRAM SERVES INNER-CITY YOUTH IN THREE SCHOOLS WITH FULL-TIME BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS. ON A DAILY BASIS, FOUNDATION-FUNDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANS IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES SO THAT CHILDREN RECEIVE INTERVENTION WHEN INTERVENTION IS NEEDED MOST. SOMETIMES, THIS EXTRA HELP CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN THE CLASSROOM AND POTENTIALLY, SUCCESS IN LIFE. LIFELINE - THE LIFELINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM LINKS SUBSCRIBERS TO IMMEDIATE HELP - 24 HOURS A DAY. IF A SUBSCRIBER NEEDS HELP AT HOME BUT CANNOT GET TO A TELEPHONE, A SIMPLE PUSH OF THE BUTTON WORN ON THE BODY AUTOMATICALLY ALERTS THE TRAINED MONITORING STAFF AT BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC. WHO WILL SEND HELP IMMEDIATELY. SECURITY, INDEPENDENCE AND PEACE OF MIND ALL RESULT FROM KNOWING THAT HELP IS JUST A PUSH OF A BUTTON AWAY. FOUNDATION HAS HELPED FUND LIFELINE FOR INDIGENT PATIENTS SINCE 2002. SANE - WOMEN TREATED AT BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC. FOR SUSPECTED SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE FORTUNATE THEY CAN RECEIVE CARE FROM A TEAM OF SPECIALLY TRAINED NURSES. A SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER (SANE) GOES THROUGH SPECIFIC CLASSROOM AND HANDS-ON TRAINING TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL, COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLETE EVIDENCE COLLECTION FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE SANE APPROACH HELPS AVOID RE-VICTIMIZATION OF THE SURVIVOR, BY OFFERING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATE FOLLOW UP SERVICES AND REFERRAL. BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC. IS THE ONLY SUBURBAN HAMILTON COUNTY HOSPITAL TO OFFER SANE, MAKING IT A TRUSTED PLACE FOR ASSAULT VICTIMS TO SEEK CARE AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMS PERSONNEL TO REFER VICTIMS FOR APPROPRIATE CARE. FOUNDATION PROVIDED STARTUP FUNDS FOR THE SANE PROGRAM IN 1999 AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. URBAN HEALTH PROJECT - SINCE 1992, FOUNDATION HAS SUPPORTED THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MEDICAL SCHOOL'S URBAN HEALTH PROJECT (UHP). THE UHP CONNECTS FUTURE PHYSICIANS WITH UNDERSERVED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DURING AN EIGHT-WEEK SUMMER INTERNSHIP. MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR FIRST YEAR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL CAN APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP WORKING FOR AREA SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THE PHYSICIANS-IN-TRAINING ARE ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING DIRECT PATIENT CARE TO EDUCATION OR COUNSELING DUTIES AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY AGENCIES. RELATED ORGANIZATION SUPPORT FINALLY, IN ADDITION TO THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC., FOUNDATION PROVIDES SERVICES TO HOSPICE OF CINCINNATI, INCORPORATED AND FERNSIDE, INC.: A CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN, BOTH SUBSIDIARIES OF BETHESDA HOSPITAL, INC. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE CULTIVATING, SOLICITING AND MANAGING BOTH MAJOR GIFTS AND PLANNED GIFTS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS APPLYING FOR GRANTS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. FOUNDATION, ON THE ORGANIZATIONS' BEHALF, MAINTAINS A DONOR DATABASE AND PROCESSES THE INCOMING DONATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ONCE ANY RESTRICTIONS ARE MET, THE PROCEEDS ARE REMITTED TO THE ORGANIZATIONS. FOUNDATION COORDINATES VARIOUS FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR EACH ORGANIZATION AS WELL (SEE SCHEDULE G FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION). PLEASE NOTE THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITY, OTHER THAN THE FUNDRAISING EVENTS, IS NOT REPORTED IN EITHER THE FOUNDATION'S FORM 990, PART VIII - STATEMENT OF REVENUE OR IN THE FOUNDATION'S FORM 990, PART IX - STATEMENT OF EXPENSES. THE ACTIVITY IS REPORTED ON EACH RELATED ORGANIZATION'S SEPARATE FORM 990.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 1974.
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.
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