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Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

EIN 36-2229255 · Oakbrook Terrace, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Joint Commission evaluates and accredits health care organizations and programs across the United States to ensure compliance with rigorous standards of quality and safety, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation. Accreditation (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$222.3 million
Spending
$203.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
20.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
1,203
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$2.8 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 21 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 (3)
  1. $135.3 million spent. SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION FEES ARE GENERATED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF PERFORMING ACCREDITATION SURVEYS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO EVALUATE AN ORGANIZATION'S COMPLIANCE WITH JOINT COMMISSION STANDARDS AND CMS CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION (CoPs), AND OTHER ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS. THE SUBSCRIPTION BILLING PROGRAM ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS TO PAY AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE ONGOING SERVICES PROVIDED BY JOINT COMMISSION. REVENUE FROM ANNUAL ACCREDITATION SUBSCRIPTION FEES IS RECOGNIZED RATABLY OVER THE PERIOD TO WHICH THE SUBSCRIPTION FEES RELATE.
  2. $9.5 million spent. Joint Commission provides common management services-referred to as shared services fees-to support the strategic, operational, and administrative functions of its related organizations. These services include, but are not limited to, centralized financial management, human resources, information technology infrastructure, legal and compliance support, and communications. By delivering these essential back-office services, Joint Commission enables its affiliated entities, such as Joint Commission Resources, Inc. and National Quality Forum (as listed in Schedule R), to concentrate on their core programmatic missions without duplicating administrative capacity. This collaborative infrastructure promotes alignment, consistency, and efficiency across the enterprise. These shared services are integral to Joint Commission's overarching mission of improving healthcare quality and safety. Through this model, the organization ensures that all enterprise affiliates operate with strong governance and financial integrity, which in turn enhances their collective ability to deliver research, accreditation, performance measurement, and educational initiatives that directly support improvements in patient outcomes worldwide.
  3. $6.2 million spent. PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT & RELATED ACTIVITIES AT JOINT COMMISSION ADVANCE HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY BY UNDERTAKING SCIENTIFICALLY CREDIBLE RESEARCH THAT INFORMS HEALTH SERVICES PRACTICE AND POLICY. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED AND MEANINGFUL PERFORMANCE MEASURES, SOUND STATISTICAL AND ANALYTICAL APPROACHES TO DATA ANALYSIS, AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT SAFETY STRATEGIES.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1953.

    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.

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.