Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE OWAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER (AT TIMES ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE "MEDICAL CENTER OR "WFUBMC OR "THE FILING ORGANIZATION") IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST (AT TIMES ALSO REFERRED TO AS "AHWFB"), A PREEMINENT LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEM AND ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY WITH BALANCED EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION THAT PROMOTES BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL THROUGH COLLABORATION, EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION. AHWFB'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE HEALTH, ELEVATE HOPE AND ADVANCE HEALING - FOR ALL AND ITS VISION IS TO BE THE FIRST AND BEST CHOICE FOR CARE.
- Income
- $172.6 million
- Spending
- $230.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- -24.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 89%
- Employees
- 24,858
- Volunteers
- 517
- Highest pay
- $25.8 million, ceo advocate health
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
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 155% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $23.4 million spent. WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER (WFUBMC), THE FILING ORGANIZATION, IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST (AHWFB), A PREEMINENT ACADEMIC HEALTH SYSTEM OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY WITH BALANCED EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT CARE, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION THAT PROMOTES BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL THROUGH COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION. THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED TO EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE FILING ORGANIZATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE "ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST," THE NAME NOT OF ANY ONE CORPORATE ENTITY, BUT USED GENERICALLY TO DESCRIBE A LARGE GROUP OF MOSTLY 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS PERFORMING VARIOUS ACADEMIC LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEM ACTIVITIES IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING PATIENT CARE, MEDICAL RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, AND MEDICAL EDUCATION. WFUBMC IS A NORTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE THREE MEMBERS ARE WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST HOSPITAL (NCBH), AND ATRIUM HEALTH, INC. (AHI), (EACH OF WHICH IS A NORTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER IRC SECTION 501(C)(3)). PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT, INITIALLY ENTERED INTO ON JULY 1, 2010, AND SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED AND RESTATED MULTIPLE TIMES INCLUDING, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 9, 2020, AND AS AMENDED FEBRUARY 24, 2021 TO ADD ATRIUM HEALTH, INC. AS A PARTY THERETO (INITIALLY KNOWN AS THE MEDICAL CENTER INTEGRATION AGREEMENT AND NOW AS THE AMENDED AND RESTATED MEDICAL CENTER INTEGRATION AGREEMENT OR THE MCIA), WFUBMC IS THE OVERALL UMBRELLA OPERATING ENTITY OF THE ATRIUM HEALTH SYSTEM'S NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA COMPONENT ENTITIES. NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES ARE OPERATED, PURSUANT TO DELEGATIONS IN THE MCIA, BY WFUBMC AS "ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST." WFUHS, IN TURN, OPERATES THE WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. ON OCTOBER 9, 2020, THE CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (CMHA), WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, NCBH, WFUHS, AND THE FILING ORGANIZATION FORMED A SINGLE, INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM THROUGH A JOINT OPERATING COMPANY, ATRIUM HEALTH, INC. (A NORTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION PREVIOUSLY ORGANIZED BY CMHA AND WFUBMC). THROUGH THIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM INTEGRATION AND PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT KNOWN AS THE "ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT," ATRIUM HEALTH, INC. MANAGES AND OVERSEES THE BUSINESS, FACILITIES, SERVICES, PERSONNEL, AND ACTIVITIES OF CMHA AND WFUBMC (COLLECTIVELY THE "ATRIUM ENTERPRISE"). THE ATRIUM ENTERPRISE ENCOMPASSES 40 HOSPITALS, INCLUDING FOUR CHILDREN'S CAMPUSES, AND MORE THAN 500 CARE SITES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND VIRGINIA. NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING NARRATIVE INCLUDES IN SOME OF ITS DESCRIPTIONS THE ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS OF THE ATRIUM ENTERPRISE THROUGH DAVIE MEDICAL CENTER (TRADING AS ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST DAVIE MEDICAL CENTER), HIGH POINT REGIONAL HEALTH (TRADING AS ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HIGH POINT MEDICAL CENTER), LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER (TRADING AS ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER), WRMC HOSPITAL OPERATING CORPORATION (TRADING AS ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST WILKES MEDICAL CENTER), AND WAKE FOREST HEALTH NETWORK LLC, THE SOLE MEMBER OF EACH OF WHICH IS WFUBMC, AS WELL AS ORGANIZATIONS RELATED TO (OR UNRELATED BUT AFFILIATED WITH) WFUBMC, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE FILING ORGANIZATION'S ROLE IN THE INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM'S COMPREHENSIVE ACTIVITIES. ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST IS NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA'S SOLE ACADEMIC LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEM, BRINGING TO THE REGION THE RESOURCES OF ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP HOSPITALS AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH CENTERS AND A PREMIER MEDICAL SCHOOL, LOCATED ON THREE CAMPUSES. IT OPERATES THE WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, WHICH HAS A FACULTY OF OVER 3,000, INCLUDING PHYSICIANS AND BASIC SCIENTISTS WITH FULL OR ADJUNCT APPOINTMENTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS FACULTY, THE WAKE FOREST HEALTH NETWORK HAS MORE THAN 160 CLINICAL PRACTICES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HAS 1,510 LICENSED ACUTE CARE AND REHABILITATION BEDS ACROSS THE SYSTEM, WHICH ENCOMPASSES ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER ON ITS MAIN WINSTON-SALEM CAMPUS (885 BEDS), ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HIGH POINT MEDICAL CENTER (351 BEDS), ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER (94 BEDS), ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST DAVIE MEDICAL CENTER (50 BEDS), AND ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST WILKES MEDICAL CENTER (130 BEDS). ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST ALSO INCLUDES THE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, WHICH IS DESIGNATED AS SUCH BY THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, AND BRENNER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. OVERALL, ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST SERVES A 24-COUNTY REGION IN NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA AND DRAWS PATIENTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION FOR SELECT SERVICES. ATRIUM HEALTH WAKE FOREST BAPTIST IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INNOVATION QUARTER, A GROWING URBAN-BASED DISTRICT FOR RESEARCH, BUSINESS, AND EDUCATION IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CLINICAL SERVICES, AND ADVANCED MATERIALS. LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM, IT IS HOME TO MORE THAN 90 COMPANIES, FIVE LEADING ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, 3,600 WORKERS, AND 1,800 STUDENTS. GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AT THE WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALSO INCLUDES WAKE FOREST INNOVATIONS, A COMMERCIALIZATION ENTERPRISE FOCUSED ON ADVANCING HEALTH CARE THROUGH NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND BIOMEDICAL DISCOVERY. ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH AND ATRIUM HEALTH FORMALLY COMBINED IN DECEMBER 2022 TO CREATE ADVOCATE HEALTH. IN ADDITION TO DELIVERING THE BEST HEALTH OUTCOMES AND MAKING CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE, ADVOCATE HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING MEDICAL INNOVATIONS TO PATIENTS MORE QUICKLY, ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF HEALTH INEQUITIES, ADVANCING POPULATION HEALTH, ENABLING CAREER ADVANCEMENT, AND ACHIEVING CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 20
- $178.9 million spent. WAKE FOREST HEALTH NETWORK, LLC (WFHN) IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY MEDICAL PRACTICE WITH MORE THAN 165 LOCATIONS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE TRIAD AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. WFHN PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE, PEDIATRICS, WOMEN'S HEALTH, SPORTS MEDICINE, HEART HEALTH, CANCER CARE, NEUROLOGY, AND MORE. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, WFHN HAD APPROXIMATELY 1,032,936 CLINIC VISITS. WFHN HAS TRANSITIONED FROM THE TRADITIONAL "FEE-FOR-SERVICE" MODEL TO A PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME SYSTEM PROVIDING EXPANDED ACCESS, INCREASED COORDINATION OF CARE, ENHANCED PATIENT EDUCATION FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASE, AND SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT. WFHN PARTICIPATES IN THE MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS (ACO) SPONSORED BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS). THROUGH THE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM, WFHN WORKS WITH CMS TO PROVIDE MEDICARE FEE-FOR-SERVICE BENEFICIARIES WITH HIGH QUALITY SERVICE AND CARE, WHILE REDUCING THE GROWTH IN MEDICARE EXPENDITURES THROUGH ENHANCED CARE COORDINATION.
- $14.2 million spent. WAKE AIR CARE, LLC (AIRCARE) IS PART OF AN EMS NETWORK SERVING PATIENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, AIRCARE CONTINUED PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES UTILIZING AIR AND MOBILE AMBULANCES STATIONED IN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS TO PROVIDE FAST, SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR CRITICALLY ILL AND INJURED PATIENTS. AIRCARE TREATS ADULTS AND PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS, INCLUDING TRAUMA, CARDIAC, STROKE, AND BURNS. AIRCARE RESPONDS TO CALLS FROM FIRST RESPONDERS AND HOSPITALS 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, AND TREATS PATIENTS AT THE SCENE. THE CREW IS CERTIFIED IN SEVERAL AREAS OF EMERGENCY CARE AND HAVE UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN ADVANCED AIRWAY MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORT PHYSIOLOGY, BURN AND TRAUMA CARE, PEDIATRICS, AND CARDIOLOGY. THE AIRCRAFT ARE EQUIPPED WITH SOPHISTICATED LIFE SUPPORT AND PATIENT CARE EQUIPMENT.
- $193,546 spent. HPCA LLC AND FORSYTH COMMUNITY PCC, LLC - SEE SCHEDULE O
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1976.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.