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Sanford

EIN 45-3791176 · Sioux Falls, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SANFORD HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UPPER MIDWEST. SANFORD HEALTH PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND STRIVES TO BE THE PREMIER RURAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$6.1 billion
Spending
$5.8 billion
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
3,271
Volunteers
1,302
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

Good: 71 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
  1. $5.3 billion spent. SANFORD HEALTH, THE LARGEST RURAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES, IS DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING THE HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND. SANFORD PROVIDES MEDICAL SERVICES AT EVERY LEVEL FROM CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS TO TERTIARY AND QUATERNARY CARE. THE SANFORD FOOTPRINT OF OWNED, LEASED AND MANAGED SITES INCLUDES OVER 250,000 SQUARE MILES WITH A NINE-STATE SERVICE AREA INCLUDING A NETWORK OF CHILDREN'S PRIMARY CARE CLINIC LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. SANFORD OPERATES FULL-TIME EMERGENCY CENTERS AND PROVIDES EMERGENCY CARE TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. SANFORD FACILITIES AND CLINICS PROVIDE SERVICES TO REMOTE AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EVEN PRIMARY CARE SERVICES.
  2. $51.7 million spent. SANFORD HEALTH PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH BASED; ACCREDITED FOR PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PHARMACISTS, AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SCIENTISTS; INCLUSIVE OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR SPECIALTY TRAINING. SANFORD HEALTH IS DEDICATED TO PREPARING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS FOR THE FUTURE. THE SANFORD PROMISE PROGRAM CONNECTS STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITIES WITH SCIENCE AND RESEARCH IN HEALTH CARE AT A SECONDARY EDUCATION AGE. SANFORD WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE ROTATIONS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENCIES AND FELLOWSHIPS. SANFORD WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN EXTENSIVE GROUP OF HIGHER LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE STUDENT TRAINING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN MANY VENUES ACROSS OUR REGION.
  3. $38.9 million spent. RESEARCH ENDEAVORS SPAN CHILDREN'S HEALTH, FOCUSED ON PEDIATRIC RARE DISEASES AND CANCER; THE SANFORD PROJECT, SEEKING TO REDUCE THE BURDEN OF TYPE 1 DIABETES THROUGH DISCOVERY AND CLINICAL APPLICATION; GENOMIC AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE INCLUDING GENOMICS, BIOBANKING AND IMMUNOTHERAPY; EDITH SANFORD BREAST CANCER FOR ADVANCED MOLECULAR RESEARCH AND PERSONALIZED TREATMENT; NEUROBEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, STUDYING EATING DISORDERS, OBESITY AND BARIATRIC SURGERY OUTCOMES AS WELL AS PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF EATING AND ADDICTION AND CLINICAL RESEARCH HOSTING DRUG AND DEVICE STUDIES, THE NCI COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM AND THE NEONATAL RESEARCH NETWORK. RESEARCH ALSO LEADS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTING SCIENCE IN LOCAL K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND POST-DOCTORAL PROGRAMS.

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 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 2024.

    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 April 2011.

    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 October 21, 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.