East Tennessee Childrens Hospital Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EAST TENNESSEE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS A FREE-STANDING, INDEPENDENT, NOT-FOR-PROFIT PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WHICH SERVES THE EAST TENNESSEE REGION. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AS A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PEDIATRIC CENTER. OUR VISION IS TAKING CARE OF OUR FUTURE, ONE CHILD AT A TIME.
- Income
- $413.8 million
- Spending
- $351.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 10.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 2,543
- Volunteers
- 2,630
- Highest pay
- $1.0 million, board member/president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 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 June 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)
- $281.2 million spent. EAST TENNESSEE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ("ETCH") IS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PEDIATRIC CENTER IN EAST TENNESSEE. SINCE 1937, ETCH HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 21 YEARS OF AGE. ETCH OFFERS MORE PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTIES THAN ANY OTHER HOSPITAL IN THE REGION, SERVING CHILDREN FROM EAST TENNESSEE, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE SUBSPECIALTIES AVAILABLE AT ETCH INCLUDE: ADOLESCENT MEDICINECHILD ABUSE PEDIATRICS(SUBSPECIALTY LIST CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DEVELOPMENTAL-BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICSNEONATOLOGYPEDIATRICS/PRIMARY CAREPEDIATRIC ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGYPEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGYPEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY CLINICAL GENETICSPEDIATRIC CRITICAL CAREPEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGYPEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINEPEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGYPEDIATRIC FORENSIC MEDICINEPEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGYPEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGYPEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASEPEDIATRIC INPATIENT MEDICINEPEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CAREPEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGYPEDIATRIC NEUROLOGYPEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERYPEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGYPEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDICSPEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGYPEDIATRIC PHYSIATRYPEDIATRIC PLASTIC/RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERYPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGYPEDIATRIC RADIOLOGYPEDIATRIC REHABILITATION SERVICESPEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGYPEDIATRIC SLEEP MEDICINEPEDIATRIC SURGERYPEDIATRIC UROLOGYPERINATOLOGYPSYCHOLOGYIN ADDITION, ETCH PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING: MEDICAL/SURGICAL SERVICES:THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS STAFFED WITH BOARD CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC PHYSICIANS, NURSING STAFF, AND DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR ALL TYPES OF EMERGENCIES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS UP TO 21 YEARS OF AGE WITH VARYING LEVELS OF ILLNESS AND INJURY, FROM MINOR TO LIFE THREATENING. THE HOSPITAL'S PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (PICU) PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, 24-HOUR-A-DAY TREATMENT FOR CRITICALLY ILL AND INJURED CHILDREN. THE PICU IS STAFFED WITH FELLOWSHIP TRAINED, BOARD CERTIFIED, CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIANS AND NURSES SPECIFICALLY TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED IN THE CARE OF CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN. PATIENTS IN THE PICU RECEIVE A HIGH LEVEL OF MONITORING AND/OR TREATMENT UNTIL THEY ARE WELL ENOUGH TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A REGULAR PATIENT ROOM OR DISCHARGED HOME.IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU), TINY AND FRAGILE INFANTS BORN PREMATURELY OR FACING LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES RECEIVE TREATMENT FROM A TEAM OF BOARD-CERTIFIED NEONATOLOGISTS, WITH VALUABLE ASSISTANCE FROM SPECIALLY TRAINED NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, LACTATION