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East Carolina Health

EIN 91-1997979 · Greenville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

Income
$596.8 million
Spending
$562.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
193
Highest pay
$1.7 million, chairman

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 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 September 30, 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 (4)
  1. $115.6 million spent. ECU HEALTH EDGECOMBE HOSPITAL ECU HEALTH EDGECOMBE HOSPITAL, FORMERLY HERITAGE HOSPITAL, IS A 117-BED FACILITY LOCATED IN TARBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVICES AT ECU HEALTH EDGECOMBE INCLUDE ACUTE CARE, INPATIENT AND SAME DAY SURGERY, EMERGENCY, CRITICAL CARE, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, AND ONCOLOGY SERVICES. IT ALSO OPERATES A RURAL HEALTH CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES GENERAL, PEDIATRIC, WOMEN'S AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES. OVERVIEW OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS OF EASTERN CAROLINA: OUR MISSION AT ECU HEALTH IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES CONTINUE TO LEAD US ON A VOYAGE TO EXCELLENCE. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WE TAKE CARE OF ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY THEY DESERVE THE BEST. ECU HEALTH IS A NORTH CAROLINA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WITH HEADQUARTERS IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. ECU HEALTH AND ITS AFFILIATES OPERATE AN INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT SERVES A TOTAL MARKET OF APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN 29 CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE HEALTH SYSTEM INCLUDES HOSPITALS, PHYSICIAN PRACTICES, OUTPATIENT SERVICES, HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE, AND WELLNESS SERVICES. THE HEALTH SYSTEM'S OWNED HOSPITALS ARE ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH IS A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL AND AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER, THAT INCLUDES THE ECU HEALTH BEAUFORT HOSPITAL AS A DEPARTMENT OPERATING AS A CAMPUS OF ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND SEVEN OTHER ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS: ECU HEALTH ROANOKE-CHOWAN HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH EDGECOMBE HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH CHOWAN HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH BERTIE HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH DUPLIN HOSPITAL, ECU HEALTH NORTH HOSPITAL, AND THE OUTER BANKS HOSPITAL. ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER SERVES AS THE TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, EAST CAROLINA SCHOOLS OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH, PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND BEAUFORT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE SYSTEM ALSO SERVES AS A REGIONAL REFERRAL CENTER FOR EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE SYSTEM'S NINE OWNED HOSPITALS ARE LICENSED TO OPERATE 1,708 BEDS. EACH HOSPITAL IS LICENSED BY THE DIVISION OF FACILITY SERVICES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND APPROVED AS A PROVIDER BY THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS. ECU HEALTH AND ITS HOSPITALS AND AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE SERVICES TO PATIENTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 ECU HEALTH'S COMBINED PATIENT CARE STATISTICS WERE: INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, 68,152; INPATIENT DAYS OF CARE, 385,435; SURGERIES, 56,012; BIRTHS, 6,690; AND OUTPATIENT VISITS, 450,414. OUR SYSTEM'S WORKFORCE INCLUDED 13,090 EMPLOYEES. EACH OF ECU HEALTH'S HOSPITALS OPERATES AN EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY. ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER ALSO OFFERS A FULL SPECTRUM OF TRAUMA SERVICES. EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 ECU HEALTH PROVIDED CARE TO 274,505 EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS. ECU HEALTH'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTS OF 11 VOTING MEMBERS, SIX OF WHOM MUST BE CURRENT OR FORMER PITT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA APPOINTEES OF ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FIVE OF WHOM MUST BE CURRENT OR FORMER BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA APPOINTEES OF ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES. ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, OPERATES 30 RESIDENT-TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH OVER 400 MEDICAL RESIDENTS. THIS RELATIONSHIP ENABLES ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO COMBINE THEIR RESOURCES FOR THE PROVISION OF QUALITY PATIENT CARE, MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE BRODY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE HAS THREE IMPORTANT GOALS: EDUCATING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, MAKING MEDICAL CARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, ECU HEALTH REINVESTS ALL EXCESS OF REVENUES OVER EXPENSES IN PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO PATIENT CARE AND HEALTH SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF EASTERN CAROLINA. OVERVIEW OF ECU HEALTH COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS 1. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS COMPRISED OF 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN 14,000 SQUARE MILES. BOUNDARIES ARE FROM I-95 EAST TO THE COAST, AND FROM THE VIRGINIA LINE DOWN TO AND INCLUDING ONSLOW COUNTY. THE AREA IS LARGELY RURAL AND LARGELY POOR, WITH HIGHER THAN STATE OR NATIONAL AVERAGE RATES FOR POVERTY AND UNINSURED. HEALTH STATUS INDICATORS SHOW INCREASED INCIDENCE OF DISEASE IN THE REGION, ESPECIALLY CANCER, HEART DISEASE AND STROKE. ECU HEALTH DETERMINES PRIORITIES FOR TARGET POPULATIONS BY WORKING IN CONCERT WITH MEDICAL AND COMMUNITY AGENCY PARTNERS IN ONGOING ASSESSMENT OF THE MOST PRESSING HEALTH CARE NEEDS. MANY EFFORTS OVER THE PAST DECADE HAVE FOCUSED ON DIABETES, PEDIATRIC ASTHMA, SCHOOL HEALTH, INJURY PREVENTION, ACCESS TO CARE, NUTRITION ENHANCEMENT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND CHRONIC DISEASE SCREENINGS. ALSO, SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO MANAGE THE CARE OF MEDICAID ENROLLEES, ADDRESS ACCESS TO BOTH MEDICAL CARE AND MEDICATIONS FOR THE UNINSURED, AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH OBESITY HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN. THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE SERVED BY ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES ARE LARGELY THE POOR, THE UNDERSERVED, AND MINORITIES. DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC POPULATIONS TO ADDRESS OCCURS WHEN PARTNERS SUCH AS THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, COUNTY COALITIONS, TASK FORCES, AND PHYSICIANS IDENTIFY A QUANTIFIABLE NEED, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE ENGAGED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE HEALTH SYSTEM. 2. FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS IS OBTAINED FROM BOTH THE OPERATING FUNDS OF ECU HEALTH ENTITIES AND EXTERNAL GRANT-AWARDING ORGANIZATIONS. THE ECU HEALTH BOARD ANNUALLY PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT INITIATIVES PROGRAM BASED WITHIN EACH ECU HEALTH HOSPITAL. FUNDS ARE AWARDED TO COMMUNITY
  2. $102.4 million spent. ECU HEALTH ROANOKE-CHOWAN HOSPITAL ECU HEALTH ROANOKE-CHOWAN HOSPITAL IS AN 86-BED HOSPITAL LOCATED IN AHOSKIE, NORTH CAROLINA, THAT IS ALSO LICENSED FOR 28 INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BEDS. SERVICES AT ROANOKE-CHOWAN HOSPITAL INCLUDE ACUTE CARE, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, EMERGENCY, SUB-ACUTE CARE, SPECIALTY CLINICS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THE HOSPITAL ALSO OPERATES A WELLNESS CENTER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $129.0 million spent. ECU HEALTH NORTH, FORMERLY HALIFAX REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ECU HEALTH NORTH, FORMERLY HALIFAX REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IS A 204-BED HOSPITAL LOCATED IN ROANOKE RAPIDS, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVICES AT ECU HEALTH NORTH INCLUDE ACUTE CARE, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, CRITICAL CARE UNIT, IP AND SAME DAY SURGERY, 24-HOUR EMERGENCY, ONCOLOGY, CARDIAC CATH LAB, ENDOSCOPY SERVICES, REHAB SERVICES, AND WOUND CARE SERVICES.
  4. $161.4 million spent. HOSP. SVCS PROVIDED AT ADD. FACILITIES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? 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 September 7, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1998.

    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.