Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society Foundation
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
- Only 9% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 1374 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
HIMSS FOUNDATION IS AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. HIMSS FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF HIMSS, PROVIDING SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO THE ORGANIZATION, ITS MEMBERS AND THE INDUSTRY THROUGH:- FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (SCHOLARSHIPS) TO STUDENTS IN HEALTHCARE-IT RELATED FIELDS-PROVIDING ACCESS FOR STUDENTS TO THE DORENFEST INSTITUTE DATABASE- PROVIDING FINANCIAL RELIEF/ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIAL NEED-BASED PROGRAM ISSUES
- Income
- $32,837
- Spending
- $573,731
- Spent on programs
- 9%
- Reserves
- -13.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $1.3 million, ceo & president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2022, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 143% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1647% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 71% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 159% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1374 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2022, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 2022, 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 (2)
- $34,479 spent. HIMSS FOUNDATION HAS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF HEALTHCARE IT RELATED FIELDS. THE HIMSS FOUNDATION ANNUALLY AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE FUTURE LEADERS IN THE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INDUSTRY. SINCE THE EARLY 1990S, MORE THAN $350,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO THOSE STUDENTS EXEMPLIFYING THE MISSION OF PROVIDING GLOBAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE OPTIMAL USE OF INFORMATION (IT) AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HEALTHCARE. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ACCORDING TO MERIT, FINANCIAL NEED, AND OTHER FACTORS AND ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA WHICH INCLUDE: LEADERSHIP, DEMONSTRATED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND HIMSS PARTICIPATION.
- $14,964 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE INSTITUTE FOR E-HEALTH POLICY. THE INSTITUTE FOR E-HEALTH POLICY PROVIDES RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE NATIONAL EHEALTH COLLABORATIVE (NEHC), AN ILLINOIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WAS MERGED INTO THE FOUNDATION. NEHCS FOCUS IS ENCOURAGING HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND LEVERAGING AN EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2022, 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? Caution.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2022. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.
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 July 1996.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (Chicago, IL), EIN 36-3906745. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.