Tri-State Ambulance Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $9.7 million
- Spending
- $9.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 80
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $1.7 million, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 6 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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $8.0 million spent. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAS PROUDLY SERVED SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN, SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA, AND NORTHEAST IOWA SINCE 1970, WITH THE MOST ADVANCED PRE-HOSPITAL PATIENT CARE AVAILABLE TO THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS EVERY YEAR. PRIMARY EMERGENCY 911 RESPONSE AS WELL AS EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY INTERFACILITY TRANSPORT AND INTERCEPT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED 24 HOURS A DAY. ANOTHER MEASURE OF TRI-STATE AMBULANCES' SUCCESS IS DESCRIBED IN A RECENT COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ANALYZING THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS WHO WERE DISCHARGED FROM A HOSPITAL AFTER SUFFERING A CARDIAC ARREST IN WHICH THE EVENT WAS WITNESSED AND THE VICTIM WAS IN A SHOCKABLE HEART RHYTHM (WHERE A DEFIBRILLATOR COULD BE USED). IN 2020, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE RESPONDED TO COVID PANDEMIC WHILE ENCOUNTERING LARGE PPE EXPENSES AND STAFFING EVEN THOUGH REVENUE DROPPED. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE, INC UTILIZED TELEHEALTH INTEGRATION TO ALLOW SPECIALISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL CARE IN MOVING AMBULANCE. THEY WERE ONE OF LESS THAN 200 AMBULANCE SERVICES IN THE NATION CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN ET3 - EMERGENCY TRIAGE, TREATMENT, AND TRANSPORT. THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH OTHER GUNDERSEN DEPARTMENTS TO INCREASE STAFF FLEXIBILITY AND ARE EXPANDING PULSEPOINT COMMUNITY APP. IN 2021, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE, INC WAS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES (CAAS). IN 2022, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAD 11,590 TRANSPORTS, 221 STANDBYS, 6,203 NON-TRANSPORTS, AND 18,014 TOTAL CALLS. TSA HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS ALTERNATE DESTINATION TRANSPORTS AS WELL AS TELEHEALTH USE FOR 911 PATIENTS. IN 2022, TSA BECAME ACCREDITED WITH THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR AMBULANCE SERVIES (CAAS). THIS IS A THREE YEAR ACCREDITATION AND WILL BE UP FOR RENEWAL IN 2024. IN ADDITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GUNDERSEN HEALTH SYSTEM, TSA LAUNCHED A "PARAMEDIC TRAINEE" PROGRAM WHICH IS AN "EARN WHILE YOU LEARN" OPPORTUNITY. TSA HIRED 7 EMTS IN FULL-TIME CAPACITY WHO WILL RECEIVE PAY AND BENEFITS WHILE THEY ATTEND PARAMEDIC SCHOOL. IN 2023, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAD 8,517 TRANSPORTS, 54 STANDBYS, 3,149 NON-TRANSPORTS, AND 11,720 TOTAL CALLS. TSA HAS LAUNCHED A PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS ALTERNATE DESTINATION TRANSPORTS AS WELL AS TELEHEALTH USE FOR 911 PATIENTS. WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE FISCAL MARGIN DESPITE HIGHER OVERTIMES COSTS WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES. WE CONTINUE TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES (CAAS). A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF EXPENSE THIS YEAR WAS THE CREATION OF A PARAMEDIC TRAINEE PROGRAM. WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE HIRED EMTS INTO FULLTIME POSITIONS AND PAID FOR THEIR FULL-TIME PARAMEDIC SCHOOLING. WHILE THIS PROGRAM WAS COSTLY, THE INDUSTRY SHORTAGE OF PARAMEDICS MADE IT A NECESSITY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CMS FEDERAL PROGRAM ENDED THEIR ET3 TELEHEALTH AND ALTERNATE DESTINATION PROGRAM AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAY TO TREAT PATIENTS WITHOUT COSTLY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS. IN 2024, TRI-STATE AMBULANCE HAD 12,030 TRANSPORTS, 104 STANDBYS, 264 NON-TRANSPORTS, AND 16,322 TOTAL CALLS. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE, INC completed our second year of offering the paramedic trainee program, this program contracted with the local technical college to provide full-time paramedic education to 8-10 of our EMTs. These EMTs were hired into these roles with their main function to be full-time students and complete their education. The program was very successful, but costly. TRI-STATE AMBULANCE has completed the CAAS Reaccreditation, high staff 12-month retention rates in the low 90%s and a successful partnership with local fire department.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 August 2002.
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.