Sharks Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 56%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $117,496, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1556% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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 June 30, 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 (3)
- $426,295 spent. THE SHARKS FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY ASSIST GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES MONETARY SUPPORT TO PUBLIC, 501(C)(3) NON-PROFITS SERVING BAY AREA YOUTH AND FAMILIES. SPANNING FROM SEPTEMBER 2024 TO JUNE 2025, THE PROGRAM FEATURED KEY ACTIVATIONS/EVENTS AND INCLUDED SUPPORT FROM SHARKS PLAYERS, COACHES, BROADCASTERS, EXECUTIVES, CORPORATE PARTNERS, EMPLOYEES, AND VOLUNTEERS. THROUGHOUT THE SEASON GRANTS WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO NONPROFITS TO ALIGN WITH NHL INITIATIVES SUCH AS HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER, TO SUPPLY EMERGENCY AID, AND DONATIONS THAT WERE GENERATED FROM SHARKS FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. GRANTS RANGED FROM $3,000-$56,000.
- $345,000 spent. DURING THE 2024-25 SEASON, THE SHARKS FOUNDATION JOINED FORCES WITH SAP TO LAUNCH THE START OF THEIR CO-CREATED EDUCATION EQUITY CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS AND PREPARING COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. IN THE INAUGURAL YEAR OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE SHARKS FOUNDATION AND SAP PROVIDED THREE $115,000 GRANTS TO NON-PROFITS NPOWER, THE PENINSULA COLLEGE FUND, AND BRAVEN, TO ASSIST 700+ LOCAL FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, MILITARY VETERANS, AND/OR BIPOC INDIVIDUALS ALL TRYING TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION OR SECURE STRONG FIRST JOBS.
- $208,005 spent. SINCE 2014, THE GOALS FOR KIDS PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED SEASON CULMINATING GRANTS TO NON-PROFITS SUPPORTING YOUTH AND FAMILIES. FOR EVERY GOAL SCORED BY A SHARKS PLAYER, A $1,000 DONATION WAS SPLIT AMONGST SEVEN NON-PROFIT BENEFICIARIES: ACCESS BOOKS BAY AREA, GEORGE MARK CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, HACK THE HOOD, OKIZU, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES BAY AREA, SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURES FOR GIRLS, AND SAVE THE BAY. THE 2024-25 PROGRAM PROVIDED EACH ORGANIZATION WITH A $29,715 DONATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 2017.
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.