Live Like Sam Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LIVE LIKE SAM HONORS THE SHORT LIFE AND LEGACY OF SAM JACKENTHAL BY INSPIRING YOUTH FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS, COURAGE, LEADERSHIP, KINDNESS, AND JOY THROUGH LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL YOUTH WITH OUR PROGRAMS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO FOSTER A DEDICATION TO SERVICE TO OTHERS ... LIKE SAM LIVED.
- Income
- $633,463
- Spending
- $668,018
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 2
- Highest pay
- $131,261, executive di
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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
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, 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)
- $482,270 spent. TO ADDRESS THE URGENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN SUMMIT COUNTY, LIVE LIKE SAM ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN FY2024 BY SCALING UP ITS PROGRAMS AND DOCUMENTING MEASURABLE OUTCOMES ACROSS ITS KEY FOCUS AREAS. - THRIVE PROGRAM: OUR EVIDENCE-BASED THRIVE PROGRAM HAS SHOWN REMARKABLE RESULTS. PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCED A 25% DECREASE IN ANXIETY, A 21% DECREASE IN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, AND A 7% INCREASE IN RESILIENCE AND 5% INCREASE IN QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN JUST SIX WEEKS. - SAGES & SEEKERS MENTORSHIP: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES, THIS MULTI-WEEK MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTED TEENS WITH SENIOR CITIZENS. THIS INITIATIVE HELPED BRIDGE THE GENERATIONAL GAP, PROVIDING TEENS WITH TRUSTED, NON-PARENTAL MENTORS. - CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED TEEN- MEETUP PROGRAM, HOSTING UNIQUE NEW ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL CONNECTION AND GETTING OUT OF COMFORT ZONES. - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS: THROUGH FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES, WE EMPOWER K-5 STUDENTS TO DEVELOP STRONG CHARACTER, TEAMWORK, AND KINDNESS. THESE SKILLS WILL HELP THEM DREAM BIG, OVERCOME CHALLENGES, BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS, AND THRIVE. - SUMMER CAMP WELL-BEING SKILLS: INTEGRATED NEW WELL-BEING AND LIFE SKILLS CURRICULUM (GROWTH MINDSET, GOAL-SETTING, POSITIVE SELF-TALK) INTO LOCAL SUMMER CAMP PARTNERS, EXPANDING OUR REACH TO YOUNGER STUDENTS. - COMMUNITY EVENTS & SCREENINGS: HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL MOVIE SCREENINGS (E.G., PARADISE PARADOX) AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ENGAGEMENTS (E.G., KEVIN PEARCE). INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, GRATITUDE, AND RESILIENCE IN SKI TOWN COMMUNITIES. LIVE LIKE SAM IS EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, DIGITAL WELL-BEING, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN SUMMIT COUNTY. TO ADDRESS THE URGENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN SUMMIT COUNTY, LIVE LIKE SAM ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES IN FY2024 BY SCALING UP ITS PROGRAMS AND DOCUMENTING MEASURABLE OUTCOMES ACROSS ITS KEY FOCUS AREAS. - THRIVE PROGRAM: OUR EVIDENCE-BASED THRIVE PROGRAM HAS SHOWN REMARKABLE RESULTS. PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCED A 25% DECREASE IN ANXIETY, A 21% DECREASE IN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, AND A 7% INCREASE IN RESILIENCE AND 5% INCREASE IN QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN JUST SIX WEEKS. - SAGES & SEEKERS MENTORSHIP: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES, THIS MULTI-WEEK MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTED TEENS WITH SENIOR CITIZENS. THIS INITIATIVE HELPED BRIDGE THE GENERATIONAL GAP, PROVIDING TEENS WITH TRUSTED, NON-PARENTAL MENTORS. - CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED THE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED TEEN- MEETUP PROGRAM, HOSTING UNIQUE NEW ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL CONNECTION AND GETTING OUT OF COMFORT ZONES. - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS: THROUGH FUN AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES, WE EMPOWER K-5 STUDENTS TO DEVELOP STRONG CHARACTER, TEAMWORK, AND KINDNESS. THESE SKILLS WILL HELP THEM DREAM BIG, OVERCOME CHALLENGES, BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS, AND THRIVE. - SUMMER CAMP WELL-BEING SKILLS: INTEGRATED NEW WELL-BEING AND LIFE SKILLS CURRICULUM (GROWTH MINDSET, GOAL-SETTING, POSITIVE SELF-TALK) INTO LOCAL SUMMER CAMP PARTNERS, EXPANDING OUR REACH TO YOUNGER STUDENTS. - COMMUNITY EVENTS & SCREENINGS: HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL MOVIE SCREENINGS (E.G., PARADISE PARADOX) AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ENGAGEMENTS (E.G., KEVIN PEARCE). INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, GRATITUDE, AND RESILIENCE IN SKI TOWN COMMUNITIES. LIVE LIKE SAM IS EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, DIGITAL WELL-BEING, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN SUMMIT COUNTY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.