Wakemed
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE PROPERTIES, AID AND PROMOTE THE IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF WAKEMED'S EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS, AND TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE THROUGH PHILANTHROPY BY RAISING FRIENDS, FUNDS, AND FUTURE LEADERS FOR WAKEMED.
- Income
- $55.0 million
- Spending
- $62.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- -43.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 67%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $2.2 million, president & ceo
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2536 of 40 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (2)
- $53.1 million spent. WAKEMED PROPERTY SERVICES PURCHASES, LEASES, AND MAINTAINS PROPERTIES IN WAKE, JOHNSTON AND DURHAM COUNTIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF LEASING OR SUBLEASING SPACE TO WAKEMED AND OTHER MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO EXPAND THE ACCESSIBILITY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE VICINITY. PROPERTY SERVICES CURRENTLY OWNS AND MAINTAINS THIRTY-ONE (PURCHASE OF 200 ASHVILLE AVES) PROPERTIES (INCLUDING LAND THAT IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT), AND LEASES FIFTY-TWO PROPERTIES (FY24 WAS 51). MULTIPLE WAKEMED DEPARTMENTS AND PHYSICIAN PRACTICES OCCUPY THE OWNED AND LEASED SPACE INCLUDING FOUR FREE-STANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, TWO AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS, SIX IMAGING CENTERS, FIVE OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION DEPARTMENTS AND A MOBILE CRITICAL CARE AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE PHYSICIAN PRACTICES LOCATED IN THESE BUILDINGS. A WIDE VARIETY OF CARE OPTIONS ARE OFFERED AT EACH OF THESE FACILITIES AND ARE DESIGNED BY LOCATION AND SERVICE TO ENHANCE CARE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVED. MOST LOCATIONS ARE LEASED IN AREAS EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH WITH LIMITED OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALISTS.
- $6.5 million spent. THE WAKEMED FOUNDATION IS A CHARITABLE RESOURCE FOR WAKEMED, SUPPORTING THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING QUALITY HEALTHCARE TO ALL CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY. FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES SUPPORT WAKEMED THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS OF QUALITY HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AT WAKEMED FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR NUMEROUS WAKEMED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION HAS HELPED FURTHER WAKEMED'S MISSION TO THE COMMUNITY.
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
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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 September 2025.
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 February 1967.
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 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.