About
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is a global nonprofit, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare. Its mission began in 1974, when the first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, out of the recognition that families need support when a child is seriously ill or injured. The organization envisions a world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children.
What they do
- Ronald McDonald House programs — 394 Houses that give families a place to stay together near the hospitals where their children are being treated.
- Ronald McDonald Family Room programs — 280 in-hospital spaces, first introduced in 1992, offering families respite close to their child's bedside.
- Ronald McDonald Care Mobile — a mobile health program launched in 2000.
- Local chapters also offer accommodations, health education, mental health support, and preventative care services tailored to community needs.
History
After the first House opened in Philadelphia in 1974, a second House in 1977 sparked a broader movement, and within five years there were 11 programs across the United States. International expansion began in the early 1980s with Houses in Canada and Australia (1981), followed by the Netherlands (1985), Brazil (1994), Hong Kong (1996), and New Zealand. The first program in Africa opened in South Africa in 2018.
Scale and impact
Today the RMHC system encompasses more than 655 programs for families across more than 60 countries and regions. In 2025 alone, the organization provided over 2.9 million overnight stays, helping families save 783 million dollars in lodging and meal expenses.
Financials and governance
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, the global organization (EIN 36-2934689) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reported total revenue of 134,535,982 dollars, total expenses of 137,938,261 dollars, and total assets of 328,947,036 dollars for fiscal year 2025. Its board of trustees is chaired by Alex Dimitrief, with Eduardo Sanchez as Vice Chair and Jeffrey Davis as Treasurer. Local Ronald McDonald House chapters are separately incorporated nonprofits with their own filings.