Denny Sanford Foundation
Denny Sanford Foundation consistently spends more than its annual revenue, drawing down its substantial asset base for philanthropic distributions.
EIN: 204942461 · Sioux Falls, SD · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $7.3M |
| Total Expenses | $10.1M |
| Program Spending | 100% |
| Net Assets | $26.8M |
| Transparency Score | 95/100 |
Is Denny Sanford Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Denny Sanford Foundation directs 100% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Denny Sanford Foundation
Denny Sanford Foundation (EIN: 204942461) is a nonprofit organization based in Sioux Falls, SD, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $7.3M and total assets of $28.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Denny Sanford Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Denny Sanford Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 60.8%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $2.8M |
| Total Expenses | $10.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-7,309,267 |
| Total Assets | $26.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $26.8M |
| Operating Margin | -263.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 31.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2024, Denny Sanford Foundation reported a deficit of $7.3M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 31.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2012–2024), Denny Sanford Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 60.8%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +41.7% | -1.3% | -21.4% |
| 2023 | -61.9% | +0.6% | -19.5% |
| 2022 | +85.9% | -3.7% | -10.6% |
| 2021 | -30.9% | -1.9% | -14.1% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Denny Sanford Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 0%
- programs: 100%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Denny Sanford Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 0%, programs: 100%, fundraising: 0%. With 100% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $7.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the foundation, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and asset base, suggesting a volunteer leadership model or compensation handled by an external entity.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Denny Sanford Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent negative net income (expenses exceeding revenue) over multiple years, indicating asset depletion.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Denny Sanford Foundation:
- Zero reported officer compensation, indicating high efficiency and direct mission focus.
- Minimal liabilities across all reported periods, suggesting strong financial management.
- Significant asset base, allowing for substantial philanthropic distributions.
- Consistent grantmaking activity, demonstrating commitment to its mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Denny Sanford Foundation
Is Denny Sanford Foundation a legitimate charity?
Denny Sanford Foundation (EIN: 204942461) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in South Dakota. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 95/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $7.3M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Denny Sanford Foundation spend its money?
Denny Sanford Foundation directs 100% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Denny Sanford Foundation tax-deductible?
Denny Sanford Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204942461). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Denny Sanford Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 95/100 (Excellent), Denny Sanford Foundation is above average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Denny Sanford Foundation located?
Denny Sanford Foundation is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and files with the IRS under EIN 204942461. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Denny Sanford Foundation have?
Denny Sanford Foundation has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $7.3M in total revenue.
How does the Denny Sanford Foundation sustain its operations given consistent expense over revenue?
The foundation sustains its operations by drawing down its significant asset base, which has decreased from $66.5 million in 2015 to $26.8 million in 2024, to cover expenses that frequently exceed annual revenues.
What is the primary use of the foundation's expenses?
Given the NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations) and the absence of officer compensation or significant liabilities, the primary use of the foundation's expenses is likely direct grantmaking and program distributions.
Is the Denny Sanford Foundation financially healthy?
While the foundation consistently spends more than its revenue, leading to a reduction in assets, this is a common and often intended strategy for private foundations to distribute their endowment. With $26.8 million in assets in 2024 and minimal liabilities, it remains financially robust for its current operational model.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Denny Sanford Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2024), Denny Sanford Foundation's revenue has grown by 29682.2%, moving from $9K to $2.8M. Total assets increased by 204.2% over the same period, from $8.8M to $26.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 125638.2%, from $8K to $10.1M. In its most recent filing year (2024), Denny Sanford Foundation reported a deficit of $7.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $26.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $26.8M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.8M | $10.1M | $26.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $2.0M | $10.2M | $34.1M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $5.1M | $10.2M | $42.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.8M | $10.5M | $47.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.0M | $10.7M | $55.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $-625,695 | $5.7M | $60.2M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $62.9M | $5.2M | $66.5M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $83K | $16K | $8.9M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $9K | $6K | $8.8M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $9K | $8K | $8.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $10.1M, and assets of $26.8M (revenue +41.7% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $2.0M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $34.1M (revenue -61.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.1M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $42.4M (revenue +85.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $10.5M, and assets of $47.4M (revenue -30.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $10.7M, and assets of $55.2M.
- 2016: Revenue of $-625,695, expenses of $5.7M, and assets of $60.2M (revenue -101.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $62.9M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $66.5M (revenue +75407.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $83K, expenses of $16K, and assets of $8.9M (revenue +855.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $9K, expenses of $6K, and assets of $8.8M (revenue -6.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $9K, expenses of $8K, and assets of $8.8M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Denny Sanford Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Denny Sanford Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.