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Essentia Health Foundation

EIN 27-1984704 · Duluth, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% 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

WE ARE CALLED TO MAKE A HEALTHY DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
24.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
19
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$420,702, chief development officer

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 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)
  1. $1.8 million spent. ESSENTIA HEALTH FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED AND SHALL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF, TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF, OR TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF CERTAIN ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS, AND OF THE TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES IDENTIFIED AS SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.ESSENTIA HEALTH FOUNDATION FACILITATES CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING FOR AND ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS. FUNDRAISING IS CONDUCTED BY A COMPREHENSIVE FUNDRAISING PLAN THAT INCLUDES DIRECT RESPONSE, SPECIAL EVENTS, GRANTS FROM FOUNDATIONS AND DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS. COMPANIES, FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, PHYSICIANS, AND STAFF PARTICIPATE BY GIVING TO THE FOUNDATION. DONATIONS ARE GIVEN FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CHARITABLE NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF ESSENTIA HEALTH'S SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING PATIENT COMPASSIONATE CARE INITIATIVES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, RESEARCH, EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE, AND RECRUITMENT. ESSENTIA HEALTH FOUNDATION PROVIDES PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT THROUGH DISBURSEMENT OF FOUNDATION FUNDS TO PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY ESSENTIA HEALTH RELATED ORGANIZATIONS TO BENEFIT PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF IN ADVANCING OUR MISSION.IN TOTAL, $4.6 MILLION WAS GIVEN TO THE FOUNDATION IN FY 2025 BY OVER 4,600 DONORS, MOST OF WHOM RESIDE IN COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ESSENTIA HEALTH. THE FOUNDATION'S LOCAL ADVISORY BOARDS DISTRIBUTED $1.3 MILLION TO ITS SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH. THE ORGANIZATIONS ESSENTIA HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS PART OF ESSENTIA HEALTH.ESSENTIA HEALTH IS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION OF AN INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES ALL ENTITIES THAT ARE OWNED OR CONTROLLED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY ESSENTIA HEALTH (COLLECTIVELY, THE "SYSTEM OR "ESSENTIA HEALTH"). THE SYSTEM SERVES PATIENTS IN MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND WISCONSIN. HEADQUARTERED IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA, THE SYSTEM COMBINES THE STRENGTHS AND TALENTS OF NEARLY 16,000 EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING MORE THAN 2,300 PHYSICIANS AND ADVANCED PRACTITIONERS, WHO SERVE OUR PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE MISSION OF BEING CALLED TO MAKE A HEALTHY DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. THE SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES MANY CATHOLIC FACILITIES, IS GUIDED BY THE VALUES OF QUALITY, HOSPITALITY, RESPECT, JOY, JUSTICE, STEWARDSHIP AND TEAMWORK. THE SYSTEM DELIVERS ON ITS MISSION BY HAVING PATIENT-CENTERED FOCUS AT 14 HOSPITALS, APPROXIMATELY 80 CLINICS, SIX LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, TWO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, THREE INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES, SEVERAL REHABILITATION CENTERS, SEVEN AMBULANCE SERVICES, 29 RETAIL PHARMACIES, HOME HEALTH SERVICES, AND ONE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE SYSTEM SERVES A PREDOMINANTLY RURAL POPULATION WHOSE MEDIAN INCOMES GENERALLY FALL BELOW THE AVERAGES OF THE STATES WHERE THEY LIVE. THE PRESENCE OF OUR CLINICS AND HOSPITALS ENSURES THAT PEOPLE WITH FEW ECONOMIC RESOURCES DO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR OR MORE TO RECEIVE BASIC (AND IN SOME CASES LIFESAVING) MEDICAL CARE. THE LEGAL ENTITIES COMPRISING THE SYSTEM FILE SEPARATE FORM 990S.THE SYSTEM'S HOSPITALS HAVE A TOTAL OF 1,202 LICENSED BEDS WHICH PROVIDED OVER 215,000 HOSPITAL PATIENT DAYS AND NEARLY 831,000 OUTPATIENT VISITS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. THE CLINICS HAD 2.2 MILLION ENCOUNTERS DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, THE SYSTEM PROVIDED TOTAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF NEARLY $181 MILLION WHICH INCLUDED COSTS OF PROVIDING CHARITY CARE, COSTS IN EXCESS OF MEDICAID PAYMENTS, MEDICAID SURCHARGE, MINNESOTACARE TAX, COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Foundation Health LLC (Fairbanks, AK), EIN 81-3021580. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.