Foundation of Firsthealth Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS, INC., A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX UNDER IRS SECTION 501C(3) AND 170(B)(1)(A)(III).
- Income
- $18.2 million
- Spending
- $12.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 29.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 199
- Highest pay
- $1.7 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 25 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 September 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)
- $11.8 million spent. THE FOUNDATION OF FIRSTHEALTH, INC. ("FOUNDATION") PROVIDES PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO THE OPERATING ENTITIES AND BUSINESS LINES OF FIRSTHEALTH OF THE CAROLINAS, INC. ("FIRSTHEALTH"), A NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. THIS FY 2025 PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT INCLUDED $10,790,692 IN GRANTS TO FIRSTHEALTH FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT OF EXISTING PATIENT CARE FACILITIES AND SERVICES, PHYSICIAN AND CLINICAL STAFF EDUCATION, AND OTHER APPROVED OPERATIONAL NEEDS. SIGNIFICANT FY 2025 DISBURSEMENT FROM THE FOUNDATION TO FIRSTHEALTH INCLUDED, BUT WERE NOT LIMITED TO: * $7,500,000 AS FINAL PAYMENT TOWARD THE FOUNDATION'S FINANCIAL PLEDGE FOR THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER. * $643,330 PAID BY THE FIRSTHEALTH HOSPICE FOUNDATION TO COVER ONGOING ANNUAL OPERATING LOSSES OF THE FIRSTHEALTH HOSPICE HOUSE (INPATIENT FACILITY); PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE HEALING GARDENS AT THE HOSPICE HOUSE, AND TO OFFSET A PORTION OF THE ONGOING PATIENT CARE COSTS OF FIRSTHEALTH'S OUTPATIENT PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM NOT PAID THROUGH MEDICARE AND MOST COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COMPANIES. * $533,388 PAID TO COVER THE OPERATING DEFICIT OF THE CLARA MCLEAN HOSPITALITY HOUSE ("CLARA'S HOUSE") LOCATED ON THE FIRSTHEALTH MOORE REGIONAL HOSPITAL - PINEHURST CAMPUS AND TO OFFSET THE COST OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS HELD AT THE FACILITY. * $277,042 PAID IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRSTHEALTH PHYSICIAN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PROGRAM AND THE CENTER FOR PROVIDER WELL-BEING. * $370,506 DISBURSED FROM THE CANCER CARE FUND TO ASSIST PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER WITH THE COST OF MEDICATION CO-PAYS, GAS MONEY, ARRANGING SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, SPECIAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, ETC. * $125,000 PAID TO FIRSTHEALTH MOORE REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN SUPPORT OF NUMEROUS NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, NURSING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS, EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES, ETC. AND FOR ONGOING MAGNET TRAINING. * $523,250 PAID TO PROVIDE UNDERINSURED CHILDREN WITH QUALITY DENTAL CARE AND OUTSIDE PROFESSIONAL DENTAL SERVICES FOR NEEDED DENTAL SURGERIES. * $254,246 PAID IN SUPPORT OF THE ENGAGED BRAINS PROJECT, FOCUSING ON A COMMUNITY-WIDE, PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO DEMENTIA EDUCATION AND CARE. * $246,000 PAID IN SUPPORT OF THE REID HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION FELLOWSHIP, FOCUSING ON DESIGNING INNOVATIVE, PERSON-CENTERED DEMENTIA CARE PATHWAYS, INVOLVING LOCAL HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. * $64,343 PAID TO SUPPORT THE FIRSTFUTURES INITIATIVE, PARTNERING WITH AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO PROVIDE STUDENT