Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$304,480,868

Total expenses

$298,640,860

Contributions and grants received

$59,111,921

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$243,700,257

Investment income

$528,862

Other revenue

$1,139,828

Total assets, end of year

$158,185,467

Total liabilities, end of year

$128,434,199

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$29,751,268

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$288,830,498

Management and general expenses

$9,810,362

Fundraising expenses

$0

Program service expenses (Part III)

$288,830,498

Program services were 96.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• CHHS IS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION OF AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF ENTITIES PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM WISCONSIN AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE SYSTEM INCLUDES WISCONSIN'S ONLY FREESTANDING HOSPITAL DEDICATED SOLELY TO THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN, AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER FACILITIES PROVIDING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH ALL TYPES OF ILLNESSES, INJURIES, BIRTH DEFECTS AND OTHER DISORDERS. THE SYSTEM ALSO INCLUDES EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. ON AN AGGREGATE BASIS, THE ENTITIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM PROVIDED COMMUNITY BENEFITS OF NEARLY $190 MILLION.CHHS OVERSEES AND COORDINATES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS OPERATING ENTITIES WITHIN THE INTEGRATED SYSTEM, THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ON A CONSOLIDATED, CENTRALIZED BASIS.

  Expenses $230,760,805 · Revenue $200,289,319

• AS A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER, RESEARCH IS INTERWOVEN INTO THE CARE WE PROVIDE EVERY DAY. CHILDREN'S ALLOCATES A PORTION OF ITS ANNUAL BUDGET TO PEDIATRIC RESEARCH IN ORDER TO STIMULATE RESEARCH ACTIVITY WHICH IS FOCUSED SOLELY ON IMPROVING CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES. THIS RESEARCH IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING DIAGNOSTICS, DISCOVERING AND TESTING NEW THERAPIES, AND IMPROVING THE WAY WE PREVENT AND MANAGE SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS. PHYSICIAN-SCIENTISTS, NURSE-SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS AND TECHNICIANS AT THE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CRI) SEEK ANSWERS TO THE TOUGHEST QUESTIONS IN PEDIATRIC MEDICINE. THIS INNOVATIVE CULTURE HELPS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST MINDS TO OUR ORGANIZATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2003, CRI HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 150 RESEARCHERS SPANNING ALL DIAGNOSTIC, MEDICAL, AND SURGICAL SPECIALTIES. TOGETHER THEY FORM THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF 100% PEDIATRIC RESEARCH IN WISCONSIN. CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE PROVIDES INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCHERS CONDUCTING CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH. CRI'S ACADEMIC PARTNERS INCLUDE THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, UW-MILWAUKEE, AND MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY. TYPES OF SUPPORT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:- SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT SUPPORT FOR EARLY STAGE INVESTIGATORS- COMPETITIVE PILOT GRANTS TO HELP INVESTIGATORS TEST NEW IDEAS- SHARED SERVICES, INCLUDING A PEDIATRIC TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH UNIT STAFFED BY PEDIATRIC NURSES TRAINED ON THE COMPLEXITIES OF REGULATED CLINICAL RESEARCH- DEDICATED LABORATORY SPACE FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCHERSA FEW EXAMPLES OF ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE DESCRIBED BELOW.CHILDREN'S HAS SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS IN CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH, INCLUDING IMPROVING SURVIVORSHIP AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CHILDREN BATTLING SOME OF THE TOUGHEST FORMS OF THE DISEASE. ONGOING LABORATORY RESEARCH EFFORTS INCLUDE CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY PROJECTS, WHERE OUR LABS ENGINEER NOVEL ANTIBODIES AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO ANTIBODY-BASED PRODUCTS FOR THERAPY SUCH AS BISPECIFIC ANTIBODIES AND CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTORS THAT FUNCTION TO REDIRECT POTENT IMMUNE EFFECTOR CELLS TOWARD ELIMINATION OF TUMOR CELLS. IN ADDITION, OUR RESEARCHERS ARE ACTIVE WITH THE THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA (TACL) CONSORTIUM. THIS NATIONAL CONSORTIUM WAS ESTABLISHED TO DEVELOP AND CONDUCT PHASE I /II CLINICAL TRIALS OF NEW DRUGS AND NOVEL DRUG COMBINATIONS FOR RECURRENT CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA OR LYMPHOMA. OUR RESEARCHERS ALSO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COG (CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP) CONSORTIUM FOR CLINICAL TRIALS OF NOVEL PEDIATRIC CANCER THERAPIES.RESEARCH IN IMPROVING NURSING CARE IS ALSO PART OF OUR RESEARCH PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING ONE PROJECT STUDYING AN INTERVENTION, TO HELP PARENTS ENGAGE WITH THEIR INFANTS IN THE NICU AND THE TRANSITION TO HOME. THIS INTERVENTION, H-HOPE (HOSPITAL TO HOME: OPTIMIZING THE PRETERM INFANT'S ENVIRONMENT), HAS ESTABLISHED EFFICACY, AND HAS A STANDARDIZED PROTOCOL, MAKING IT READY FOR WIDESPREAD IMPLEMENTATION. THE INFANT-DIRECTED COMPONENT OF H-HOPE PROVIDES AUDITORY (VOICE), TACTILE (MODERATE TOUCH MASSAGE), VISUAL (EYE TO EYE), AND VESTIBULAR (ROCKING) STIMULATION STARTING WHEN INFANTS ARE READY FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION. THIS INTERVENTION CAN HELP TO SUPPORT EARLY BRAIN MATURATION, HEALTH, AND DEVELOPMENT FOR BABIES IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. IN THIS NIH-FUNDED RESEARCH, H-HOPE IMPROVED GROWTH, DEVELOPMENTAL MATURITY AND MOTHER-INFANT INTERACTION, AND REDUCED INITIAL HOSPITALIZATION COSTS AND ACUTE CARE VISITS THROUGH 6-WEEKS CORRECTED AGE. THIS RESEARCH IS NOW TESTING WHETHER H- HOPE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND SUSTAINED IN FIVE DIVERSE NICUS. ADDITIONAL RESEARCHERS IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT CONTINUE TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF PERSISTENT PULMONARY HYPERTENSION OF THE NEWBORN (PPHN), A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION WHICH RESULTS FROM FAILURE OF PULMONARY VASCULAR RESISTANCE TO DECREASE AT BIRTH. IMPAIRED ANGIOGENESIS IN THE LUNG IS A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FAILED ADAPTATION. ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE (ENOS) PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF ANGIOGENESIS AND PULMONARY VASODILATION AT BIRTH. ONGOING STUDIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF ENOS DYSFUNCTION TO IMPAIRED MITOCHONDRIAL BIOGENESIS AND EPIGENETIC ALTERATIONS IN ENOS GENE EXPRESSION IN PPHN, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO NOVEL THERAPY DEVELOPMENT TO RESTORE MITOCHONDRIAL BIOGENESIS AND ANGIOGENESIS IN INFANTS WITH PPHN.RESEARCHERS AT CRI ARE INVESTIGATING WAYS TO IMPROVE CARE FOR CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE PATIENTS. ONE PROJECT AIMS TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF PULMONARY ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS (PAVMS), WHICH ARE COMMON SEQUELAE OF SURGICAL PALLIATION FOR UNIVENTRICULAR CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. THEY ARE STUDYING A CIRCULATING PROTEIN (SOLUBLE VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR 1; SVEGFR1), WHICH THEY RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AS A CANDIDATE FACTOR THAT MAY PREVENT PAVMS. BY STUDYING THE ROLE OF SVEGFR1 IN VASCULAR REMODELING AND PAVM PREVENTION, THEY ANTICIPATE THAT THIS NEW KNOWLEDGE WILL IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF PULMONARY MICROVASCULAR BIOLOGY AND MAY LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF TARGETED MEDICAL THERAPIES FOR PATIENTS WITH UNIVENTRICULAR CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND PAVMS.RESEARCHERS IN OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ARE STUDYING WAYS TO IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC PAIN FOR INJURED CHILDREN. FRACTURE PAIN TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN IS INCONSISTENT AND OFTEN INADEQUATE. THERE IS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING WHICH OF THE COMMONLY USED MEDICATIONS ARE MOST CLINICALLY EFFECTIVE. CRI RESEARCHERS ARE LEADING A PROSPECTIVE MULTI-CENTER, LONGITUDINAL COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS STUDY THAT CAPITALIZES ON THE KNOWN VARIABILITY IN PAIN TREATMENT TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE RECOMMENDED ANALGESIC REGIMEN FOR CHILDREN WITH FRACTURE PAIN IN THE ED AND AT HOME. IN THIS STUDY, THEY ARE COMPARING PATIENT-SPECIFIC PAIN EXPERIENCE DATA OVER THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FROM THE HOSPITAL TO THE HOME TO DETERMINE BEST PRACTICE. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS STUDY IS TO EVALUATE AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR BOTH ED AND POST-ED PAIN TREATMENT FOR ALL CHILDREN WITH ACUTE FRACTURE-RELATED PAIN.

