Healthy Humor Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HEALTHY HUMOR IS AN ARTS ORGANIZATION WHOSE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS CREATE MOMENTS OF JOY, WONDER, LAUGHTER AND COMFORT FOR HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AND ALL OTHERS WHO ARE MOST IN NEED.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 57
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $134,432, president/chief executive officer
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: 37 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 7Reports no 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)
- $860,526 spent. HEALTHY HUMOR (HH) LAUNCHED WITH THREE PARTNER HOSPITALS IN SEPTEMBER 2016 TO CARRY FORWARD AND BUILD ON THE LEGACY OF BIG APPLE CIRCUS CLOWN CARE, WHERE THE HEALTHCARE CLOWNING PROFESSION WAS BORN. IT IS THE PREEMINENT HEALTHCARE CLOWNING ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES, ITS WORK INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED IN THE INDUSTRY. OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, RED NOSE DOCS, USES THE MAGIC OF HEALTHCARE CLOWNING TO ALLEVIATE THE STRESS, FEAR, SADNESS AND ISOLATION OF THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG PATIENTS AND THEIR CIRCLE OF CAREGIVERS. WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 65 PERFORMERS SERVING 15 HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THREE OF THE NATION'S TOP 5 INSTITUTIONS, CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA (CHOP), AND CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL. IN 34 WEEKLY SHIFTS, OUR RED NOSE DOCS CARRY OUT THEIR MAGIC ON THE FLOORS OF THESE HOSPITALS, REACHING 51,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EACH MONTH - MORE THAN 600,000 EVERY YEAR - AT WHAT IS OFTEN THE MOST VULNERABLE TIME OF THEIR LIVES. IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUE TO CHERISH OUR LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP, PROVIDING TWO ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER OF THIS AMAZING PROGRAM CREATED BY PAUL NEWMAN TO PROVIDE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHO CANNOT ATTEND TRADITIONAL CAMP THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL HAVE A SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE.
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 December 2016.
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.