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Society for American Baseball Research Inc

EIN 52-1234482 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF SABR IS TO ENCOURAGE THE STUDY OF BASEBALL, PAST AND PRESENT, AS A SIGNIFICANT ATHLETIC AND SOCIAL INSTITUTION; TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER RESEARCH AND LITERARY EFFORTS; TO ESTABLISH THE ACCURATE HISTORICAL RECORD OF BASEBALL; TO HELP (CONT. ON SCH O) DISSEMINATE EDUCATIONAL, HISTORICAL, AND RESEARCH INFORMATION ABOUT BASEBALL.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
6
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$219,480, 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% 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 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $153,247 spent. PUBLICATION OF PERIODICALS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES THREE JOURNALS EVERY YEAR. THESE JOURNALS ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER BOOKS, DOCUMENTS, DATABASES, AND RESEARCH MATERIALS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS. CHAPTERS ACROSS THE WORLD PUT ON BASEBALL PROGRAMMING TO SHOWCASE THE RESEARCH OF MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS ALIKE DURING MEETINGS. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE MEMBERSHIP AS PART OF THEIR DUES AND ARE AVAILABLE TO NONMEMBERS AS WELL.
  2. $807,611 spent. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS TWO MAJOR CONFERENCES EVERY YEAR. THE ANNUAL CONVENTION AND AN ANALYTICS CONFERENCE. MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVE DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION RATES FOR BOTH EVENTS WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
  3. $49,303 spent. THE SABR BASEBALL ANALYTICS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS AN ONLINE, ON-DEMAND CURRICULUM OFFERING DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN ELEVATING THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO BASEBALL ANALYTICS. THESE COURSES STRENGTHEN THE ANALYTIC SKILLS OF BOTH BASEBALL ENTHUSIASTS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF BASEBALL ANALYTICS. THE CURRICULUM IS BEING DEVELOPED BY CURRENT BASEBALL PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND ITS CLUBS. OPTIONAL COURSE COMPLETION CERTIFICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE FINAL EXAMINATION/PROJECT WORK TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR LEARNED PROFICIENCIES AND SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM OTHERS. THE FIRST OF FOUR PLANNED MODULES WAS RELEASED IN 2022. 516 PEOPLE TOOK COURSES THIS YEAR, 257 OF THOSE TOOK IT FOR CERTIFICATION.
  4. $11,200 spent. SABR LOCAL GRANTS PROGRAM - THE SABR LOCAL GRANTS PROGRAM DELIVERS MISSION-FOCUSED FUNDING TO SABR CHAPTERS, RESEARCH COMMITTEES, AND COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST FOR PROJECTS THAT CONCENTRATE ON ONE OR MORE OF SABR'S FOUR PILLARS: RESEARCH, PRESERVATION, SCHOLOARSHIP, AND FUTURE OF THE GAME. SIX GRANTS WERE GIVEN IN 2025, FOR A TOTAL OF $11,200.

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 September 1987.

    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.