Mercy Health System Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM CORPORATION (MHSC) IS "EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES WITH A PASSION FOR MAKING LIVES BETTER." THE FOUNDATION OF THIS MISSION IS BASED ON A VISION OF QUALITY: EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE; SERVICE: EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT AND CUSTOMER CARE; PARTNERING: BEST PLACE TO WORK; AND COST: COST-EFFECTIVE CARE, ALONG WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES OF HEALING IN THE BROADEST SENSE, PATIENTS COME FIRST, TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE FAMILY AND ALWAYS SEEK EXCELLENCE.
- Income
- $769.8 million
- Spending
- $719.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 4,976
- Volunteers
- 615
- Highest pay
- $16.3 million, president/ceo (see pages 66-67)
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $541.1 million spent. HOSPITAL DISCHARGES 7,132, NURSING HOME ADMISSIONS 201, BIRTHS 698, OUTPATIENT AND INPATIENT SURGERIES 10,805.MHSC CONTINUES ITS TRADITION OF GIVING BACK TO EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FASHIONS. MHSC CONTRIBUTES TO THE AREA OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES. THIS INCLUDES EXTENSIVE DONATIONS OF TIME AND SUPPLIES TO HEALTHNET OF ROCK COUNTY, A LARGE FREE PRIMARY CARE CLINIC SERVING THE REGION. MORE THAN EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE PHYSICIAN SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE CLINIC ARE SUPPLIED THROUGH MHSC. IN ADDITION, MHSC ASSISTS OPEN ARMS FREE CLINIC, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT SERVES LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. ADDITIONALLY, MHSC AND ITS AFFILIATES' STAFF PROVIDE HEALTH SCREENING AND RELATED SERVICES AT NUMEROUS EVENTS IN ROCK AND WALWORTH COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN AND MCHENRY, BOONE AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY IN ILLINOIS.MHSC ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER PRIVATE AND NOT FOR PROFIT HEALTH RELATED AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR SERVICE AREA. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, UNITED WAY ORGANIZATIONS IN ROCK, WALWORTH, AND MCHENRY COUNTIES, YMCA CARE HOUSE, YMCA, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, WALWORTH COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN, TURNING POINT WOMEN'S CENTER IN MCHENRY, OPEN ARMS FREE CLINIC, AND THE RED CROSS, TO NAME JUST A FEW RECIPIENTS. MHSC ALSO ENCOURAGES ITS PARTNERS (EMPLOYEES) TO DONATE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY BASED CAUSES. THOUSANDS OF HOURS EACH YEAR ARE DONATED TO NOT FOR PROFIT AND PUBLIC AGENCIES THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. EXAMPLES OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES BEING SUPPORTED INCLUDE NURSING SERVICES AT COMMUNITY AND FREE CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERY ACTIVITIES, ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT AS GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS FOR SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS UNITED WAY, CRIME STOPPERS, ROTARY BOTANICAL GARDENS, HEALTHNET, AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PRIORITIES FOR MHTC ARE MENTAL HEALTH, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, AND ACCESS TO CARE. IN FY24 MERCYHEALTH FOCUSED ON RECRUITING NEW PROVIDERS IN PRIMARY CARE AND PSYCHIATRY, EXPANDING SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY DEMAND FOR AUTISM AND DIALYSIS, AND ADDING NEW MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS INCLUDING AN ED BRIDGE CLINIC AND TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION. WE LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN. THE OBSTETRICS DEPARTMENT ADOPTED BIRTH EQUITY INITIATIVES INCLUDING IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH SCREENING FOR ALL PRENATAL PATIENTS.THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PRIORITIES FOR WALWORTH ARE MENTAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND OBESITY. IN FY24 MERCYHEALTH EXPANDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN WALWORTH COUNTY BY ADDING NEW PROVIDERS AND AN AUTISM PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, MERCYHEALTH IS INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND CARDIAC REHABILITATION.ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MHSC'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS ITS SUPPORT OF THE OPERATIONS THROUGH OFFERING SAFE RESIDENCE TO HOMELESS FAMILIES AT THE HOUSE OF MERCY HOMELESS CENTER. IT OPENED IN 1996 AND SERVES ABOUT 255 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR, MANY WHO ARE CHILDREN. THE CENTER OFFERS A SAFE HARBOR FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS CASE MANAGEMENT, ASSISTANCE WITH JOB SEARCHES, FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING AND EDUCATION.
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 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 June 2025.
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 May 1972.
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.
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