AID AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE. * $162,170 DISBURSED BY THE FIRSTHEALTH RICHMOND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS OF RICHMOND COUNTY. * $40,000 DISBURSED BY THE FIRSTHEALTH MONTGOMERY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. THE CLARA MCLEAN HOUSE ("CLARA'S HOUSE") SERVED 16,499 GUESTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2012. THIS ENCOMPASSED 27,029 ROOM NIGHTS WITH GUESTS VISITING FROM 48 STATES AND 8 COUNTRIES. IN ADDITION, OVER 9,500 VISITS WERE MADE TO THE ON-SITE HEALING GARDEN BY GUESTS AND THE PINEHURST COMMUNITY AT-LARGE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CLARA'S HOUSE CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON THE CANCER PATIENT POPULATION AS ITS MAIN HOUSING MARKET. WITH THE CANCER CENTER ENTERING ITS THIRD YEAR OF OPERATION, THE NUMBER OF ROOM NIGHTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS STAYING AT CLARA'S HOUSE MADE UP 58% OF ALL ROOM NIGHTS PROVIDED. THANKS TO THE GENEROUS PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FOUNDATION OF FIRSTHEALTH, CLARA'S HOUSE PROVIDED 979 NIGHTS TO MORE THAN 240 CANCER PATIENTS AT NO CHARGE, EQUATING TO AN APPROXIMATE VALUE OF $186,010 IN ACCOMMODATIONS. MANY PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVER(S) STAYED FOR UP TO 6 WEEKS DURING TREATMENT REGIMENS, WHICH REQUIRED STAFF TO STEP INTO A MORE REFINED SKILL SET TO ACCOMPANY FOLKS THROUGH THIS VARIED AND OFTEN ARDUOUS PORTION OF THEIR MEDICAL AND HEALING JOURNEY. THERE WERE 25 VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED THE GUESTS IN CLARA'S HOUSE AND 25 VOLUNTEERS WHO MAINTAINED THE HEALING GARDENS. THESE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,671HOURS OF SERVICE IN 2025, AT A VALUE OF $58,100. THE HOUSE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED MEALS AND SNACKS FOR GUESTS, ADDRESSED THEIR ON-GOING NEEDS, AND ASSISTED WITH DAILY HOUSE NEEDS. WITH MANY OF THE GUESTS NOT HAVING TRANSPORTATION AVAILABILITY, THESE EFFORTS PROVIDED DAILY INTERACTIONS AND COMMUNICATION ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALING PROCESS. FROM THE OVERALL LODGING STANDPOINT, 905 GUESTS STAYED A TOTAL OF 1,675 ROOM NIGHTS, WITH 466 OF THOSE GUESTS BEING FIRST TIME VISITORS. GUESTS TRAVELED A MEAN DISTANCE OF 83 MILES AND STAYED AN AVERAGE OF 2.0 NIGHTS. TOP DIAGNOSTIC GROUPS REMAINED ONCOLOGY, ORTHOPEDIC AND HEART PATIENTS, WITH THE TOP THREE COUNTIES BEING SERVED FROM CUMBERLAND, ROBESON AND RICHMOND. OVER 108 OF THOSE NIGHTS WERE DEDICATED TO PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND THOSE IN SERVICE TO FIRSTHEALTH. CLARA'S HOUSE REMAINED A CENTRAL HUB FOR COMMUNITY NAVIGATION, OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY, HOSTING 11 DIFFERENT SUPPORT GROUPS. OVER 1,612 VISITS HAD BEEN MADE TO PARKINSON'S, DEMENTIA, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, STROKE RECOVERY AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE GROUPS. MUSIC AND ART THERAPY, AS WELL AS CENTERING PRAYER AND BOOK CLUB, WERE STILL GOING STRONG AFTER BEING IN SERVICE MORE THAN A DECADE FROM THIS LOCATION. ADDITIONALLY, THREE FIRSTHEALTH DEPARTMENTS OPERATED OUT OF CLARA'S HOUSE, INCLUDING FIRSTFUTURES AND TELEHEALTH SERVICES. CLARA'S HOUSE HOSTED 584 MEETINGS IN SHADOWLAWN AND THE HOUSE AT LARGE, IN SUPPORT OF THE SPACE NEEDS ON THE FIRSTHEALTH MOORE REGIONAL HOSPITAL CAMPUS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 September 2025.
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 June 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 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.