Franciscan Foundation Washington
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS AN AFFILIATE OF COMMONSPIRIT HEALTH, WE MAKE THE HEALING PRESENCE OF GOD KNOWN IN OUR WORLD BY IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE, WHILE WE ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.
- Income
- $6.6 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 31.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $5.8 million, ex officio/ceo vmfh & president nw region
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 129% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 21 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
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 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)
- $3.9 million spent. I. INTRODUCTION MISSION AND VISION THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION WAS INCORPORATED AS A 501(C)(3), TAX-EXEMPT, CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IN 1986 TO SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL GIFT-RECEIVING AND GIFT-ADMINISTRATION AGENCY FOR TWO CHI FRANCISCAN HOSPITALS IN NEIGHBORING WESTERN WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES, ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER OF TACOMA AND ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL OF FEDERAL WAY. ALTHOUGH HEALTH CARE FOUNDATIONS SERVING MULTIPLE HOSPITALS ARE A FAIRLY COMMON WAY OF REDUCING HEALTH CARE COSTS TODAY, THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION WAS WASHINGTON'S FIRST REGIONAL HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION SERVING MORE THAN ONE HOSPITAL. IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION ALSO ASSUMED FUND DEVELOPMENT AND GIFT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ST. CLARE HOSPITAL OF LAKEWOOD, ST. ANTHONY HOSPITAL OF GIG HARBOR, ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL OF ENUMCLAW, FRANCISCAN HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE AND A GROWING NUMBER OF FRANCISCAN MEDICAL GROUP CLINICS IN THE SOUTH PUGET SOUND AREA. ON JANUARY 1, 2021, THE HARRISON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION MERGED WITH FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION. THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION WILL CONTINUE THE HARRISON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION'S MISSION TO RECEIVE AND ADMINISTER CHARITABLE GIFTS MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF HARRISON MEDICAL CENTER, NOW ST. MICHAEL MEDICAL CENTER. THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION 25 MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS RAISE FUNDS THROUGH ANNUAL GIVING, MAJOR GIFTS, PLANNED GIVING, SPECIAL EVENTS, CORPORATE/FOUNDATION GRANTS AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS TO HELP FUND VIRTUALLY EVERY HEALTH CARE PROGRAM, PROJECT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICE OFFERED BY THE HOSPITALS, AND CLINICS OF CHI FRANCISCAN. IN FY 2025, THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION RAISED ALMOST $5 MILLION FOR THESE PURPOSES THROUGH GIFTS AND PLEDGES. AT THE SAME TIME, IT DISBURSED MORE THAN $3.6 MILLION BACK TO FACILITIES AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS SUPPORT OF FRANCISCAN'S NONPROFIT HEALTH CARE SERVICES. OVER THE PAST 38 YEARS, THE FOUNDATION HAS GENERATED OVER $120 MILLION AND DISBURSED $124 MILLION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. B. COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROVIDING QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL WHO NEED IT, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY, IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM'S MISSION AS WELL AS THAT OF THE FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION ASSISTS FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM IN PROVIDING CARE FOR THE POOR BY ENCOURAGING ITS DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE GIFTS FOR CHARITY CARE AND MAKING THEIR GIFTS AVAILABLE TO FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM FOR USE IN ASSISTING THE POOR IN PAYING FOR THEIR CARE. C. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FUNDING FOR UNCOMPENSATED PATIENT CARE, THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION RAISED FUNDS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMFORT THERAPIES PROGRAMS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. PATIENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS SUPPORT DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT COSTS, THE PURCHASE OF CLOTHING FOR THE FRANCISCAN CLOTHING CLOSETS, CANES, CRUTCHES, PROSTHESES AND WHEELCHAIRS AND TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR PATIENTS WHO DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS THEMSELVES. THE FOUNDATION'S FY 2025 FUND-RAISING EVENTS INCLUDED THE MATHIS GUILD LUNCHEON, VIOLET GUILD MINI-TREE SALE AND THE HARBOR NIGHT EVENT. II. QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT A. COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THOSE IN NEED IN FY25, THE FOUNDATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHI FRANCISCAN COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM AND MISSION PROGRAMS, PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR A WIDE RANGE OF OTHER NON-PROFIT AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY WHOSE MISSION AND GOALS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE HEALTHY- COMMUNITY-BUILDING GOALS OF CHI FRANCISCAN.
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 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? 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 June 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 August 1981.
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.