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Palliative Care of the Bluegrass

EIN 61-1333301 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Palliative Care Center of the Bluegrass is a mission-driven organization, dedicated to providing the highest interdisciplinary palliative care to all it serves. The ultimate goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for the patient and family.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
19
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$613,465, vice chair board of directors/ceo

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 218% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 7 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. PROVIDE INTERDISCIPLINARY PALLIATIVE CARE WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PATIENT AND FAMILY TO APPROXIMATELY 3,616 PATIENTS. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE IS THE SYMPTOM-DIRECTED, PATIENT-CENTERED, LIFE-AFFIRMING CARE OF INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO ARE LIVING WITH PROGRESSIVE LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING PATIENTS AND FAMILIES, PALLIATIVE CARE CENTER OF THE BLUEGRASS COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS AS LEADERS IN PALLIATIVE CARE, PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE TIME, TALENT AND SUPPORT, EDUCATES ORGANIZATIONS ON PROVIDING PALLIATIVE SERVICES, AND SUPPORTS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN A CREATIVE CLIMATE WHERE THEY FIND MEANING AND CAN DO THEIR BEST WORK.
  2. $6,204 spent. PALLIATIVE CARE CENTER OF THE BLUEGRASS IS A LEARNING CENTER IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS COME FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO RECEIVE PALLIATIVE EDUCATION. IN 2024, 1 PROGRAM WAS HELD WITH 2 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS FROM KENTUCKY.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.