Rady Childrens Hospital San Diego
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
TO RESTORE, SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL OF CHILDREN THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN CARE, EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY.
- Income
- $1.8 billion
- Spending
- $1.7 billion
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 6,771
- Volunteers
- 325
- Highest pay
- $2.6 million, president & ceo
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 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)
- $1.4 billion spent. RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SAN DIEGO (THE HOSPITAL) IS A REGIONAL TERTIARY AND QUATERNARY REFERRAL CENTER AND PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT ACUTE, PSYCHIATRIC AND INTENSIVE CARE PEDIATRIC SERVICES. THE HOSPITAL ALSO IS THE SOLE PEDIATRIC PROVIDER AND DESIGNATED PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CENTER FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF PEDIATRIC AND NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE SERVICES FOR BOTH SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES. ON ITS MAIN CAMPUS THE HOSPITAL OPERATES THE ONLY LEVEL 4 FULL SCOPE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN SAN DIEGO, RIVERSIDE AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES. IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL OPERATES AN 11-BED LEVEL 3 NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT SOUTHWEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN RANCHO SPRINGS, AN 8-BED LEVEL 2 NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN ENCINITAS, AN 18-BED LEVEL 3 NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR SCRIPPS MEMORITAL HOSPITAL IN LA JOLLA, AND TWO LEVEL 2 NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS FOR SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL LOCATED IN SAN DIEGO AND CHULA VISTA; AND AN 11-BED PEDIATRIC MEDICAL UNIT FOR SHARP HEALTH LOCATED AT ITS SHARP GROSSMONT CAMPUS. THE HOSPITAL IS AMALGAMATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, HEALTH SCIENCES, AND SERVES AS A CENTER FOR GRADUATE AND POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION IN THE FIELD OF PEDIATRICS. ANNUALLY, THE HOSPITAL HAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000 INPATIENT ADMISSIONS AND APPROXIMATELY 311,000 VISITS PER YEAR IN ITS OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND URGENT CARE CENTERS PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 103,000 AND 59,000 VISITS, RESPECTIVELY, PER YEAR.
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 July 1997.
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.