Gillette Childrens Hospital Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Gillette Children's Hospital Foundation (Foundation) is to raise money, build awareness, and develop relationships in support of the patient care, education, and research activities of Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.
- Income
- $11.4 million
- Spending
- $12.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 20.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 183
- Highest pay
- $1.1 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2512 of 14 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $4.0 million spent. RESEARCH: Gillette research activities concentrate on clinical applications devoted to finding effective medical interventions for disabling conditions and their related effects. Research at Gillette consists of seven major emphasis areas (gait and motion analysis, health services, neurosciences, orthopedics, pain and comfort, rehabilitation, and spine), all of which seek to improve the lives of children who have disabilities and complex conditions. During 2024, Gillette researchers were engaged over 130 active studies to unlock new discoveries, with many studies being published in peer-reviewed journals to share knowledge with the world. In collaboration with clinical patient care, Gillette's research activities advance our mission to help children create their own stories. The Foundation grants supported various Gillette research initiatives, including direct program studies, such as Spine Institute, Cerebral Palsy Institute, and other patient focused research activities, and research infrastructure.
- $3.7 million spent. PATIENT CARE: The Foundation raises money to support activities related to the Gillette mission. This includes offering financial aid to patients based on need, whether or not they have health insurance, and offering charity care to patients who are financially unable to pay all or part of their medical bills. Gillette evaluates each situation based on a patient's income, assets and other resources, and the hospital assists with establishing manageable payment plans (including co-pays and co-insurance). For people without insurance, Gillette charges for care in accordance with the 501(r) guidelines. If patients inform Gillette that they will have a difficult time meeting their financial obligations, Gillette helps patients in their efforts to qualify for public assistance or the Gillette charity care program. Income eligibility for the program is based on national poverty guidelines. Gillette will never turn away a family due to an inability to pay for treatment. The Foundation also provides grants to support startup and expansion for new and/or strategic patient care initiatives. This investment includes the Gillette Pediatric Spine Institute, which advances the care of children with spine conditions, including scoliosis. This initiative centers around three pillars: (1) excellence in clinical care and outcomes, (2) research that investigates long-term outcomes, care innovation, and knowledge translation, and (3) education of future experts in spine care. Another area of investment was the Gillette Children's Cerebral Palsy Institute, launched in 2023, harnessing over 125 years of clinical leadership, advocacy, and research to transform care for cerebral palsy. The Cerebral Palsy Institute is one of the world's foremost innovators in clinical care, forward-think research, and patient advocacy. The singular condition focus aligns with specialty care, resulting in personalized, innovative care that guides each patient and family. This includes clinical expertise (with more than 140 specialists spanning nine disciplines), research (with insight from 100+ years of historical and current studies on cerebral palsy), and advocacy (working side by side with families to help each child live their story). These initiatives were made possible through generous donor support for research.Additionally, funds raised by the Foundation support areas of Gillette operations that are unreimbursed or under-reimbursed. For example, Gillette operates outreach clinics in communities in greater (largely rural) Minnesota. However, in providing these services, Gillette incurs losses. Gillette outreach clinics offer appointments with doctors, nurse practitioners, and seating and adaptive equipment specialists. Outreach clinics also help with care coordination and education for community providers in the specialized needs of Gillette patients living in their communities. Similarly, Gillette provides a variety of services to patients through our Child and Family Services area that are unreimbursed or under-reimbursed. Child life specialists, for example, help children and families prepare for and cope with hospital stays and medical procedures. Social workers provide emotional support and help with practical concerns for families of children who have disabilities, such as ordering medical equipment and finding transportation or other resources.
- $1.3 million spent. CAPITAL: The Foundation raises funds to support Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare's mission of providing specialized health care for children and adults who have complex and rare medical conditions. The Foundation's support allows Gillette to further its vision of helping patients realize their full potential. This includes raising contributions for improvements to capital assets of Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, which ensures modern, efficient and effective technology and resources are available to serve our patients. During 2024, Gillette transferred funds for capital projects related to various strategic and patient care initiatives, including construction of new clinic and specialty center space on the main St Paul campus, various acquisitions of medical equipment used in patient care, and new and innovative information technology investments to advance the Spine and Cerebral Palsy Institutes and other clinical and surgical services.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 2024.
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 April 2021.
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.