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Avera St Lukes

EIN 46-0224598 · Aberdeen, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Avera is a health ministry rooted in the Gospel. Our mission is to make a positive impact in the lives and health of persons and communities by providing quality services guided by Christian values.

Income
$194.4 million
Spending
$199.5 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
1,258
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$2.1 million, medicine, surgery & orthopedics

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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 13 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

    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. $183.4 million spent. Avera St. Luke's mission is to provide healthcare services to Aberdeen, South Dakota residents and residents of the surrounding area. Avera St. Luke's is a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with Avera Health. Avera St. Luke's consists of 50 acute beds, 10 inpatient behavioral health beds, an 81-bed nursing home in Aberdeen, SD, a 56-bed nursing home in Eureka, SD, a 2-bed surgical center in Aberdeen, SD, and 17 physician clinics. The physician clinics include primary care, ob/gyn, pediatrics, orthopedics, general surgery, radiation, radiology, oncology, therapy, urology, hematology, psychiatry, pulmonology, nephrology, podiatry, ear nose and throat, pain management, and cardiology. Avera St. Luke's provides acute care and long-term healthcare services. Avera St. Luke's Hospital 3,373 Acute patient discharges 340 Newborn patient discharges 42 Swing bed patient discharges 151,586 Outpatient visits 424 Swing-bed patient days 580 Newborn patient days 144,497 Clinic visits 46,871 Nursing home resident days 109 Long Term Care patient dischargesAvera St. Luke's maintains records to identify and monitor the level of charity care it provides. These records include the amount of charges forgone for services and supplies furnished under its charity care policy and equivalent service statistics. The amount of charges foregone, based on established rates, were $5,833,168.Avera St. Luke's also provides community benefit health activities at less than or at no cost to support those in the area served, see Schedule H. As a member of the Avera Health Network, Avera St. Luke's upholds the vision of the Presentation and Benedictine Sisters to work through collaboration to provide quality, effective health ministry and to improve the healthcare of individuals and our communities through a regionally integrated network of persons and institutions. Avera St. Luke's engages in activities designed to improve the health of individuals and communities in response to a calling to heal the sick, the elderly, and the oppressed.

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? 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.

  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 1943.

    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.