Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Big Bend Hospice Foundation

EIN 59-3258493 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIG BEND HOSPICE FOUNDATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO SUPPORT BIG BEND HOSPICE, A RELATED ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS "TO INSPIRE HOPE BY POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES SERIOUS ILLNESS OR GRIEF - ONE FAMILY AT A TIME."

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
34.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
6
Volunteers
103
Highest pay
$392,989, ceo/administrator bbh

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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. $1.5 million spent. BIG BEND HOSPICE FOUNDATION, INC. WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1996 WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING THE MISSION, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES OF BIG BEND HOSPICE, INC. (BBH), A RELATED TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. THE FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE PRIMARY FUNDRAISING ARM OF BBH, SECURING PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENHANCE COMPASSIONATE END-OF-LIFE CARE FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. FUNDS RAISED BY THE FOUNDATION SUPPORT A VARIETY OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE BEREAVEMENT SERVICES PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS COPING WITH THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. LICENSED COUNSELORS HELP YOUNG INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP HEALTHY STRATEGIES FOR NAVIGATING GRIEF. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THE FOUNDATION ALSO FUNDS MUSIC THERAPY SERVICES, DELIVERED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS USING EVIDENCE-BASED TECHNIQUES TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF PATIENTS. THIS THERAPEUTIC APPROACH CONTRIBUTES MEANINGFULLY TO OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. CHARITY CARE IS ANOTHER CRITICAL AREA OF SUPPORT, ENSURING THAT HOSPICE SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROGRAMS TAILORED TO VETERANS, RECOGNIZING THEIR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND SERVICE BY PROVIDING SPECIALIZED CARE AND RECOGNITION. OTHER AREAS OF FUNDING INCLUDE SPIRITUAL CARE AND CHAPLAINCY, SPECIAL PATIENT NEEDS, AND VARIOUS PATIENT- AND FAMILY-CENTERED INITIATIVES, ALL OF WHICH ALIGN WITH THE CORE MISSION OF DELIVERING COMFORT, DIGNITY, AND HOPE. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT PERCENTAGE, REFLECTING BROAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND A DIVERSIFIED DONOR BASE. CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE NUMEROUS LARGE DONATIONS FROM MANY SUPPORTERS, RATHER THAN RELIANCE ON A FEW SOURCES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOLDS A SIGNIFICANT PERMANENT ENDOWMENT, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION LONG INTO THE FUTURE. FUNDRAISING EVENTS ARE CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY, WITH A COST-PER-DOLLAR-RAISED THAT REFLECTS PRUDENT STEWARDSHIP OF DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED OVER $800,000 IN DIRECT SUPPORT TO BIG BEND HOSPICE. IN ADDITION, IT RECEIVED MORE THAN $60,000 IN NON-CASH CONTRIBUTIONS, INCLUDING DONATIONS OF FOOD, CLOTHING, AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

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 October 13, 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 February 1996.

    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 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.