Methodist Lebonheur Healthcare
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 28% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
METHODIST LE BONHEUR HEALTHCARE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS MEDICAL STAFFS, WILL COLLABORATE WITH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BE THE LEADER IN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE PATIENT AND FAMILY-CENTERED CARE. SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED IN A MANNER WHICH SUPPORTS THE HEALTH MINISTRIES AND SOCIAL PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
- Income
- $439.8 million
- Spending
- $280.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 28%
- Reserves
- 32.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- Employees
- 1,690
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $2.4 million, president/ceo/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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 110% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1528% 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 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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 (1)
- $77.4 million spent. AT METHODIST LE BONHEUR HEALTHCARE (MLH), WE TAKE OUR MISSION SERIOUSLY AND ARE COMMITTED TO FULFILLING OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. MLH HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF TENNCARE SERVICES IN THE STATE AND OUR FACILITIES SERVE ALL AREAS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY. AS A FAITH-BASED INSTITUTION, PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. THE FIVE (5) FACILITIES OF METHODIST HEALTHCARE - MEMPHIS HOSPITALS ARE LICENSED AS ONE HOSPITAL. IT IS THE THIRD LARGEST HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. METHODIST HAS FIVE MAJOR AREAS OF FOCUS: CARDIOLOGY, CANCER, NEUROSCIENCES, TRANSPLANT, AND PEDIATRICS. IN 2024 MLH CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $268 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH THROUGH VARIOUS EFFORTS INCLUDING, CHARITY CARE, MEDICARE/TNCARE SHORTFALL, MEDICAL EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT SERVICES. NET COMMUNITY BENEFIT EXPENSE IS CALCULATED USING A STANDARD APPROACH AS REQUIRED FOR GOVERNMENT BENEFIT REPORTING. METHODIST LE BONHEUR HEALTHCARE (MLH) HAS SERVED THE MEMPHIS AND MID-SOUTH REGION FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. OUR FIVE ADULT HOSPITALS ARE LOCATED ACROSS THE CITY, AND ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. OUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS THE REGION'S ONLY COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL. OUR PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND OTHER CLINICIANS LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE AND PROVIDE EXPERT CARE INSIDE THE HOSPITALS AND PREVENTATIVE SERVICES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, PROVIDING UNCOMPENSATED CARE, CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WE EMPLOY 250 HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AS THEY RELATE TO FOUR MAJOR AREAS: ACCESS TO SERVICES, RISK REDUCTION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EFFECTIVE PARENTING AND CHRONIC ILLNESS MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PROGRAMS THAT OFFER FREE OR DISCOUNTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, NON-BILLED, IN-HOME SERVICES, IN-HOME EQUIPMENT, TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS, CHILDBIRTH CLASSES AND A VARIETY OF HEALTH FAIRS ALL AIMED AT KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHY. MLH HAS RECEIVED REGIONAL AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE CARE IT PROVIDES. METHODIST ADULT HOSPITALS IN THE MEMPHIS AREA, WHICH INCLUDE METHODIST UNIVERSITY, METHODIST LE BONHEUR GERMANTOWN, METHODIST NORTH AND METHODIST SOUTH, ARE RANKED AS A TOP HOSPITAL IN THE REGION BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT. In 2024 METHODIST OLIVE BRANCH HOSPITAL IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI Became A CMS 5-STAR HOSPITAL, THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN THE REGION TO BE SO RECOGNIZED FOR BOTH QUALITY AND PATIENT EXPERIENCE. LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HAS BEEN NAMED A "BEST CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL" BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT FOR ELEVEN/11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. LE BONHEUR PROVIDES OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN WEST TENNESSEE, NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND EASTERN ARKANSAS TO ENSURE CHILDREN THERE HAVE ACCESS TO EXPERT PEDIATRIC CARE. LE BONHEUR IS ALSO A LEVEL 1 PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CENTER, AND SERVES AS THE REGION'S PRIMARY SOURCE FOR PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CARE AND TRAUMA EDUCATION FOR REGIONAL PROVIDERS. METHODIST ALSO SERVES THE COMMUNITY WITH DIAGNOSTIC CARE FACILITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND ONE HOSPICE FACILITY COMMITTED TO CARING FOR OUR PATIENTS AT END-OF-LIFE. WE ARE ALSO AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING $5 BILLION TO THE MEMPHIS-AREA ECONOMY. MLH EMPLOYS MORE THAN 10,600 ASSOCIATES AND HAS A MEDICAL STAFF OF MORE THAN 2,400 PROVIDERS, MAKING IT THE SECOND-LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER IN SHELBY COUNTY. METHODIST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS A PRIMARY TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AND LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S SERVES AS THE PRIMARY TEACHING AFFILIATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY, TRAINING HUNDREDS OF PEDIATRICIANS AND SPECIALISTS EACH YEAR. OUR RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TO FIND NEW SOLUTIONS TO CHRONIC DISEASE THAT AFFECTS OUR POPULATION ESPECIALLY INCLUDING NEW TREATMENTS FOR DIABETES AND ASTHMA. WE ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIPS WITH ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS TO EXTEND OUR RESEARCH AND TEACHING CAPABILITIES. MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH-METHODIST SUPPORTS VIA DIRECT SALARY AND BENEFIT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER (UTHSC) FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINING POSITIONS (GME) AT METHODIST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND METHODIST LE BONHEUR GERMANTOWN HOSPITAL. THESE GME RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS ARE EMPLOYEES AND TRAINEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, BUT THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS COMES VIA METHODIST. THESE TRAINEES SPEND TIME AT A METHODIST HOSPITAL DURING THE PERIODS OF METHODIST SUPPORT AND ARE INVOLVED IN PATIENT CARE IN ADDITION TO EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
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 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 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 April 1982.
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.