Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O Form 990, Part III, Line 1
- Income
- $8.7 billion
- Spending
- $8.3 billion
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 38,678
- Volunteers
- 2,090
- Highest pay
- $16.5 million, president and ceo
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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 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 (4)
- $5.7 billion spent. 4a. Patient Services - VUMC provides high quality health care services regardless of race, creed, gender, national origin, handicap, age or ability to pay. Although reimbursement for services rendered is critical to the operation and stability of VUMC, it is recognized that not all individuals possess the ability to purchase essential medical services, and further that part of VUMC's mission is to serve the community. Therefore, in keeping with VUMC's commitment to serve all members of its community, free care and/or subsidized care, care provided to persons covered by governmental programs at below cost, along with health activities and programs to support the community are provided where the need and/or an individual's inability to pay coexists. These activities include wellness programs, community education programs, special programs for the elderly, handicapped, medically underserved, and a variety of broad community support activities. Charity care is also provided through many reduced-price services and free programs offered throughout the year based upon activities and services which VUMC believes will serve a bona fide community health need. During its most recent fiscal year VUMC saw more than 3.5 million patient visits in over 180 ambulatory locations and discharged more than 83,500 inpatients from its main-campus adult, children's, psychiatric and rehabilitation hospitals and regional community hospitals. The Medical Center is the largest non-governmental employer of Middle Tennesseans, with more than 43,000 staff, including approximately 4,900 of whom are employed clinicians, including advanced practice nurses. VUMC's leadership in the delivery of academically based health care is recognized by the nation's most trusted advisory bodies and reporting organizations, including the National Academies, the American Nurses Association Magnet Recognition Program, U.S. News & World Report, the Leapfrog Group and others: * U.S. News & World Report: for 2025 Vanderbilt University Medical Center was named the No. 1 hospital in Tennessee for the 14th consecutive year; along with No.1 in Metro Nashville * In 2025, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt was again named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's elite children's hospitals receiving both No. 1 in the Southeast and No. 1 in Tennessee distinctions * In 2024, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt ("Monroe Carell") was named a Top Children's Hospital by The Leapfrog Group * National Institutes of Health: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine currently ranked 5th among the top grant awardees for medical research in the U.S. as of December 2024 * Magnet Designation from American Nurses Credentialing Center: Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the only organization in Middle Tennessee that has been Magnet-designated four consecutive times * In 2024, Becker's Healthcare named VUMC one of the leading health systems in artificial intelligence Along with the various national rankings, there are several VUMC programs unique to Tennessee or the region, which include: * Only Level 1 (highest level) Trauma Center in Middle Tennessee caring for adults and children * Only Level 4 (highest level) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as a dedicated pediatric emergency department * Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tennessee that conducts research and cares for both children and adults; also, a member of the elite National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a group of the nation's top 21 clinical cancer institutes * Only Joint Commission-accredited program for traumatic brain injury rehabilitation (one of seven nationally) * Dedicated regional burn center * Vanderbilt LifeFlight, an integrated air and ground emergency patient transport system * Tennessee Poison Center * The Vanderbilt Transplant Center- Tennessee's only comprehensive solid organ transplant center serving both adult and pediatric patients. For two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025 Vanderbilt Heart has been the world leader in heart transplantation For more information regarding health care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, visit https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/patientandvisitorinfo/48538
- $1.1 billion spent. 4b. Academic and Scientific Research - VUMC is an internationally recognized research institution. A majority of VUMC's research funding, including substantial support from the National Institutes of Health, is received from the federal government. Funding is also received from foundations, associations, corporations, and other sources. VUMC's researchers are at the forefront of discovery and are posing innovative solutions to some of the most challenging questions about diseases affecting humankind. With more than 1,200 residents and fellows in training, VUMC's programs in Graduate Medical Education are consistently among the most selective, and are nationally recognized for their diversity, innovation and capacity to transform the educational experience, while the breadth of the scientific discoveries we make are propelled by a research enterprise that is consistently ranked among the nation's top recipients in total federal funding. For more information regarding research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center visit: https://www.vumc.org/oor/ (Please use lowercase to access the website)
- $200.5 million spent. 4d. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - Other program services include public health service, academic support, institutional support, and other auxiliary services. Vanderbilt University Medical Center engages in a variety of public service projects, including, but not limited to formulating new approaches to increase health, safety, quality and outcomes, while decreasing total costs; and many other sponsored community health and educational programs. To read more about VUMC's role in the community, visit https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/main/38766
- (Expenses $ 200,534,120 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 244,666,326) 4d. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - Other program services include public health service, academic support, institutional support, and other auxiliary services. Vanderbilt University Medical Center engages in a variety of public service projects, including, but not limited to formulating new approaches to increase health, safety, quality and outcomes, while decreasing total costs; and many other sponsored community health and educational programs. To read more about VUMC's role in the community, visit https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/main/38766
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 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 June 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 May 2015.
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.
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.