Columbia Lutheran Charities
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IS TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMPASSION IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF HEALTH FOR THOSE WE SERVE.
- Income
- $257.1 million
- Spending
- $225.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 938
- Volunteers
- 81
- Highest pay
- $906,561, ceo
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 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)
- $161.0 million spent. MISSION STATEMENT: THE MISSION OF COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IS TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMPASSION IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF HEALTH FOR THOSE WE SERVE. UTILIZATION STATISTICES: YEAR ENDING 2024 AVAILABLE BEDS: 25 ADMISSIONS: 1,509 PATIENT DAYS: 4,222 OBSERVATIONS: 877 AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY (IN DAYS): 3.03 OCCUPANCY RATE: 46.27% DELIVERIES: 278 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS: 16,934 URGENT CARE VISITS: 21,093 OUTPATIENT VISITS (NET OF ER): 296,863 SURGICAL CASES: 3,750 PLANETREE DESIGNATION THE HOSPITAL HAS ADOPTED A PHILOSOPHY OF PROVIDING PATIENT-CENTERED CARE THROUGHOUT ITS FACILITIES. IN 2000, THE HOSPITAL JOINED AN ORGANIZATION CALLED PLANETREE, INC ("PLANETREE") AS AN AFFILIATE MEMBER. PLANETREE PARTNERS WITH HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO DEVELOP AND ADVANCE PATIENT CENTERED APPROACHES TO CARE. IN 2013, THE HOSPITAL BECAME ONLY THE SECOND HOSPITAL IN OREGON TO ACHIEVE THE PRESTIGIOUS PLANETREE DESIGNATION STATUS. PLANETREE-DESIGNATION REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT IN PATIENT/PERSON-CENTERED CARE BASED ON EVIDENCE AND STANDARDS, ACCORDING TO PLANETREE. PLANETREE-DESIGNATED HOSPITALS MUST DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT AND SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION OF THE PATIENT CENTERED CARE PRINCIPLES BY PASSING A RIGOROUS SURVEY PROCESS, PERFORMED BY PLANETREE EVERY THREE YEARS. COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WAS AWARDED RE-DESIGNATION FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS IN NOVEMBER 2016 AT THE ANNUAL PLANTREE CONFERENCE. THE HOSPITAL HAS MAINTAINED PLANETREE DESIGNATION BY CREATING AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE LATEST IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY IN A HEALING, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES A PATIENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CARE THAT THEY RECEIVE. THE HOSPITAL CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO OFFER PEACEFUL, COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS, WARM AND SUPPORTIVE CAREGIVERS, ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, AND EDUCATION TO HELP PATIENTS GET WELL FASTER AND STAY WELL LONGER. COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL RECENT ACCREDITATIONS: 1. HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (HFAP) - NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITATION - ORGANIZATION WITH DEEMING AUTHORITY FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) 2. COMMISSION OF OFFICE LABORATORY ACCREDITATION (COLA) - LABORATORY ACCREDITATION 3. AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY STANDARDS ACT (ACR/MSQA) - IMAGING SERVICES/MAMO ACCRED. 4. INTER-SOCIETAL ACCREDITATION COMMISSION (IAC) - ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY ACCREDITATION 5. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CARDIOVASULAR REHABILITATION (AACVP) - CARDIAC REHABILITATION ACCREDITATION 6. AMERICAN ASSOC. FOR RESPIRATORY CARE QUALITY RESPIRATORY CARE RECOGNITION (AARC'S QRCR) RESPIRATORY THERAPY ACCREDITATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: THE HOSPITAL'S INVESTMENT IN THE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ALONG WITH THE NESESSARY HUMAN RESOURCES AND ASSOCIATED PROCESS CHANGE HAVE RESULTED IN IMPROVED CLINICAL OPERATIONS, QUALITY, PATIENT SAFETY, AND OVERALL EFFICIENCY. THE HOSPITAL RECEIVED THE MOST WIRED AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IN NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF 2011-2019 AND IN 2021. THE HOSPITAL HAS ALSO ACHIEVED COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 MEANINGFUL USE OF HEALTHCARE IT CRITERIA BOTH STAGE 1 AND STAGE 2. SINCE 2012, THE HOSPITAL HAS REALIZED MEANINGFUL USE INCENTIVE REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY $3,164,000. THE HOSPITAL INVESTED IN AN INDUSTRY LEADING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM WHICH IS UTILIZED IN OPTIMIZING OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. CMH MEDICAL GROUP: THE HOSPITAL OWNS AND OPERATES A NUMBER OF PROVIDER-BASED PRIMARY, URGENT CARE, AND SPECIALTY CARE CLINICS ORGANIZED AND COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE CMH MEDICAL GROUP. THE CLINICS OPERATE IN 3 SEPERATE ASTORIA LOCATIONS AND 1 WARRENTON AND 1 IN SEASIDE OREGON. THE WARRENTON AND SEASIDE LOCATIONS OPERATES AS A PROVIDER-BASED LOCASTIONS AND EXPANDING THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SEVENTY-THREE (73) PHYSICIANS AND MID-LEVEL PROVIDERS EMPLOYED WITHIN THE CMH MEDICAL GROUP IN ELEVEN (11) DIFFERENT MEDICAL SPECIALTIES. THESE SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: GENERAL SURGERY, PEDIATRICS, PRIMARY CARE, URGENT CARE, UROLOGY, ENDOCRINOLOGY, ORTHOPEDICS, PODIATRY, AND WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE, ONCOLOGY, AND CARDIOLOGY IN COLLABORATION WITH OHSU. CLINICAL COLLABORATIONS: IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE SERVICES THAT THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY, THE HOSPITAL ESTABLISHED A CLINICAL ALLIANCE WITH OHSU IN 2010. THROUGH THIS ALLIANCE, THE HOSPITAL AND OHSU INITIALLY CREATED THE CMH/OHSU CANCER CARE CENTER WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE, INTER-DISCIPLINARY, CONSULTATIVE, AND ONGOING ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY CARE. IN 2011, THE HOSPITAL AND OHSU ESTABLISHED THE CMH/OHSU CARDIOLOGY CLINIC, WHICH PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR A RANGE OF HEART HEALTH AND HEART DIISEASE PREVENTION NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. SINCE 2011, THE ALLIANCE HAS BROADENED SUBSTANTIALLY AND NOW INCLUDES CLINICAL OVERSIGHT AND STAFFING OF THE HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, GENERAL SURGERY AND RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, TELEMEDICINE, A WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH PROJECT AND CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION. IN TOTAL, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY FORTY-SIX (46) OHSU PHYSICIANS WORKING FULL-TIME IN THE HOSPITAL'S FACILITIES. JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT: IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2015, THE HOSPITAL ENTERED INTO A JOINT OPERATING AGREEMENT (JOA) WITH OHSU THROUGH THE OHSU KNIGHT CANCER INSTITUTE TO BETTER SERVE THE ONCOLOGY CARE NEEDS OF ASTORIA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. A BOND WAS SECURED IN JULY OF 2016 TO PROVIDE FOR THE FINANCING OF A 19,000 SQUARE-FOOT, TWO-STORY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER TREATMENT CENTER AND EQUIPMENT. CONSTRUCTION ON THE CANCER TREATMENT CENTER BEGAN IN AUGUST OF 2016 AND WAS COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2017. THE JOA AND ADDITIONAL SPACE AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDED CMH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES TO INCLUDE RADIATION THERAPY IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND INFUSION THERAPY SERVICES. COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL & OHSU KNIGHT CANCER COLLABORATION IS TH
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 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 December 2024.
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 July 1976.
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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