Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Ronald Mcdonald House Southern Arizona

EIN 95-3526934 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT REMOVE BARRIERS, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND PROMOTE HEALING WHEN CHILDREN NEED HEALTHCARE. WE HAVE SIX CORE PROGRAMS: THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, TWO RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS (AT BANNER DIAMOND CHILDREN'S AND TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER), TWO RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE PROGRAMS (ONE A PARTNERSHIP WITH CHIRICAHUA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. IN COCHISE COUNTY AND THE OTHER WITH MHC HEALTHCARE IN MARANA), AND THE SIBLING CENTER AT THE BANNER DIAMOND CHILDREN'S PLAY ZONE.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
53.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
25
Volunteers
237
Highest pay
$164,371, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 53.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 132% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $2.0 million spent. RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA OWNS AND OPERATES A 27-BEDROOM HOUSE IN TUCSON, ARIZONA THAT PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN WHO MUST LEAVE THEIR COMMUNITIES TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE HOUSE SERVES FAMILIES OF CHILDREN RECEIVING TREATMENT AT BANNER UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER, CARONDELET ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, AND OTHER CLINICS IN THE TUCSON AREA. IN 2025, 341 FAMILIES STAYED AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FOR A TOTAL OF 6,751 "FAMILY NIGHTS". FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN AGE 21 AND UNDER ARE ELIGIBLE TO STAY AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE. THEY CAN BE REFERRED TO THE HOUSE BY A SOCIAL WORKER, NURSE, DOCTOR, OR OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OR CAN SELF REFER. THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO STAY AS LONG AS THEIR CHILD IS RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE AT NO CHARGE. THE HOUSE IS ALSO AN APPROVED LODGING FACILITY FOR FAMILIES COVERED BY ARIZONA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM (AHCCCS).
  2. $123,484 spent. THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS AT BANNER CHILDREN'S DIAMOND CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER AND TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER EXTENDS OF THE SERVICES OF RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA. THE FAMILY ROOMS SERVE ALL PEDIATRIC IN-PATIENT FAMILIES AT BOTH HOSPITALS. THEY ARE SPECIAL PLACES WITHIN THE HOSPITALS, NEAR THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, WHERE FAMILIES CAN RELAX AND REGROUP WHILE STILL BEING CLOSE TO THEIR CHILD. DURING 2025, WE SAW 10,270 VISITS TO THE FAMILY ROOMS.
  3. $206,010 spent. THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE PROGRAMS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHIRICAHUA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. (CCHCI) AND MHC HEALTHCARE (MHC), BRING DENTAL CARE TO CHILDREN IN COCHISE COUNTY AND PIMA COUNTY, RESPECTIVELY. OUR CLINICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS REPORTED 1,673 DENTAL VISITS (MOST OF THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO SEE A DENTIST) AND 1,295 HEALTH EDUCATION VISITS. THE PROGRAM OPERATED BY CCHCI PRIMARILY SERVES SCHOOLCHILDREN AT THE SCHOOL SITE, AS THERE IS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF DENTAL PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY. THE PROGRAM OPERATED BY MARANA HEALTH AUGMENTS THEIR MEDICAL CLINICS AND VISITS OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AS WELL.
  4. $134,440 spent. THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA SIBLING CENTER IS ADJACENT TO THE PLAY ZONE AT BANNER DIAMOND CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER. THE SIBLING CENTER OFFERS FAMILIES A PLACE WHERE THEIR NON-PATIENT CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE CREATIVE PLAY AND BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. THE SIBLING CENTER IS STAFFED BY CHILD LIFE ASSISTANTS, WHO IN ADDITION TO GIVING CAREGIVERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR CHILD'S MEDICAL PROVIDERS, CAN ALSO ASSESS THE SIBLINGS' ABILITY TO COPE WITH THE MEDICAL SITUATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.