Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Knoxville Tennessee Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We offer temporary lodging for families having critically ill children. See page Part III for more information.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 114.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 1,630
- Highest pay
- $181,622, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 114.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 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 December 31, 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 (2)
- $654,346 spent. Our Main Purpose - Housing Families: The Ronald McDonald House offers temporary lodging for families having critically ill children, 21 years of age or younger, being treated in area hospitals. In our fourty years of operation we have served approximately 61,500 people. Beside the obvious financial advantage of staying at our home-away-from-home where we gladly waive the $5.00 per night requested donation if it is prohibitive, there is the additional benefit of meeting other families who are experiencing similar medical problems with their children. Its a place where they can draw additional comfort and support from friendships that are born here. In addition to lodging, our supportive community helps provide all the comforts of home such as food, laundry facilities, transportation,free wi-fi...all of which are included in their stay. We can accomodate 65 people or 15 families in the two houses we operate. By years end, we had received referrals from four different medical facilities that represented families from 12 various states and 41 counties from across Tennessee. What brought these people to our doors? The most prevalent reasons were newborn complications such as prematurity and respiratory issues, cancer, and brain and spinal issues. There were as manyother medical conditions that also brought families. Although we have no length of stay restrictions, the average length of stay was 9 days. As long as a child is hospitalized, family members including extended family and siblings have been welcome.
- $355,346 spent. Our Secondary Purpose - Grantmaking: One of the hallmarks of the McDonalds corporation over the years has been their unqualified commitment to children. As a legacy to McDonalds founder, Ray Kroc, Ronald McDonald Childrens Charities or RMCC was founded to champion philanthropic groups worldwide that were dedicated to the betterment of children. In an effort to streamline their organization to make a greater impact on a local level, the Global McDonalds office requested that RMCC and Ronald McDonald Houses across the country consolidate which was the genesis of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Knoxville, TN, Inc. in 1996. Funding and operating the Knoxville Ronald McDonald House will always remain the number one priority of the non-profit and monies raised under the auspices of supporting the Ronald McDonald House will be used exclusively for that purpose and are maintained in a separate account.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 May 1983.
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.