The NFP Health Score

Each organisation carries a Health Score out of 100, adapted from a four-pillar framework (35% financial, 30% programme, 20% governance, 15% operational). Because a Form 990 is a financial document, some of the framework's inputs cannot be measured for 500 mixed organisations — so the model was adapted transparently rather than guessed. Programme Effectiveness depends on outcome data that does not exist in comparable form across foundations, health plans, benefit funds and charities, so it was set aside and its weight redistributed pro-rata across the measurable pillars.

This is a financial-health indicator, not a measure of impact. It rewards reserves and diversified income, so single-source models — many health plans, benefit trusts and endowments — score lower on the financial pillar by design. It cannot tell you whether an organisation achieves its mission.