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Sandbox Group Inc

EIN 45-2295673 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SANDBOX IN 2011, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 5,000 FAMILIES. IN THIS TIME, THE SANDBOX MISSION HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN SERVING CHILDREN WITH CANCER, A LIFE-ALTERING, RARE OR TERMINAL ILLNESS. IN 2016, WE REFINED OUR VISION FOR CREATING THE MOST INTIMATE, IMPACTFUL LEVEL OF CARE, WHICH PROPELLED THE SANDBOX TO A NEW LEVEL OF SERVICE, A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT MEETS EACH FAMILY WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR JOURNEY AND PROVIDES AND ACCOUNTS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS. OUR CARRE PROGRAM IS THE UMBRELLA TO WHICH ALL SUPPORT IS OFFERED. CARRE STANDS FOR CARING ABOUT REAL RELATIONSHIPS EMPATHETICALLY. BECAUSE SUPPORT CAN MEAN VERY DIFFERENT THINGS TO PEOPLE, THE SANDBOX STRIVES TO MEET THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MATERIAL NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY, NOT JUST THE HONOREE. THE SANDBOX IS COMMITTED TO WALKING ALONGSIDE FAMILIES WHO FACE THE REALITIES OF HAVING A CHILD WITH A DIAGNOSIS. THIS CAN MEAN HELPING WITH BASIC NEEDS, ARRANGING SPECIAL DAYS TO GET A BREAK FROM THE RIGORS O

Income
$160,267
Spending
$125,537
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
90.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$45,900, president

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 90.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $78,487 spent. CARRE PROGRAM - AS WE REFLECT ON OUR JOURNEY OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE FIND OURSELVES DEEPLY MOVED BY THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND DEDICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2022, WE CELEBRATED THE 12TH YEAR OF OUR CHARITY'S EXISTENCE, A TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING COMMITMENT OF OUR SUPPORTERS, DONORS, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN OUR CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION. THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROMPTED US TO REEVALUATE AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CORE VALUES THAT DEFINE OUR CHARITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT EMERGED POST-COVID, WE RECOGNIZED AN INTENSIFIED DEMAND FOR MORE PERSONALIZED AND PINPOINTED SUPPORT WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. THIS REALIZATION HAS PROMPTED A DELIBERATE SHIFT IN OUR FOCUS TOWARDS THE INTIMATE COMPONENTS OF OUR CHARITY, HEIGHTENING OUR DEDICATION TO PROVIDING TAILORED SUPPORT WHERE IT IS MOST DESPERATELY EEDED. WHILE THIS TAILORED APPROACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE, THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS EMPHASIZED ITS CRITICAL IMPORTANCE EVEN MORE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL OF THIS TRANSFORMATION HAPPENS WITH A SMALL BUT PASSIONATE TEAM. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ALONG WITH A DEDICATED CORPS OF VOLUNTEERS, WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF OUR INITIATIVES. THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF THIS SMALL TEAM AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF OUR CHARITY, SHOWCASING WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH DEDICATION AND COMMUNITY OLLABORATION. AS WE STAND AT THE INTERSECTION OF OVER A DECADE OF SERVICE AND A NEW PHASE OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DEMAND FOR TAILORED SUPPORT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE APPARENT. OUR TEAM IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN STRATEGIC REFLECTION AND PLANNING, EXPLORING NNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THIS HEIGHTENED NEED IN OUR FORTHCOMING INITIATIVES. WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE A FINALIZED EVOLUTIONARY PLAN TO PRESENT AT THIS PRECISE MOMENT, WE WANT TO ASSURE OUR SUPPORTERS THAT WE ARE DILIGENTLY GATHERING INSIGHTS, COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND EXPLORING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT REMAINS STEADFAST, AND WE ARE INVIGORATED BY THE PROSPECT OF CREATING TARGETED SOLUTIONS THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WE SUPPORT. IN THIS JOURNEY OF STRATEGIC REFLECTION AND PLANNING, WE EXTEND A HEARTFELT INVITATION FOR OUR LARGER COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHARITY. CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT ARE VITAL AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR INITIATIVES NOT ONLY REMAIN EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL BUT ALSO STAY FINELY ATTUNED TO THE EVER-EVOLVING NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL WHO ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR STANDING WITH US AS WE NAVIGATE THE EXCITING PATH AHEAD. COMMUNITY COMMITMENT STRENGTHENS OUR RESOLVE TO MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE. CARRE PROGRAM - AS WE REFLECT ON OUR JOURNEY OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE FIND OURSELVES DEEPLY MOVED BY THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND DEDICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2022, WE CELEBRATED THE 12TH YEAR OF OUR CHARITY'S EXISTENCE, A TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING COMMITMENT OF OUR SUPPORTERS, DONORS, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN OUR CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION. THE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROMPTED US TO REEVALUATE AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CORE VALUES THAT DEFINE OUR CHARITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT EMERGED POST-COVID, WE RECOGNIZED AN INTENSIFIED DEMAND FOR MORE PERSONALIZED AND PINPOINTED SUPPORT WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. THIS REALIZATION HAS PROMPTED A DELIBERATE SHIFT IN OUR FOCUS TOWARDS THE INTIMATE COMPONENTS OF OUR CHARITY, HEIGHTENING OUR DEDICATION TO PROVIDING TAILORED SUPPORT WHERE IT IS MOST DESPERATELY EEDED. WHILE THIS TAILORED APPROACH HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE, THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS EMPHASIZED ITS CRITICAL IMPORTANCE EVEN MORE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL OF THIS TRANSFORMATION HAPPENS WITH A SMALL BUT PASSIONATE TEAM. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ALONG WITH A DEDICATED CORPS OF VOLUNTEERS, WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF OUR INITIATIVES. THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF THIS SMALL TEAM AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF OUR CHARITY, SHOWCASING WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH DEDICATION AND COMMUNITY OLLABORATION. AS WE STAND AT THE INTERSECTION OF OVER A DECADE OF SERVICE AND A NEW PHASE OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DEMAND FOR TAILORED SUPPORT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE APPARENT. OUR TEAM IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN STRATEGIC REFLECTION AND PLANNING, EXPLORING NNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THIS HEIGHTENED NEED IN OUR FORTHCOMING INITIATIVES. WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE A FINALIZED EVOLUTIONARY PLAN TO PRESENT AT THIS PRECISE MOMENT, WE WANT TO ASSURE OUR SUPPORTERS THAT WE ARE DILIGENTLY GATHERING INSIGHTS, COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND EXPLORING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT REMAINS STEADFAST, AND WE ARE INVIGORATED BY THE PROSPECT OF CREATING TARGETED SOLUTIONS THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WE SUPPORT. IN THIS JOURNEY OF STRATEGIC REFLECTION AND PLANNING, WE EXTEND A HEARTFELT INVITATION FOR OUR LARGER COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHARITY. CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT ARE VITAL AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR INITIATIVES NOT ONLY REMAIN EFFECTIVE AND IMPACTFUL BUT ALSO STAY FINELY ATTUNED TO THE EVER-EVOLVING NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL WHO ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR STANDING WITH US AS WE NAVIGATE THE EXCITING PATH AHEAD. COMMUNITY COMMITMENT STRENGTHENS OUR RESOLVE TO MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE.

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

  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 2024.

    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 2012.

    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.