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Ryan Seacrest Foundation Inc

EIN 27-1248091 · Pacific Plsds, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RYAN SEACREST FOUNDATION (RSF) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS INTERACTIVE MEDIA STUDIOS TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS THAT HELP SPARK CREATIVITY, BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT EMOTIONAL HEALING, ENRICHING EACH CHILD'S HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE AND COMPLEMENTING THEIR CARE. FOUNDED IN 2009, RSF HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONAL NETWORK OF 14 SEACREST STUDIOS WHERE PATIENTS HOST PODCASTS, PRODUCE VIDEO CONTENT, AND INTERVIEW CELEBRITY GUESTS WHILE RECEIVING CARE.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
8
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$301,509, executive director & ceo

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $2.0 million spent. THE RYAN SEACREST FOUNDATION (RSF) ADVANCES ITS MISSION OF CREATING INTERACTIVE MEDIA STUDIOS THAT SPARK CREATIVITY, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND SUPPORT EMOTIONAL HEALING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS. GUIDED BY ITS VISION TO BRING CREATIVITY, CONNECTION, AND JOY INTO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS, RSF OPERATES SEACREST STUDIOS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL MOMENTS OF EXPRESSION, POSSIBILITY, AND HEALING DURING THE HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE.EACH SEACREST STUDIO IS EQUIPPED WITH INDUSTRY-STANDARD TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES PATIENTS TO EXPLORE CONTENT CREATION THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HOSTING SHOWS, PRODUCING DIGITAL MEDIA, PLAYING INTERACTIVE GAMES, AND DEVELOPING NEW CREATIVE SKILLS. PATIENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR ACCESS PROGRAMMING DIRECTLY FROM THEIR ROOMS THROUGH A SECURE, CLOSED-CIRCUIT NETWORK, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL ACUITY LEVELS. STUDIOS ARE ALSO CONNECTED NATIONALLY, ALLOWING SHARED PROGRAMMING AND COLLABORATIVE EXPERIENCES ACROSS THE NETWORK.IN 2025, RSF DELIVERED 8,406 HOURS OF LIVE PROGRAMMING AND HELPED PATIENTS CREATE 265 ORIGINAL SHOWS, REACHING APPROXIMATELY 3.1 MILLION PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. VIEWED BY HOSPITAL PARTNERS AS A CORE THERAPEUTIC TOOL, SEACREST STUDIOS PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH HOSPITALIZATION AND EXTENDED MEDICAL CARE. THROUGH ITS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, RSF ALSO SUPPORTS ALMOST 50 INTERNS A YEAR, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN BROADCAST PRODUCTION AND EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. SEACREST STUDIOS WELCOMED A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIAL GUESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING MUSICIANS, ACTORS, ATHLETES, AUTHORS, AND OTHER PUBLIC FIGURES, OFFERING PATIENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION AND INSPIRATION. THESE VISITS, ALONG WITH LOCALLY DRIVEN PROGRAMMING, CONTRIBUTED TO A DYNAMIC AND UPLIFTING HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT.RSF CONTINUED TO INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ACROSS THE STUDIO NETWORK IN 2025, PROVIDING ONGOING TECHNICAL SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT UPGRADES, AND TRAINING FOR HOSPITAL-BASED TEAMS. THIS INCLUDED ADVANCEMENTS IN DIGITAL PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES, MODERNIZATION OF AUDIO AND VIDEO SYSTEMS, AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY CONTENT CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION. RSF ALSO SUPPORTED STUDIO RENOVATIONS IN WASHINGTON D.C., CHARLOTTE AND ORANGE COUNTY. RENOVATIONS IN BOSTON, ORLANDO, NASHVILLE, DENVER AND CINCINNATI ARE BUDGETED AND SCHEDULED FOR 2026. THE FOUNDATION ALSO DELIVERED SIGNIFICANT IN-KIND SUPPORT TO HOSPITAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING TOYS, BOOKS, CLOTHING, TECHNOLOGY, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT ENHANCE PATIENT EXPERIENCE AND STUDIO PROGRAMMING. THESE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS.CONTENT DEVELOPMENT REMAINED A KEY PRIORITY, WITH RSF PRODUCING AND CURATING A ROBUST LIBRARY OF DIGITAL EXPERIENCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CREATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. PROGRAMMING SPANS EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND WELLNESS-FOCUSED CONTENT, INCLUDING MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES, STORYTELLING, MUSIC, AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES. CONTENT IS MADE AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY FOR DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS.SUPPORTING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH CONTINUES TO BE CENTRAL TO RSF'S WORK. STUDIOS PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC CREATIVE OUTLETS SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO PRODUCTION, ANIMATION, AND OTHER EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES, OFTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH HOSPITAL CLINICAL TEAMS. THESE EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT CLINICAL CARE BY REDUCING STRESS, FOSTERING SELF-EXPRESSION, AND CREATING MOMENTS OF NORMALCY FOR PATIENTS.RSF ALSO REMAINS COMMITTED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ITS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, OFFERING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN MEDIA PRODUCTION, OPERATIONS, AND PATIENT ENGAGEMENT. STUDENTS FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATE ANNUALLY, GAINING PRACTICAL SKILLS WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE STUDIO ENVIRONMENT.AS OF 2025, RSF OPERATES SEACREST STUDIOS IN 14 LEADING CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING LOCATIONS IN ATLANTA, BOSTON, CHARLOTTE, CINCINNATI, DALLAS, DENVER, MEMPHIS, NASHVILLE, ORANGE COUNTY, ORLANDO, QUEENS, SALT LAKE CITY, MIAMI AND WASHINGTON, D.C.LOOKING AHEAD, RSF CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS IMPACT WITH THE PLANNED OPENINGS OF TWO NEW SEACREST STUDIOS AT MANNING FAMILY CHILDREN'S IN NEW ORLEANS, LA IN 2027 AND CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN IN MILWAUKEE, WI IN 2028.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.