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North Flight Aero Med

EIN 47-5508608 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NORTH FLIGHT AERO MED WAS ESTABLISHED TO FULFILL A CRITICAL GAP IN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE NORTHERN LOWER PENINSULA AND UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN THROUGH PROVISION OF CRITICAL CARE AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES.

Income
$12.1 million
Spending
$11.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs.

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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (1)
  1. $10.2 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE ONORTH FLIGHT AERO MED (NFAM) OPERATES AS A CRITICAL CARE AIR AMBULANCE THROUGH A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN TWO CHARITABLE IRC 501(C)(3) HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS: SPECTRUM HEALTH HOSPITALS DBA COREWELL HEALTH GRAND RAPIDS HOSPITALS AND MUNSON HEALTHCARE. BASED IN TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN, NFAM'S TEAM IS READY FOR RAPID PATIENT TRANSPORT FROM EMERGENCY SCENES OR FOR INTERFACILITY TRANSFERS USING A SIKORSKY S-76 HELICOPTER AND TWO BEECHCRAFT KING AIR AIRPLANES.NFAM HAS A SIMPLE MISSION: TO GIVE PATIENTS THEIR BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.THE PRIMARY RESPONSE TEAMS CONSIST OF ONE PILOT AND TWO FLIGHT NURSES WHO SPECIALIZE IN THE TRANSPORT AND TREATMENT OF CRITICALLY ILL AND INJURED PATIENTS. THE NURSES ARE DUALLY LICENSED AS REGISTERED NURSES AND PARAMEDICS, AND THEY HOLD MULTIPLE CERTIFICATIONS RELEVANT TO CRITICAL CARE AND FLIGHT MEDICINE. PILOTS HOLD TOP FAA AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CREDENTIALS, AND MECHANICS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EARN INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION, BOTH EXCEEDING INDUSTRY STANDARDS.NFAM INVESTS IN EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING THAT MEET OR EXCEED STANDARD REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN TEAM READINESS. PILOTS PARTICIPATE IN FULL-MOTION SIMULATOR SESSIONS TWICE PER YEAR FOCUSING ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES; NEWLY HIRED MECHANICS RECEIVE MANUFACTURER-LED TRAINING; FLIGHT NURSES COMPLETE MANIKIN-BASED MEDICAL TRAINING. IN 2024, NFAM'S TRAINING EXPENSES EXCEEDED $500,000.NFAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON THE ACCREDITATION OF MEDICAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (CAMTS) AND WAS REACCREDITED IN 2024. WHILE THIS ACCREDITATION INDICATES ADHERENCE TO QUALITY AND SAFETY STANDARDS, IT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR AIR AMBULANCE PROVIDERS IN THE U.S.NFAM PRIMARILY OPERATES IN RURAL MICHIGAN, FAR FROM TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS. IN 2024, NFAM RECEIVED MORE THAN 1,600 SERVICE REQUESTS AND COMPLETED 764 PATIENT TRANSPORTS ACROSS 48 COUNTIES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF PATIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY; 66% OF PATIENTS IN 2024 HAD MEDICARE, MEDICAID, OR NO INSURANCE COVERAGE.NFAM PROVIDES EDUCATION TO BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ABOUT ITS SERVICES AND PRACTICES FOR SAFE OPERATIONS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED 35 COMMUNITY OUTREACH FLIGHTS AND EVENTS, ALL SELF-FUNDED.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 June 2016.

    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.