Norton Healthcare Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Norton Healthcare's purpose is to provide quality health care to all those we serve, in a manner that responds to the needs of our communities and honors our faith heritage.
- Income
- $759.4 million
- Spending
- $734.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 5,716
- Volunteers
- 1
- Highest pay
- $4.1 million, president & ceo/trustee
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
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 90% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 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)
- $620.1 million spent. Norton Healthcare Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation serving adult and pediatric patients from throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. The not-for-profit hospital and health care system has six Louisville-based hospitals and three hospitals in Southern Indiana. Norton Healthcare expanded services in 2024 with the addition of Norton West Louisville Hospital. This new hospital adds to the recent additions of Norton King's Daughters Health in 2022 and Norton Clark Hospital and Norton Scott Hospital in 2023. Norton West Louisville Hospital opened in November 2024. The hospital offers comprehensive services, including adult and pediatric primary care physician offices, emergency department services, inpatient services and outpatient functions. Imaging services, including X-rays and CT scans, are available, along with specialty services such as women's health, cardiology, neurology and endocrinology. Some physician offices offer evening hours as well. (Continued on Schedule O) In 2024, Norton Healthcare, through its affiliates, Norton Hospitals Inc. and Norton Healthcare - Indiana Inc., had a total of 2,254 licensed beds: Norton Audubon Hospital, 432 beds; Norton Brownsboro Hospital, 197 beds; Norton Children's Hospital, 300 beds; Norton Hospital, 585 beds; Norton West Louisville Hospital, 20 beds; Norton Women's & Children's Hospital, 373 beds; Norton Kings' Daughters' Health, 86 beds; Norton Clark Hospital, 236 beds; Norton Scott Hospital, 25 beds. These nine hospitals operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Norton Pharmacies PLLC, a disregarded entity of Norton Healthcare Inc., operates five retail pharmacies and one specialty pharmacy that dispense medications for the convenience of Norton Healthcare's patients and employees. In 2024, Norton Healthcare, through its affiliate, Community Medical Associates Inc., had approximately 3.7 million patient encounters. Norton Healthcare's hospitals, diagnostic centers and Norton Cancer Institute served 82,503 inpatients and 916,733 outpatients, and saw 335,785 emergency department patients. In addition, Norton Healthcare hospitals' operating rooms cared for 19,157 inpatient surgical patients and 48,059 outpatient surgical patients. Additionally, 9,439 babies were delivered at Norton Healthcare birthing facilities. Norton Healthcare's commitment to the community Norton Healthcare is committed to improving the health of our community and provides funding for a wide array of lifesaving and life-enhancing services that benefit the communities we serve. In 2024, under its charity care program, Norton Healthcare provided free care to 11,860 patients at a cost of $15.7 million. Norton Healthcare also grants a discount from billed charges to any patients who have no access to private health insurance or do not qualify for government assistance or charity care. Under this program, 17,715 patients were provided care at discounted rates. Another contribution to the community was educational support of $98.3 million, primarily to the University of Louisville (UofL) School of Medicine. Community health improvement services totaled $49.7 million, and contributions to community groups were $2.2 million. Norton Healthcare employees donated more than 231,000 hours of community service, a benefit valued at more than $1.6 million in salaries. In addition, many employees self-reported personal volunteer activities. Contributions to the community Norton Healthcare employees and physicians gave $807,239.90 in the 2024-2025 Combined Giving Campaign to help support nonprofit organizations that also are committed to improving the health and well-being of community residents. Supported organizations include WHAS Crusade for Children, Metro United Way, Fund for the Arts, and our own Norton Children's Hospital Foundation and Norton Healthcare Foundation. In 2024, 115 employees helped "raise the roof" on Norton Healthcare's 19th Habitat for Humanity home at 765 John Little St. in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2024, an estimated 1,250 Norton Healthcare employees donated time and funds to plan, purchase and deliver gifts, food and clothing for the Caring Tree program. The program assisted 745 employees and their 1,609 children by providing for their families at Christmas. Norton West Louisville Hospital expanded service in the metro Louisville area. Between Nov. 11, 2024, and December 31, 2025, there were 2,574 emergency department visits. Between Nov. 11, 2024, and December 31, 2024, there were 62 patients admitted to the hospital and 29 outpatient surgeries performed. Belonging & Health Equity Norton Healthcare supports, advises and advocates for our patients, and employees to create a more inclusive environment that reflects our mission, vision, and values. By focusing on psychological safety, intersectionality, and diversity of thought, Norton strives to create an atmosphere where our patients staffs' authenticity is accepted regardless of a person's: * Age * Disability * Gender identity * National origin * Race * Religion * Sexual orientation Workforce development and community education As one of Kentucky's largest health care systems, Norton Healthcare has established a culture of continual, lifelong learning. Opportunities are available through our human resources department's workforce development team and Norton Healthcare Institute for Education & Development. The workforce development team encourages continuing education, offers programs to improve career pathways and provides financial assistance for educational programs, for employees and nonemployees, aimed toward key areas of workforce need within the organization. Norton Healthcare encourages and supports the career goals of employees, their dependents and nonemployees by providing tuition assistance and scholarships, as well as other advancement opportunities. Established in the early 2000s, workforce development has assisted more than 6,000 students with tuition
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 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 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 January 1984.
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.