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Prairie Lakes Health Care Foundation

EIN 46-0350240 · Watertown, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HEALTHCARE IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF A COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE. PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION EXISTS TO RAISE FUNDS WITH WHICH TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE WATERTOWN AREA THROUGH PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

Income
$816,715
Spending
$591,999
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
89.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 70%
Employees
0
Volunteers
54

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 89.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
  1. $316,139 spent. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTES THE NET ASSETS TO ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVE IDENTIFIED ABOVE. THE FOUNDATION RECENTLY PREPARED A SPENDING PLAN TO CONTRIBUTE TO VARIOUS PROJECTS IN THE NEXT YEAR.
  2. $47,468 spent. THE SUZANNE JACOBSON MEMORIAL FUND (SJMF) WAS ESTABLISHED IN HONOR OF A WATERTOWN PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, SUZANNE JACOBSON. SUZANNE SPENT HER ADULT LIFE INVOLVED IN THE HEALING ARTS. THROUGH HER HEALTHCARE CAREER SHE POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE THOUGH HER CARE, CONCERN AND PROFESSIONALISM. SUZANNE LOST A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER IN 1998. HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS ESTABLISHED THE SJMF AS A WAY TO CONTINUE HER CARING BY HELPING PEOPLE WITH A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS THAT FACE MEDICAL FINANCIAL STRESS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1999, THE SJMF HAS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $571,298 THROUGH 913 GRANTS. THESE GRANTS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT A 10 COUNTY SERVICE AREA IN NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.THROUGH THIS SPECIAL MEMORIAL FUND, $500 OR $1,000 IS AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS MEETING FUND CRITERIA. AN INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS AND MEET FINANCIAL NEED TO RECEIVE A GRANT. THE SUZANNE JACOBSON MEMORIAL FUND (SJMF) CAN ASSIST WITH FUNDS FOR EXPENSES SUCH AS MEDICAL BILLS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, GROCERIES, RENT, MEDICATIONS, AND UTILITIES. EACH APPLICANT MUST COMPLETE AN APPLICATION, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW. A COMMITTEE VOTES ON WHO RECEIVES A GRANT BASED ON NEED AND ELIGIBILITY. NON-IDENTIFYING APPLICANT INFORMATION IS PRESENTED TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STRICT CONFIDENCE IS EXERCISED THROUGHOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS.THE SJMF DESIGNATES A WEEK IN JUNE AS YELLOW ROSE WEEK IN WATERTOWN AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SUCH AS MILBANK, SISSETON, CLARK, CLEAR LAKE, SOUTH SHORE AND WAVERLY. VOLUNTEERS SELL YELLOW ROSES TO RAISE MONEY FOR THIS FUND. YELLOW ROSE WEEK IS THE PRIMARY MEANS OF FINANCING THE SJMF. DURING YELLOW ROSE WEEK OTHER FUNDRAISERS MAY OCCUR.
  3. $6,940 spent. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE CANCER CENTER, KIDNEY DIALYSIS, AND CHRISTY KINNEY "PAY IT FORWARD" THIS YEAR WITH SEVERAL GRANTS.
  4. THE BASH (BUILDING A SUPERIOR HOSPITAL) GALA EVENT IS HELD ANNUALLY. A PARTICULAR CAUSE IS SELECTED TO RAISE MONEY FOR RELATED TO IMPROVING AND ENHANCING HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGH PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THIS EVENT IS PARTIALLY SUPPORTED THROUGH DONATIONS AND IS COORDINATED BY THE OFFICE OF THE FOUNDATION AND A COMMITTEE OF PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS. BASH CAUSE FOR 2024 WAS MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1980.

    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 October 21, 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.