Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases.
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The Good
- Total income
- Administrative expenses
- Fundraising expenses
- Program percentage
- Accessible financial information
- Donor communication
- Awards
Total Income
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital reported its total income for the 2014 fiscal year as $1,029,753,705. The organization does not publish information for prior years online, so our Review Team is unable to evaluate revenue trends over time.
Administrative Expenses
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital spent $107,824,020 on administrative and supportive services in 2014. This is equivalent to 10.2 percent of total revenue. The CEO for the hospital, William E. Evans, received a salary of $1,299,281, which is equivalent to 0.13 percent of total revenue.
Fundraising Expenses
Compared to most other organizations, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital spends a higher percentage of its administrative expenses towards fundraising. The 2014 fundraising budget was $2,644,811, or 20.5 percent of total revenue.
Program Percentage
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital reports that an average of 83 percent of its revenue goes towards its services. A program delivery percentage over 80 percent is considered to be an indicator of financial responsibility.
Accessible Financial Information
The hospital has only made its 2015 financial reports available via an app for iPad. This is unusual and may not generate feelings of trust from current or potential donors. However, the organization has published its 2014 reports on its website.
Donor Communication
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continues to communicate with donors after they have made a contribution.
Awards
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been widely recognized for its achievements as an institution, as well as for its teams of researchers and individuals. Below are a few of the many recognitions received by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
Institutional Awards
U.S. News and World Reports have named St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as a Top Children's Cancer Hospital from 2008 to 2016 in the Best Children's Hospital rankings. Forbes Magazine recognized the hospital in 2015 as one of the 50 Best Places for Workplace Diversity.
Team Awards
The hospital's nursing staff was recognized in 2015 with Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Dr. William Evans and Dr. Mary Relling were recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2009 with the Pediatric Oncology Award.
Individual Awards
Over 50 physicians and researchers working with the hospital have received prestigious awards for their findings. The list above is only a small sampling of recognitions received by the hospital. Our Review Team recommends visiting the organization's website for more information and a comprehensive list.
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The Bad
Negative Press
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has received some negative press for the following controversies:
Animal Research
There are many animal advocacy groups which criticize the hospital for performing research on animals. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does perform some research on animals, but does not specifically address this on their website. Animals most frequently used in the organization's research are rats and mice, which the hospital states have been bred specifically for research. Additionally, according to the hospital, the role of animal research is irreplaceable at this time and is far superior to performing potentially dangerous research on the humans they are working to save. Representatives of the hospital state that all of the organization's research is performed responsibly.
Raccoon Hunt Fundraiser
In what can only be described as an unusual marriage, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital receives funds from an annual raccoon hunting event in Decatur County, Tennessee. The event has been held with proceeds benefiting the hospital since 1975. Billed as "The Largest Coon Hunt," this event has received criticism from animal rights activists annually. These groups are infuriated that the hospital has not asked the county to stop the event.