  Expenses $13,881,949 · Revenue $1,383,057

• CHHS PROVIDES VARIOUS OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES. IN 2024, THERE WERE 93,387 VISITS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S URGENT CARE CLINICS, AND 6,383 OUTPATIENT SURGICAL CASES PERFORMED AT THE ORGANIZATION'S AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTER, THE SURGICENTER OF GREATER MILWAUKEE, LLC (A DISREGARDED ENTITY FOR FEDERAL TAX PURPOSES).

  Expenses $27,526,889 · Revenue $35,354,026

• CHILDREN'S SCHOOL NURSE PROGRAM PROVIDED HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO 3,090 STUDENTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN SEVEN K-8 MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (MPS) AT NO COST TO MPS OR TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SCHOOL NURSE PROGRAM COMPLETED 7,554 HEALTH ROOM VISITS. THE NURSES ADVOCATE FOR A COLLABORATIVE AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING NEEDS OF STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL NURSES ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY CONNECTORS AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ON POPULATION-BASED CARE, OUTREACH AND ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DRIVERS OF HEALTH. THEY BRING PROVIDERS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF TOGETHER TO ADDRESS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE STUDENTS THEY CARE FOR ON A DAILY BASIS. THE SCHOOL NURSES' ROLE ENCOMPASSES DELIVERING PREVENTIVE AND SCREENING SERVICES; ESTABLISHING MEDICAL AND DENTAL HOMES; BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT; DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND REPORTING; CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT; SCHOOL SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS; PROVIDING HEALTH EDUCATION; AND DAILY CARE COORDINATION INCLUDING MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION, G-TUBE FEEDINGS AND OTHER COMPLEX HEALTH PROCEDURES ONLY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CAN ADMINISTER. AN INCREASING NUMBER OF STUDENTS ARE ENTERING SCHOOLS EACH YEAR WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND COMPLEX HEALTH CONDITIONS (ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, DIABETES, LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES, ASTHMA AND SEIZURES) THAT REQUIRE EXTENSIVE INTERVENTION AND COORDINATION THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY TO KEEP KIDS HEALTHY, SAFE AND READY TO LEARN. FOR CHRONIC ILLNESSES SUCH AS ASTHMA, DIABETES, SEIZURES OR SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, THE SCHOOL NURSES WORK WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO CREATE CARE PLANS HELPING GUIDE THE STUDENTS TO SELF-MANAGEMENT BY THE TIME THEY REACH HIGH SCHOOL, WITH A GOAL OF DECREASED URGENT CARE AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND INCREASED UTILIZATION OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE NURSES HELP FAMILIES' ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND COORDINATE CARE WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND SPECIALTY SERVICE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, FOR FAMILIES WITH IDENTIFIED NEEDS. THEY EDUCATE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE CARE AND A HOST OF OTHER HEALTH TOPICS, SUCH AS MINDFULNESS, IMPACT OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL USE, HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, HYGIENE, NUTRITION, AND STRESS MANAGEMENT. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, CHILDREN'S SCHOOL NURSE PROGRAM CARED FOR 3,090 STUDENTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. SINCE 2014 CHHS PARTNERED WITH WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND ESTABLISHED A FOSTER CARE MEDICAL HOME PROGRAM CALLED CARE4KIDS TO ADMINISTER THE COORDINATION OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES INCLUSIVE OF MEDICAL, DENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN PLACED IN "OUT OF HOME CARE" (A.K.A."FOSTER CARE") IN KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN. UPON ENROLLMENT INTO THE PROGRAM THESE FOSTER CARE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO CHORUS COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN'S ("CCHP") PROVIDER NETWORK AS CCHP PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND UTILIZATION SERVICES FOR CARE4KIDS PROGRAMMING. THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2024, PROGRAM ENROLLMENT WAS 2,850 WHICH REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE TOTAL OUT OF HOME CARE POPULATION IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

  Expenses $16,660,855 · Revenue $6,011,319

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

• CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN INC

  501(C)(3) · PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL · WI · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & HEALTH SYSTEM INC

• CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INC

  501(C)(3) · FUND DEVELOPMENT · WI · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & HEALTH SYSTEM INC

• CHILDREN'S MEDICAL GROUP INC

  501(C)(3) · PEDIATRIC PHYSICIAN SERVICES · WI · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & HEALTH SYSTEM INC

• CHILDREN'S SERVICE SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

  501(C)(3) · CHILD WELLFARE SERVICES · WI · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & HEALTH SYSTEM INC

• CHORUS COMMUNITY HEALTH PLANS INC

  501(C)(3) · WISCONSIN MEDICAID HMO & COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE PLAN · WI · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & HEALTH SYSTEM INC

• CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY GROUP INC

  501(C)(3) · PEDIATRIC PHYSICIAN SERVICES · WI

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

12 November 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202503219349301845

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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