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Wilderness Health

EIN 46-5482766 · Two Harbors, MN

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

OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE PATIENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTCOMES, IMPROVE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, AND LOWER THE COSTS OF PROVIDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR THE MOSTLY RURAL COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IN NE MINNESOTA.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
17 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$1.3 million, former board member

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 78% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% 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 23% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 9 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. WILDERNESS HEALTH IS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION FOR A NINE-MEMBER HOSPITAL NETWORK. THE THREE CURRENT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES INCLUDE: ACCESS AND INNOVATION, QUALITY FOCUSED CARE, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE INITIATIVES.
  2. FORM 990 PART III LINE 4A - STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INITIATIVE DESCRIPTIONSACCESS AND INNOVATION: IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSES FOR OBSTACLES TO CARE. LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATIVE PRACTICES, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS COMMON BARIERS TO CARE.. QUALITY-FOCUSED CARE: ENHANCING CARE MANAGEMENT AND ADDRESSING UTILIZATION BARRIERS TO SUPPORT HIGH QUALITY, EFFICIENT PATIENT CARE WHILE ALSO MEETING OR EXCEEDING CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. SINCE JANUARY 2015, WILDERNESS HEALTH HAS CONTRACT WITH STATE OF MINNESOTA IN THE INTEGRATED HEALTH PARTNERSHIP (IHP), A DEMONSTRATION MEDICAID ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION (ACO) PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF PATENTS WHILE REDUCING THE TOTAL COST OF CARE. FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024 THERE WERE 16,536 PATIENTS ATTRIBUTED TO WILDERNESS HEALTH IN CONNECTION WITH IHP.. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: RECRUIT, EDUCATE, AND RETAIN A HEALTHY, SKILLED, AND SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE. KEY FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL STAFF, ROUNDTABLE SUPPORT, AND DEVELOPING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE NETWORK.

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 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 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 October 2016.

    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.