Scripps Health
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $4.9 billion
- Spending
- $4.5 billion
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 20,408
- Volunteers
- 1,522
- Highest pay
- $4.3 million, president / ceo
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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $4.0 billion spent. See Scripps Health Annual Community Benefit Plan and Report at Scripps Community Benefits - San Diego - Scripps Health. Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $4.9 billion private, tax exempt integrated health system based in San Diego, California. Scripps treats more than 600,000 patients annually through the dedication of more than 3,000 affiliated physicians and more than 17,500 employees. Scripps cares for people throughout the San Diego region with four acute care hospitals on five campuses, 32 outpatient clinics, and 12 Scripps HealthExpress sites. Scripps also offers payer products and population health services through Scripps Accountable Care Organization, Scripps Health Plan, and customized narrow network plans in collaboration with third-party payers. Scripps Health is a leading provider of medical care, improving community health and advancing medicine in San Diego County. Scripps is a recognized leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and is at the forefront of clinical research and the only health system in the region with two level 1 trauma centers. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Our hospitals are consistently ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report and numerous other organizations. Scripps is frequently recognized by Fortune magazine, Working Mother magazine, and the Advisory Board as one of the best places in the nation to work. Importantly, Scripps culture is one of caring. The spirit and culture established by two pioneering founders, Ellen Browning Scripps and Mother Mary Michael Cummings, still define who we are today. More information can be found at www.scripps.org. Excellence in Primary and Specialty Care The system is known for its expertise in various areas, including cancer care, cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, orthopedics, women's health, and neurocognitive care. Generations of San Diegans have relied on Scripps for excellence in health care, starting with primary care doctors who act as the patient's personal health advocate including a focus on preventive care and wellness. For patients' convenience, Scripps physicians offer several options for ongoing care, including extended office hours, telemedicine options, three urgent care centers and HealthExpress walk-in clinics throughout the county for same-day treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. With some of the most advanced technology available today for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, Scripps offers patients a complete range of medical and surgical services including many that have been nationally recognized for clinical quality and patient outcomes. Organizational Foundation Scripps provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and ambulatory services through our system of hospitals and clinics. In addition, Scripps participates in many partnerships with government and not-for-profit agencies across our region to improve our community's health. And our partnerships do not stop at our local borders. Our collaborations extend beyond our local community to include state, national, and global efforts in disaster preparedness and relief, emergency medical services, healthcare advocacy, physician education, and direct patient care. In all that we do, we are committed to quality patient outcomes, service excellence, operating efficiency, caring for those in need today while planning for the healthcare needs of future generations. Scripps Health Community Served Hospitals and health systems define the community served as individuals residing within the service area, encompassing all residents in a specified geographic vicinity surrounding the hospital, without exclusion based on income or underserved status. Given the diverse range of hospitals in the region, the service area is designated as the entire County of San Diego for both Scripps and the Community Health Needs Assessment . The San Diego County Health and Human Service Agency (HHSA) organizes its planning areas into six geographic regions: Central, East, North Central, North Coastal, North Inland, and South. Scripps serves the entire San Diego County region with services concentrated in North Coastal, North Central, Central and Southern region of San Diego. Scripps provides significant volumes of inpatient, emergency, outpatient, specialty and primary care. In Fiscal Year 2024, Scripps provided a total of 3,168,633 outpatient visits and facilitated 74,942 hospital discharges. Community outreach efforts are focused in those areas with proximity to a Scripps facility. The hospital's patient population includes all who receive care without regard to insurance coverage or eligibility for assistance. Scripps Health Community Health Needs Assessment Scripps Health bases its community benefit planning on its triennial community health needs assessment (CHNA). The CHNA aims to identify, understand, and prioritize the health-related needs of San Diego County residents facing inequities. The results of the 2022 CHNA are used to inform and adapt hospital programs and strategies better to meet the health needs of San Diego County residents. The following prioritized needs are addressed in the FY24 Community Benefit Plan and Report: - Access to Care (Community Outreach) and financial support for uninsured and underinsured community members. Increase and support access to health care services for the underserved through direct programs and partnerships with community-based organizations. - Aging Care and Support - health education, fall prevention support, social support and screening activities for seniors and others with aging concerns. - Behavioral Health - strengthen the continuum of integrated primary and mental health services for patients discharged from various hospital settings (medical and behavioral health inpatient and
- $1.6 million spent. The Maxwell H. and Muriel Gluck Child Care center provides child care and pre-school education for the benefit of individuals in the community of San Diego, including employees and patients of the nonprofit 501(C)(3) entities of Scripps Health and Scripps Research Institute. Special emphasis is placed on a variety of learning and play activities in the musical and visual arts field.
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
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 September 2025.
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 September 1955.
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.
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.