Sanford Health Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INSPIRE PHILANTHROPY TO ADVANCE THE MISSION OF SANFORD HEALTH, THE PREMIER RURAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE U.S., AND RELATED EXEMPT ENTITIES. 100% OF DONOR DOLLARS FUEL LOCAL PRIORITIES TO CARE, COMFORT AND CURE.
- Income
- $214.4 million
- Spending
- $55.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 101
- Highest pay
- $5.0 million, trustee, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 74% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $42.2 million spent. DONATIONS HELP SUPPORT THE SANFORD INITIATIVES:THE SANFORD INITIATIVES ENHANCE THE CAPABILITIES OF SANFORD HEALTH AND ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO SHARE ITS EXPERTISE WITH THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE SANFORD INITIATIVES INCLUDE SANFORD RESEARCH, CHILDREN'S HEALTH, SPORTS MEDICINE, WEIGHT LOSS, GENETICS, BREAST CANCER, VIRTUAL CARE, INNOVATION AND MORE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE SANFORD INITIATIVES HAVE CONTINUED TO ACHIEVE MAJOR MILESTONES, GIVING WAY TO NEW BREAKTHROUGHS AND NEW DISCOVERIES, ALL OF WHICH ARE HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE. -CHILDHOOD NUTRITION AND FITNESS INITIATIVESSANFORD HEALTH HAS CREATED SANFORD FIT, A HEALTH ACTIVATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO EMPOWER CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES THAT HELP PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY. SANFORD FIT IS COMPRISED OF A SYSTEM OF RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING SCHOOL PROGRAMS, DAYCARE TRAINING, MOBILE APPS, AND WAS DEVELOPED USING A COMBINATION OF THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, MOTIVATE, AND INSPIRE CHILDREN OF ALL AGES TO LIVE A BALANCED, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.-THE SANFORD PROJECT SINCE 2008, SANFORD HEALTH HAS BEEN SEEKING A CURE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES. THE SANFORD PROJECT TEAM IS FOCUSED ON THE NATURAL REGENERATION OF INSULIN-PRODUCING BETA CELLS IN THE DIABETIC PANCREAS AND THE BODY'S AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES. THE PROJECT TEAM LAUNCHED ITS FIRST CLINICAL TRIAL AND BEGAN ENROLLING PATIENTS IN AUGUST 2010.-SANFORD IMAGENETICSBECAUSE OF ONE MAN'S CONTINUED GENEROSITY, SANFORD HEALTH LAUNCHED A REVOLUTIONARY PROGRAM TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND PREVENT DISEASE WITH PERSONALIZED PLANS OF CARE. SANFORD IMAGENETICS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT FULLY INTEGRATES GENETICS WITH INTERNAL MEDICINE, CREATING A FIRST-OF ITS-KIND MODEL FOR EXCEPTIONAL, HIGH-QUALITY, AND INNOVATIVE PRIMARY CARE FOR ADULTS.-EDITH SANFORD BREAST CENTEREDITH SANFORD BREAST CENTER HAS PIONEERED THE FUTURE OF BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE. BY PIECING TOGETHER THE ENTIRE GENETIC PUZZLE OF EACH WOMAN, WE ARE DISCOVERING HOW TO REVOLUTIONIZE TREATMENT AND ERADICATE BREAST CANCER. WE ARE MOBILIZING PARTICIPANTS -- MOTHERS, WIVES, SISTERS, AND DAUGHTERS -- TO DONATE THEIR GENETIC INFORMATION AS WE BUILD AN EXTENSIVE BIO BANK THAT WILL UNDERPIN OUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH. AS WE DECODE THIS DEADLY DISEASE, WE WILL KNOW MORE SPECIFICALLY WHAT TREATMENTS WILL WORK FOR EACH PATIENT, HOW TO PREVENT DISEASE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND ULTIMATELY, HOW TO FIND A CURE.-SANFORD WORLD CLINICSTHE SANFORD WORLD CLINICS INITIATIVE WAS DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE AREAS WE SERVE. BROADER PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, SPECIALIZED PROCEDURES, WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS, AND CLINIC EDUCATION ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SPECIALIZATIONS DEVELOPED TO SERVE POPULATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. OUTSIDE OF THE NATIONAL FOOTPRINT, SANFORD HAS ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS IN GHANA, CHINA, GERMANY, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, COSTA RICA, VIETNAM, AND IRELAND.
- $12.0 million spent. THE FOUNDATION INSPIRES AND FACILITATES PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT AND BUILDS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND LOCAL HEALTH CARE-RELATED PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS OF SANFORD HEALTH WHILE ALSO SEEKING REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH AND OTHER HEALTH INITIATIVES. SPECIFICALLY, DONATIONS HELP PROVIDE PATIENT CARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT ($3,400,795), EQUIPMENT AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ($8,434,076), OTHER INTERNAL PROGRAMS ($114,070) AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT ($84,139).
- $756,853 spent. ADDITIONAL DONATIONS SUPPORT CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR STAFF AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PATIENT CARE TODAY AND DRIVE INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY OF THE TREATMENTS AND CURES OF TOMORROW.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.