Sunshine Kids Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SUNSHINE KIDS FOUNDATION ADDS QUALITY OF LIFE TO CHILDREN WITH CANCER BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EXCITING, POSITIVE GROUP ACTIVITIES SO THEY MAY AGAIN DO WHAT KIDS ARE MEANT TO DO, HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE LIFE!
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 36.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $145,819, executive director
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (2)
- $3.2 million spent. NATIONAL EVENTS"MARDI GRAS FUN TIME FANTASY" IS A ONE-WEEK TRIP HELD IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. THE CHILDREN SPEND THE WEEK WITH ACTIVITIES, RIDING ON THEIR OWN FLOAT, ATTENDING THEIR VERY OWN MARDI GRAS BALL, TAKING SWAMP TOURS, AND TOURING THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. TWENTY-FOUR YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT."WINTER GAMES" IS A ONE-WEEK TRIP HELD IN BEAVER CREEK, COLORADO. THE CHILDREN RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE SKIING INSTRUCTION, SNOWMOBILE RIDES, SNOW TUBING, AND PARTICIPATE IN (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)A DOWNHILL WINTER GAMES EVENT. TWENTY-FIVE YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT."WASHINGTON D.C. ADVENTURE" IS A ONE-WEEK TRIP HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE CHILDREN SPEND THE WEEK TOURING MUSEUMS, THE CAPITOL BUILDING, AND MONUMENTS. TWENTY-FIVE YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "TEXAS HILL COUNTRY ADVENTURE" IS A ONE-WEEK TRIP HELD IN JUNE IN SAN MARCOS, TX FOR CANCER PATIENTS FROM DIFFERENT HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE HILL COUNTRY THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HORSEBACK RIDING AND RIVER TUBING. TWENTY-ONE YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT."NEW YORK BROADWAY BREAK" IS A ONE-WEEK TRIP HELD IN NEW YORK, NY. THE CHILDREN SPEND THE WEEK TOURING THE BRIGHT CITY LIGHTS IN THE BIG APPLE. TWENTY-SIX YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "CALIFORNIA FUN-TIME FANTASY" IS A ONE-WEEK EVENT HELD IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS VISITING DISNEY WORLD, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, MEETING CELEBRITIES, AND VISITING VARIOUS STUDIOS. TWENTY-SIX YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT."FLORIDA FUN N- SUN CELEBRATION" IS A ONE-WEEK EVENT HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE VISITING THEME PARKS SUCH AS DISNEY WORLD, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, AND DISCOVERY COVE. TWENTY-EIGHT YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "CHICAGO TEEN GETAWAY" IS A ONE-WEEK EVENT HELD IN CHICAGO, IL. THE CHILDREN SPEND THE WEEK SEEING THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHICAGO. TWENTY YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "HAWAII HANG LOOSE HOLIDAY" IS A ONE-WEEK EVENT HELD IN HONOLULU, HI. THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING, SNORKELING, SURFING, AND OTHER BEACH ACTIVITIES. TWENTY-FIVE YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ATTENDED THIS EVENT. REGIONAL EVENTS"SUNSHINE KIDS HOLLYWOOD BEACH BASH" IS A THREE-DAY TRIP HELD IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE BEACH ACTIVITIES. NINETEEN YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS FLORIDA ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "SUNSHINE KIDS BOSTON HARBOR HANGOUT" IS A THREE-DAY TRIP HELD IN BOSTON, MA. THE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORICAL CITY OF BOSTON. TWENTY YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS FLORIDA ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "SUNSHINE KIDS TEEN HOUSTON GETAWAY" IS A THREE-DAY TRIP HELD IN HOUSTON, TX. THIS TRIP IS DESIGNED FOR GROUP SHARING AND SUPPORTING TEENAGERS. THIRTY CANCER PATIENTS FROM HOSPITALS ACROSS TEXAS ATTENDED THIS EVENT. "SUNSHINE KIDS ACTIVITY PROGRAMS" PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR HUNDREDS OF KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE INCLUDE TEEN WEEKENDS, SPORTING EVENTS, TRIPS TO WATER AND AMUSEMENT PARKS, CONCERTS, BEACH OUTINGS, AND IN-HOSPITAL EVENTS.
- $154,182 spent. PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS FOR PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS OR SURVIVORS THROUGH THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.