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Mille Lacs Health System

EIN 41-0785161 · Onamia, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ASSIST THOSE RESIDING IN AND VISITING THE MILLE LACS AREA IN ACHIEVING AND MANTAINING OPTIMAL HEALTH.

Income
$74.5 million
Spending
$74.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
559
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$527,344, ceo/consultant

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    6 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
  1. $66.0 million spent. MILLE LACS HEALTH SYSTEM (MLHS) IS A RURAL HEALTH SYSTEM LOCATION IN ONAMIA, MN, 80 MILES NORTH OF THE TWIN CITIES AREA NEAR LAKE MILLE LACS. OUR SYSTEM INCLUDES A 18-BED ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL, A 57-BED LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, A 10-BED SENIOR CARE FACILITY, HOME CARE, HOSPICE, A BLS AND ALS AMBULANCE SERVICE, AS WELL AS AN ATTACHED MEDICAL CLINIC. MLHS ALSO OPERATES MEDICAL CLINICS IN THE TOWNS OF ISLE, HILLMAN, GARRISON, AND MILACA. OUR MEDICAL STAFF ALSO PROVIDES COVERAGE TO THE NE-IA-SHING CLINIC ON THE NEARBY MILLE LACS RESERVATION. THE HEALTH SYSTEM IS ORGANIZED AS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT CORPORATION. DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABLE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS IN THIS CENTRAL MINNESOTA REGION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DESIGNATED THIS COMMUNITY AS A MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA IN TERMS OF PRIMARY CLINICS.THE REMOTENESS OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THE MILLE LACS COMMUNITIES IN THE 1950'S PROMPTED AN AREA-WIDE COMMUNITY EFFORT TO BUILD A HOSPITAL. THE HOSPITAL WAS COMPLETED IN 1956 AND, FIVE YEARS LATER A NURSING HOME WAS BUILT ADJACENT TO IT. OVER THE YEARS, THE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDED AND MODERNIZED AND RENAMED SEVERAL TIMES. IN 1995, AN AMBITIOUS BUILDING PROJECT AND INTEGRATION EFFORT, WHICH INCLUDED A NEW HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, REHABILITATION CENTER, AND CLINIC SPACE WERE COMPLETED. THIS BUILDING PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH NEARLY A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WHICH WERE RAISED LOCALLY. IN 2001, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION AND RENOVATION PROJECT WAS STARTED TO FURTHER UPGRADE THE HOSPITAL AND LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND POSITION US TO MEET THE GROWING HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE AREA.MILLE LACS HEALTH SYSTEM SERVES A PERMANENT POPULATION BETWEEN 15,000 AND 20,000, INCLUDING RESIDENTS OF THE MILLE LACS RESERVATION. BECAUSE OF THE RECREATIONAL FEATURES OF THE MILLE LACS AREA, MLHS ALSO SERVES A NUMBER OF SEASONAL RESIDENTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT DURING THE BUSY SUMMER AND HOLIDAY WEEKEND THERE ARE UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 PEOPLE IN THE AREA. THIS NUMBER IS BASED ON STATISTICS FROM LOCAL RESORTS, MOTELS, AND CAMPGROUNDS. THE CLOSEST ACUTE CARE FACILITY IS 28 MILES AWAY IN PRINCETON. THE CLOSEST TERTIARY CARE FACILITY IS 55 MILES AWAY IN ST. CLOUD. THE CLOSEST SECONDARY LEVEL IS 50 MILES AWAY IN BRAINERD. MLHS IS THE ONLY PROVIDER OF ACUTE CARE WITHIN OUR PRIMARY SERVICE AREA OF ONAMIA, HILLMAN, ISLE, GARRISON, AND WAHKON, WHICH INCLUDES THE MILLE LACS RESERVATION.MILLE LACS HEALTH SYSTEM ALSO SERVES PATIENTS OUTSIDE THE PRIMARY SERVICES AREA. THE SECONDARY SERVICE AREA INCLUDES MORA, BOCK, MILACA, AND OGILVIE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 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.