Chestnut Health Systems Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE.
- Income
- $81.5 million
- Spending
- $80.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 1,061
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $757,361, chief executive 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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)
- $41.6 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES: CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS OFFERS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD), MENTAL HEALTH, AND PREVENTION SERVICES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND IN EASTERN MISSOURI. MAJOR PROGRAM SITES INCLUDE MCLEAN, MADISON, AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS AND JEFFERSON COUNTY IN MISSOURI. SUD TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS. SUD SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, MEDICALLY-MONITORED DETOX, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, AND OUTPATIENT/INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. SUD PREVENTION SERVICES ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ADOLESCENTS AND TEENS. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CRISIS RESIDENTIAL, PSYCHIATRIC, SCHOOL BASED SERVICES, OUTPATIENT COUNSELING, AND SUPPORTED/SUPERVISED RESIDENTIAL. CHESTNUT OFFERS COUNSELING FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH A VARIETY OF DISORDERS AND CONDITIONS.
- $19.5 million spent. LIGHTHOUSE INSTITUTE: THE MISSION OF LIGHTHOUSE INSTITUTE (LI) IS TO HELP PRACTITIONERS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR SERVICES THROUGH RESEARCH, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND TRAINING ON EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES. LI SERVES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES THROUGH OFFICES IN CHICAGO, BLOOMINGTON, AND MARYVILLE, ILLINOIS; AN OFFICE IN EUGENE, OR; AND REMOTE STAFF IN OVER 20 STATES. LI STAFF ALSO CREATE AND EXTEND THEIR HUMAN AND ELECTRONIC INFRASTRUCTURES TO COLLABORATE WITH SIMILAR AGENCIES IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES AND PROVINCES OF CANADA, AS WELL AS A DOZEN OTHER COUNTRIES.
- $15.5 million spent. CHESTNUT FAMILY HEALTH CENTER: CHESTNUT FAMILY HEALTH CENTER (CFHC) IS A HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM GRANTEE UNDER 42 U.S.C. 254B, AND A DEEMED PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE EMPLOYEE UNDER 43 U.S.C. 233(G)-(N). IT SERVES RESIDENTS OF MCLEAN, MADISON, AND ST CLAIR COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS WHO LIVE AT OR BELOW 200 PERCENT OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. CFHC PROVIDES HEALTH CARE FOR PATIENTS OF ALL AGES - FROM INFANTS TO GERIATRIC PATIENTS. CFHC OFFERS PREVENTIVE SERVICES SUCH AS WELLNESS EXAMS; MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC ILLNESSES; TREATMENT OF ACUTE ILLNESSES; AND PSYCHIATRIC COUNSELING SERVICES. A LABORATORY AND PHARMACY ARE LOCATED WITHIN EACH OF THE CFHC SITES. DENTAL SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN MCLEAN COUNTY.
- SHARE OF UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND JOINT VENTURES - INTERESTS IN FOREIGN LLC'S AND JOINT VENTURES ARE OWNED. THESE LLC'S AND JOINT VENTURES ENGAGE IN SIMILAR ACTIVITIES CONSISTENT WITH CHESTNUT'S MISSION.
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 March 1978.
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.
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