Gillette Childrens Specialty Health Care
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
In collaboration with patients, families and partners, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare (Gillette) redefines what is possible for children with brain, bone and movement conditions through clinical leadership, research and global advocacy.
- Income
- $396.6 million
- Spending
- $371.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 1,762
- Volunteers
- 106
- Highest pay
- $1.5 million, orthopedic surgeon
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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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 2512 of 14 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 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)
- $309.4 million spent. Patient Services: Founded in 1897, Gillette's vision is a world in which every child is able to create their own story. In collaboration with patients, families and partners, we redefine what is possible for children with brain, bone and movement conditions through clinical leadership, research and global advocacy. Gillette is dedicated to providing high quality subspecialty care to children with complex and/or disabling conditions. During 2024, Gillette served 28,749 unique patients from all 87 Minnesota counties, 41 U.S. states and territories, and 11 countries around the world.Gillette operates a 60 licensed-bed specialty hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota; clinics in Alexandria, Baxter, Bemidji, Burnsville, Duluth, Mankato, Maple Grove, St. Cloud, Willmar, and St. Paul, Minnesota, outreach collaborations across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, and virtual telemedicine services.Gillette cares for patients who have some of the most complex, rare and traumatic conditions in pediatric medicine, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, complex orthopedic conditions, craniofacial anomalies, genetic disorders, neurological conditions and brain and spinal cord injuries. Care at Gillette is clinically integrated, bringing experts together from multiple areas to coordinate and care for patients from initial diagnosis through the lifetime of their condition, with individualized care planning at the center of our work. This integrated care model has differentiated us from traditional health systems. For over 127 years, Gillette has led in the diagnosis and management of complex medical conditions through the development of innovative medical and surgical interventions, proven rehabilitative therapies and the novel application of customized services from compassionate health care professionals, Gillette's care helps ensure every child can create their own story and realize their full potential.Gillette is a regional referral center healthcare destination for people who have complex, rare and traumatic conditions that began in childhood. The diagnosis and management of these conditions requires significant clinical expertise and an integrated and proactive care planning system that support the delivery of a comprehensive treatment plan. The majority of conditions Gillette specializes in treating have courses of care that run for months, years, or an entire lifetime. Although a number of hospitals can and do provide certain pediatric specialty services, Gillette is unique in the region for specializing exclusively in the care and rehabilitation needs of individuals with medical complexity and lifelong conditions that affect the musculoskeletal and neurological systems.Gillette clinics across greater Minnesota improve access to care for families who live outside the Twin Cities metro area, and support local providers by facilitating collaboration with Gillette specialists. Gillette continues to enhance its presence around the state, aiming for a more consistent presence in key communities and providing more consistent scheduling and give families greater access to care. Gillette continues work to implement virtual care (telemedicine) services into its clinics and other care settings. Virtual care enables providers to hold consultations with patients via video conference, with 9,457 virtual appointments performed during 2024, primarily within medical clinic services and rehabilitation therapies.During 2024, Gillette served 28,749 unique patients from all 87 Minnesota counties, 41 U.S. states and territories, and 11 countries internationally. A large and geographically diverse network of referring physicians has driven growth. There were 2,126 inpatient admissions, with an average length of stay of 4.6 days, and 148,521 outpatient visits during 2024. Gillette physicians performed 3,741 inpatient and outpatient surgeries in 2024. The top conditions seen at Gillette include cerebral palsy, limb-length discrepancy, developmental dysplasia of the hip, epilepsy, and idiopathic scoliosis. Over 70% of Gillette patients see providers in more than one specialty.Gillette's areas of expertise, key conditions and services include the following:Cerebral Palsy: Gillette is an internationally recognized leader in the diagnosis and management of spasticity resulting from cerebral palsy and other causes. Gillette offers comprehensive, coordinated care designed to manage the symptoms of cerebral palsy. Services range from infant evaluations to diagnose the condition, to medical and surgical interventions to manage spasticity and related comorbidities as children grow into adulthood. Individualized treatment plans might include developmental assessments, rehabilitation therapies, orthoses, specialized seating, mobility and communicative supports, spasticity management techniques (including surgery), gait and motion analysis, and orthopedic care. Individuals with cerebral palsy often have complex and wide-ranging health care needs. Gillette's unique expertise in the field provides families with healthcare professionals who are aware of the variety of comorbidities commonly associated with cerebral palsy and who are able to identify them early and employ appropriately coordinated management of these conditions. Through our Cerebral Palsy Institute, Gillette treats more than 4,000 cerebral palsy patients every year. Gillette is an innovative clinical leader in treating cerebral palsy- from developing new devices to assist in patient care, to the assessments done at the at the James R Gage Center for Gait and Motion Analysis, Gillette is sought out for its care around the world.Orthopedics: Gillette is home to nationally and internationally recognized leaders in pediatric orthopedics. Gillette's staff treats patients who have complex orthopedic problems resulting from cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, neuromuscular conditions, trauma-related fractures, and strokes. Gillette staff members see pat
- $10.0 million spent. ResearchGillette research activities concentrate on clinical applications devoted to finding effective medical interventions for disabling conditions and their related effects. Research at Gillette consists of seven major emphasis areas (gait and motion analysis, health services, neurosciences, orthopedics, pain and comfort, rehabilitation, and spine), all of which seek to improve the lives of children who have disabilities and complex conditions. During 2024, Gillette researchers were engaged in 90 active studies to unlock new discoveries, and 80 studies were published in peer-reviewed journals to share knowledge with the world. Additionally, a growing number of active research clinical patient care, Gillette's research activities advance our mission to help children create their own stories.
- $1.7 million spent. EducationGillette provides graduate medical education in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and provides seminars and other educational programs with the goal to share expertise that benefits all children who have complex conditions. Gillette offers residencies and fellowships in orthopedics, and pediatric rehabilitation medicine. Through fellowships, seminars and other educational programs, Gillette strives to share expertise that benefits all children who have complex conditions.Gillette facilities are made available for training of health care students through arrangements with area educational institutions. Gillette offers residencies and fellowships in such specialties as pediatrics, orthopedics, and pediatric rehabilitation medicine. A teaching hospital, Gillette trains residents from the University of Minnesota and Henry Ford Health in Detroit, who spend one to three months under the mentorship of Gillette's medical staff. In many cases, Gillette offers physicians their only exposure during residency to patients with certain disabilities. Gillette also offers shadowing and mentorship programs for students, along with professional education opportunities in such areas as physical therapy, radiology, nursing, respiratory care and assistive technology. Some of the students who make use of these training programs ultimately join the staff of Gillette.Gillette also provides extensive Continuing Medical Education services to physicians and other health care providers in our area of expertise. Participants travel from around the region and globe to learn from Gillette experts each year. These programs also support the ongoing development of referral and partnership arrangements and relationships that direct patients to Gillette for their care. Gillette covers the unreimbursed costs of medical education and is fully accredited by the Minnesota Medical Association to provide continuing medical education (CME). Gillette sponsors conferences on topics such as cerebral palsy, orthopedics, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Rett syndrome, and motion analysis. During 2024, Gillette provided over 100 hours of clinical medical education to more than 450 physicians and 1,500 other health care providers. Typical audiences include pediatricians, family practitioners, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and orthotists.
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
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 December 2024.
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 April 1986.
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.
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.