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Mercy Medical Center

EIN 42-0698295 · Cedar Rapids, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CARE FOR THE SICK AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY.

Income
$524.5 million
Spending
$525.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
3,288
Volunteers
636
Highest pay
$3.3 million, physician

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% 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 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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)
  1. $422.9 million spent. MERCY MEDICAL CENTER (HOSPITAL) PROVIDES MEDICAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TRAUMA CENTER SERVICE, TO ALL PATIENTS ACCESSING THE SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. A PATIENT IS CLASSIFIED AS A CHARITY PATIENT BY REFERENCE TO CERTAIN ESTABILISHED POLICIES OF THE HOSPITAL. ESSENTIALLY, THESE POLICIES DEFINE CHARITY SERVICES AS THOSE SERVICES FOR WHICH NO OR NOMINAL PAYMENT IS ANTICIPATED. ADDITIONALLY, EACH HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS ALL PATIENTS WHO ARE COVERED BY GOVERNMENTAL INDIGENT PROGRAMS. SUCH INDIGENT PROGRAMS TYPICALLY REMIT AMOUNTS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN CHARGES. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES THE HOSPITAL'S CARE OF THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED. COSTS IN EXCESS OF MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT (COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES LESS THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM MEDICARE) - $53,450,000; OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS (INCLUDES SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES, FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS) - $2,571,000; FREE SERVICE (TO PATIENTS WHO MEET MERCY'S FREE-SERVICE GUIDELINES) - $5,240,000; COSTS IN EXCESS OF MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT (COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES LESS THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM MEDICAID) - $12,900,000, PHYSICIAN EDUCATION - $(692,000). IN ADDITION, CHARITY CARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE PROVIDED THROUGH MANY REDUCED-PRICE SERVICES AND FREE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A BONA FIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED, INCLUDING: A. PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR ARE OFFERED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY, PRENATAL EDUCATION, DIABETES, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF MEDICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL NATURE. SPECIALIZED CANCER SEMINARS ARE ALSO OFFERED. B. HOSPITAL MEETING FACILITIES WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY USED WITHOUT CHARGE BY SUCH GROUPS AS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, IOWA BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, HEALTHY LINN NETWORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, CATHOLIC LAYMEN, UNITED WAY, CATHERINE MCAULEY CENTER FOR WOMEN, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. M.S. SUPPORT GROUP, EASTERN IOWA ONCOLOGY NURSES SOCIETY, THE IOWA CANCER CONSORTIUM, THE PARENT EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, ARC OF EAST CENTRAL IOWA, AND SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS. C. CONTRIBUTIONS OF APPROXIMATELY 95,652 HOURS TOWARD THE COMMON PURPOSE OF SERVING THE HEALTH CARE OF THE COMMUNITY. THE VALUE OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,507,000 AND WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LOWER COSTS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.