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Sphinx Foundation

EIN 02-6007881 · Hanover, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OSPHINX FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) PROMOTES CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE CODE). MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE CORPORATION IS FORMED INCLUDE:

Income
$795,714
Spending
$266,158
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
0
Volunteers
111

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $67,262 spent. A) EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS FORMAL ANNUAL COURSES ON DARTMOUTH AND SPHINX HISTORY AND TRADITIONS FOR INCOMING UNDERGRADUATE MEMBERS. THE COURSES ARE NORMALLY CONDUCTED IN THE SPHINX BUILDING AND OVERSEEN BY ALUMNI MEMBERS. THEY COMBINE LECTURES, ORAL REVIEW SESSIONS WITH READING ASSIGNMENTS. THERE ARE NORMALLY THREE SESSIONS PER ACADEMIC QUARTER (EXCLUDING SUMMER) AND INCLUDE GUEST LECTURES. UNDERGRADUATE MEMBERS TYPICALLY MAKE EXTENSIVE USE OF THE SPHINX FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDE THE LIBRARY AND STUDY STATIONS. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS THE BUILDING'S WIRELESS AND HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIVITY TO ENSURE THE SPHINX BUILDING PROVIDES THE STRONGEST SUPPORT FOR UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES. THESE FACILITIES WERE USED EXTENSIVELY TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL GATHERINGS (ZOOM), AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF UNDERGRADUATE MEMBERSHIP IN SPHINX INCLUDE EXTENSIVE PEER DRIVEN LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE SPHINX BUILDING. THESE INCLUDE INFORMAL ACADEMIC DEBATE AND DISCOURSE, FULFILLMENT OF GROUP LEADERSHIP ROLE, GROUP GOAL SETTING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES, BASIC BUDGET MANAGEMENT, AND INTERACTION WITH COLLEGE OFFICIALS. THE SPHINX FOUNDATION ORGANIZES AND SUPPORTS PUBLIC LECTURES AND PARTNERS WITH THE COLLEGE'S CONTINUING ALUMNI EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHEN REQUESTED AND APPROPRIATE. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE HILL WINDS PROGRAM, A DIVERSE GROUP OF UNDERGRADUATES SELECTED TO BE 'AMBASSADORS' TO THE VISITING ALUMNI BODY. THE HILL WINDS SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN 2008 AND CONSISTS OF MEMBERS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL AND AN INFECTIOUS DARTMOUTH SPIRIT. IN 2024, WORKING WITH THE COLLEGE AND TEEVENS CENTER, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE SPHINX INTERNSHIP FUND FOR STUDENT ATHLETES WITH A CONTRIBUTION OF $100,000.
  2. $109,208 spent. B) COMMUNITY SERVICE: SINCE 2017, WHEN THE FOUNDATION INITIATED AND SPONSORED A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN THE COLLEGE'S GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT FOCUSING ON THE POLITICS AND LAW PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION HAS FUNDED FELLOWSHIPS EACH YEAR. THE PROGRAM IN POLITICS AND LAW PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR DARTMOUTH STUDENTS TO CONDUCT RESEARCHIN POLITICS AND LAW, ESPECIALLY SOCIAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVES ON LAW AND LAWMAKING. THE PROGRAM FUNDS STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH CONDUCTED OUTSIDE OF CLASS; RESEARCH EXPENSES, SUCH AS SURVEYS, EXPERIMENTS, PURCHASING DATA, INTERVIEWS; CONFERENCE EXPENSES FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND ACADEMIC CONFERENCES TO PRESENT THEIR WORK AND FUNDS FOR GUEST SPEAKERS TO TRAVEL TO DARTMOUTH, SPEAK TO CLASSES, AND MEET WITH STUDENTS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNTABILITY STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM AT THE RAUNER SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARY AT DARTMOUTH'S BAKER LIBRARY. THE PROGRAM OFFERS SEVERAL STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST DARTMOUTH STUDENTS IN EXPLORING RAUNER'S COLLECTIONS AND CREATING ORIGINAL CONTENT BASED UPON PRIMARY SOURCES. THE DYNAMIC PROGRAM OFFERS AN OPEN-ENDED SCOPE FOR PROJECT TOPICS AND IS DEDICATED TO ALLOWING UNDERGRADUATES THE OPPORTUNITY RESEARCH ISSUES OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN DARTMOUTH'S HISTORY. THIS PROGRAM MOST CLOSELY FULFILLS THE FOUNDATION'S COMMITMENT TO FURTHER KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF DARTMOUTH. IN ADDITION, SINCE 2015, THE FOUNDATION HAS UNDER WRITTEN THE OPERATION OF A STUDENT AND VISITOR INFORMATION BOOTH ON CAMPUS. FOUNDATION MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT DARTMOUTH AND THE GREATER DARTMOUTH COMMUNITY TO OVER 2,300 VISTORS FROM THE US AND 45 COUNTRIES IN 2025.
  3. $26,208 spent. C) HISTORICAL PRESERVATION: THE SPHINX BUILDING, ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 1905, IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. IT IS THE ONLY BUILDING SO LISTED ON THE DARTMOUTH CAMPUS. THE STRUCTURE IS THE OLDEST POURED CONRETE BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE BUILDING CONTINUES TO QUALIFY FOR INCLUSION ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND MAINTAINS ITS PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THE BUILDING AND ITS ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES OF ITS MEMBERS. THE BUILDING ALSO SERVES AS THE DEPOSITORY OF THE SPHINX FOUNDATION'S HISTORIC DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS.

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 November 6, 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 2007.

    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 November 4, 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.