CONSULTANTS, AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THE NICU TREATS MORE THAN 900 NEWBORNS EACH YEAR.AS A REGIONAL REFERRAL CENTER FOR EAST TENNESSEE, ETCH OFFERS NEONATAL AND PEDIATRIC TRANSPORT FROM OUTLYING HOSPITALS IN LIFELINE, A MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN THE SAME QUALITY OF CARE DURING TRANSPORT AS PATIENTS RECEIVE IN THE HOSPITAL'S CRITICAL CARE UNITS. LIFELINE CARRIES MORE THAN 1,000 SUPPLIES TO ADMINISTER CARE TO PATIENTS, FROM THE TINIEST PREMATURE INFANT TO AN ADULT-SIZE PEDIATRIC PATIENT, DURING TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL. IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, THE LIFELINE MEDICAL TEAM MAY INCLUDE A NEONATOLOGIST, NEONATAL NURSE PRACTITIONER, PEDIATRIC/NEONATAL RN, RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, AN EMT, A-EMT, AND PARAMEDICS, DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OF THE PATIENT.ETCH MEETS A WIDE RANGE OF PEDIATRIC SURGICAL NEEDS, FROM COMMON OUTPATIENT PROCEDURES SUCH AS TONSILLECTOMIES TO MORE COMPLICATED PROCEDURES, SUCH AS RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY OR NEUROSURGERY. FIVE DEPARTMENTS COMPRISE ETCH'S SURGICAL SERVICES: OPERATING ROOM, PRE/POST SURGERY (OUTPATIENT SURGERY), INPATIENT SURGERY, ANESTHESIA, AND STERILE PROCESSING. THESE DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE EACH CHILD'S SURGERY AND RECOVERY IS AS QUICK AND PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE. THE DOCTORS, NURSES, ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AND OTHER SURGICAL STAFF ARE TRAINED IN PEDIATRIC MEDICINE. AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS, A CHILD MAY NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO ETCH AS AN INPATIENT. DOCTORS AND NURSES CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR AND TREAT INPATIENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. ALONG WITH PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE, ETCH IS DEDICATED TO MAKING A CHILD'S STAY IN THE HOSPITAL AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. EACH ROOM HAS A TV WITH ACCESS TO MOVIE CHANNELS, AND PLAY ROOMS ARE LOCATED ON EACH FLOOR. OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS CHILD LIFE, NUTRITION, PASTORAL CARE. REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL WORK PROVIDE FOR THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILD. THE RESPIRATORY CARE DEPARTMENT AT ETCH IS STAFFED WITH LICENSED AND ACCREDITED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS WHOSE ROLES INCLUDE TREATING PATIENTS WITH LUNG AND/OR HEART DISEASES SUCH AS ASTHMA, PNEUMONIA, PREMATURE LUNGS AND CYSTIC FIBROSIS. TREATMENTS PROVIDED BY RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS INCLUDE AEROSOL MEDICATIONS, DELIVERY OF OXYGEN AND OTHER MEDICAL GASES, VENTILATOR MANAGEMENT AND MANY OTHER PROCEDURES. RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS HELP PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL, FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO THE NICU. THEY ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE PEDIATRIC TRANSPORT TEAM THAT HELPS BRING SICK AND INJURED CHILDREN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIALIZED CARE. EDUCATION IS ALSO A KEY ROLE OF RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS; THEY TEACH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HOW TO CARE FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS AT HOME. THE PULMONARY FUNCTION LAB, A VITAL PART OF THE RESPIRATORY CARE DEPARTMENT, PERFORMS TESTS TO DIAGNOSE LUNG AND HEART DISEASES. THE DEPARTMENT IS STAFFED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE SPIROMETRY TESTING, METABOLIC STUDIES, CARDIAC STRESS TESTING, LUNG VOLUMES AND THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS CLINIC. ECHOCARDIOGRAMS ARE PERFORMED IN THE ECHO LAB. PATIENTS IN A VARIETY OF HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS MAY BENEFIT FROM SEDATION DURING SOME PAINFUL TESTS AND PROCEDURES. IN ADDITION, YOUNG CHILDREN MAY NEED SEDATION TO REMAIN STILL DURING LONG TESTS, SUCH AS A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI). TO MEET THESE NEEDS, ETCH OFFERS PEDIATRIC ANALGESIA AND SEDATION SPECIALISTS (PASS). WHILE THE HOSPITAL CANNOT ELIMINATE
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1952.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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