Sams Foundation
Sams Foundation's revenue nearly doubled to $99.9 million in 2023, showing strong financial growth.
EIN: 161717058 · Washington, DC · NTEE: E12 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Sams Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Sams Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Sams Foundation
Sams Foundation (EIN: 161717058) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, classified under NTEE code E12. The organization reported total revenue of $61.6M and total assets of $33.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Sams Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Sams Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 72.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $99.9M |
| Total Expenses | $85.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$14.6M |
| Total Assets | $40.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $7.6M |
| Net Assets | $32.6M |
| Operating Margin | 14.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 19.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 5.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Sams Foundation reported a surplus of $14.6M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 5.7 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 19.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Sams Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 72.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +147.6% | +113.1% | +113.9% |
| 2022 | -4.0% | +1.4% | -9.1% |
| 2021 | -0.9% | +3.3% | +22.2% |
| 2020 | +5.9% | -0.5% | +75.2% |
| 2019 | -6.3% | -15.4% | -11.7% |
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 Sams Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Sams Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $14.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 19.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received reportable compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and suggests either volunteer leadership or compensation reported under different categories.
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 Sams Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for a large organization, which may obscure actual leadership costs or structure
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Sams Foundation:
- Significant revenue growth, nearly doubling to $99.9 million in 2023
- Strong financial health with a substantial surplus of $14.6 million in 2023
- Growing asset base, reaching over $40 million in 2023
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history, indicating transparency
- Manageable liabilities relative to assets
Frequently Asked Questions about Sams Foundation
Is Sams Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Sams Foundation (EIN: 161717058) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Sams Foundation spend its money?
Sams Foundation directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Sams Foundation tax-deductible?
Sams Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 161717058). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What is the specific breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses for Sams Foundation?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising categories. This information would be crucial for a more precise assessment of spending efficiency.
How does Sams Foundation manage to report 0% officer compensation despite its significant revenue and asset base?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is unusual for an organization with revenues nearing $100 million. It suggests either a fully volunteer leadership structure, or that compensation for key management personnel is reported in other expense categories, or through a related organization, which warrants further investigation for full transparency.
What are the primary sources of Sams Foundation's rapidly increasing revenue?
The provided data only shows total revenue figures. Understanding the specific sources (e.g., grants, donations, program service fees) would provide insight into the sustainability and diversity of its funding model, especially given the significant jump in 2023.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Sams Foundation showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Sams Foundation's revenue has grown by 67301.3%, moving from $148K to $99.9M. Total assets increased by 34021.5% over the same period, from $118K to $40.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 90121.3%, from $95K to $85.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Sams Foundation reported a surplus of $14.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $7.6M in liabilities against $40.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 19.0%), resulting in net assets of $32.6M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $99.9M | $85.3M | $40.2M | $7.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $40.4M | $40.0M | $18.8M | $3.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $42.1M | $39.5M | $20.7M | $5.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $42.4M | $38.2M | $16.9M | $3.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $40.0M | $38.4M | $9.7M | $508K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $42.7M | $45.4M | $10.9M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $42.3M | $45.1M | $14.5M | $3.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $42.8M | $37.4M | $14.9M | $977K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $26.7M | $20.8M | $9.4M | $734K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $14.3M | $12.9M | $3.1M | $333K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $11.8M | $11.1M | $1.4M | $48K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $2.6M | $2.0M | $662K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $148K | $95K | $118K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $99.9M, expenses of $85.3M, and assets of $40.2M (revenue +147.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $40.4M, expenses of $40.0M, and assets of $18.8M (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $42.1M, expenses of $39.5M, and assets of $20.7M (revenue -0.9% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $42.4M, expenses of $38.2M, and assets of $16.9M (revenue +5.9% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $40.0M, expenses of $38.4M, and assets of $9.7M (revenue -6.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $42.7M, expenses of $45.4M, and assets of $10.9M (revenue +1.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $42.3M, expenses of $45.1M, and assets of $14.5M (revenue -1.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $42.8M, expenses of $37.4M, and assets of $14.9M (revenue +60.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $26.7M, expenses of $20.8M, and assets of $9.4M (revenue +86.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $14.3M, expenses of $12.9M, and assets of $3.1M (revenue +21.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $11.8M, expenses of $11.1M, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +358.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $662K (revenue +1628.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $148K, expenses of $95K, and assets of $118K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Sams Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Sams 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.