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Big Bend Hospice Inc

EIN 59-2328806 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, BIG BEND HOSPICE ("BBH "BIG BEND") HAS BEEN INSPIRING HOPE BY POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES SERIOUS ILLNESS OR GRIEF, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$29.6 million
Spending
$30.0 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
391
Volunteers
296
Highest pay
$392,989, 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

Fair: 51 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% 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 25

    22 of 22 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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)
  1. $18.7 million spent. BIG BEND HOSPICE (BIG BEND) IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION THAT COORDINATES CARE BY PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS SPECIFICALLY TRAINED TO HELP TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE BIG BEND FLORIDA AREA. BIG BEND IS HERE TO TAKE THE FEAR OUT OF THE UNKNOWN AND GUIDE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES OF DEALING WITH A LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS. WE PROVIDE EACH PATIENT WITH A CARE TEAM COMPOSED OF THE PATIENT'S OWN PHYSICIAN, A HOSPICE NURSE, HOME HEARTH AIDE, FAMILY SUPPORT COUNSELOR, MUSIC THERAPIST, CHAPLAIN, AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INCLUDES MEDICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL CARE, MAXIMIZING THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHEN THE QUANTITY OF LIFE CANNOT BE EXTENDED. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O THE DOZIER HOUSE IS A LICENSED 12-BED INPATIENT FACILITY TO PROVIDE HOSPICE CARE FOR THOSE PATIENTS WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF ACUITY AND WHO MAY REQUIRE ROUND-THE-CLOCK (24 HOUR) SKILLED NURSING CARE. BBH OPERATES A LICENSED 8-BED INPATIENT WING IN TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE'S HOSPITAL (FIRST COMMERCE CENTER FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE). THIS WING IS FULLY OPERATED BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR HIGHER LEVEL ACUITY PATIENTS WHO REQUIRE THE SAME ROUND-THE-CLOCK (24 HOUR) SKILLED NURSING CARE BUT CANNOT BE EASILY TRANSPORTED FROM THE HOSPITAL TO THE DOZIER HOUSE. THE ORGANIZATION PROIVDES SERVICES TO ITS HOSPICE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES, AS WEEL AS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, FOR WHICH NO REIMBURSEMENT IS RECEIVED, SUCH AS LOSS COUNSELING TO CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS, AND MUSIC THERAPY AS AN ENHANCEMENT TO BASIC HOSPICE CARE. DURING FYE 9/30/2025, BIG BEND HOSPICE ADMITTED AND SERVED 2,526 PATIENTS. BBH'S DOZIER HOUSE SERVED 523 PATIENTS, THE FIRST COMMERCE CENTER FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE SERVED 631 PATIENTS AND BBH SUPPORTED 531 PATIENTS IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. FOLLOWING A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS, PARTIENTS AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH ANTICIPATORY GRIEF ARE ASSISTED BY TRAINED STAFF. IN ADDITION TO THE ANTICIPATORY GRIEF SUPPORT PROVIDED TO PATIENTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES, BIG BEND HOSPICE CONTINUES THE HOSPICE JOURNEY WITH CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AFTER THE PATIENT DIES THROUGH ITS BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL FACE TO FACE SESSIONS, TELEPHONE SUPPORT,AND ACCESS TO BEREAVEMENT GROUPS AND EVENTS. BIG BEND HOSPICE'S BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE BROADER BIG BEND COMMUNITY THROUGH GRIEF GROUPS, CAMPS, AND BEREAVEMENT EVENTS. DURING FYE 9/30/25, THE BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDED INDIVIDAUL, FACE-TO-FACE GRIEF SUPPORT SESSIONS. BBH FACILITATED 4 SIX-WEEK ADULT GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS, A MONTHLY SUICIDE LOSS SUPPORT GROUP (12 SESSIONS), 5 TEEN NIGHT GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT GROUPS, 8 CRISIS RESPONSE SESSIONS, 6 HOLIDAY BEREAVEMENT EVENTS, 9 CHILDREN AND TEEN NIGHTS, AND TEEN WOE-BE-GONE. COMPLIMENTARY THERAPIES PROVIDED TO PATIENTS DURING FYE 9/30/2025 INCLUDING 100+ HOURS OF ANIMAL THERAPY, 5,104 MUSIC THERAPY VISITS, AND 3,833 SPIRITUAL CARE VISITS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.