The Sandbox
Legal name: The Sandbox Group Inc
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 452295673
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2013–2024
- Official website data refreshed
- Sep 2026
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024
- Location
- Charlotte, NC, US
- Phone
- 980.224.0231
- Rating
- 68
- Verdict
- SUPPORTED
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Emergency Assistance
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $160,267
- Expenses
- $125,537
- Assets
- $944,553
- Liabilities
- $1,237
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
4 people listed
Executive titles in this filing
- MARA CAMPOLUNGO (PRESIDENT)
Highest reported compensation
- MARA CAMPOLUNGO (PRESIDENT): $45,900 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
We walk alongside families whose children are facing cancer, life-altering illnesses, disabilities, and complex medical diagnoses. Through meaningful relationships, family celebrations, educational scholarships, community gatherings, and personalized support, we believe no family should have to navigate a difficult diagnosis alone.
What it reported doing in 2024
Carre program - as we reflect on our journey over the past year, we find ourselves deeply moved by the unwavering support and dedication of our community. In 2022, we celebrated the 12th year of our charity's existence, a testament to the enduring commitment of our supporters, donors, and volunteers who have played pivotal roles in our continuous evolution. The challenges brought about by the covid-19 pandemic prompted us to reevaluate and reaffirm our commitment to the core values that define our charity. In response to the unique needs that emerged post-covid, we recognized an intensified demand for more personalized and pinpointed support within the communities we serve. This realization has prompted a deliberate shift in our focus towards the intimate components of our charity, heightening our dedication to providing tailored support where it is most desperately eeded. While this tailored approach has always been at the heart of who we are, the profound impact of the pandemic has emphasized its critical importance even more. It's important to note that all of this transformation happens with a small but passionate team. Our executive director and director of operations, along with a dedicated corps of volunteers, work tirelessly to ensure the success of our initiatives. The tireless efforts of this small team amplify the impact of our charity, showcasing what can be achieved through dedication and community ollaboration. As we stand at the intersection of over a decade of service and a new phase of growth and innovation, we acknowledge that the demand for tailored support has never been more apparent. Our team is actively engaged in strategic reflection and planning, exploring nnovative approaches to address this heightened need in our forthcoming initiatives. While we may not have a finalized evolutionary plan to present at this precise moment, we want to assure our supporters that we are diligently gathering insights, collaborating with stakeholders, and exploring creative solutions. Our commitment to making a positive impact remains steadfast, and we are invigorated by the prospect of creating targeted solutions that directly address the unique challenges faced by the individuals and communities we support. In this journey of strategic reflection and planning, we extend a heartfelt invitation for our larger community to join us in shaping the future of our charity. Continued community support and engagement are vital as we work together to ensure that our initiatives not only remain effective and impactful but also stay finely attuned to the ever-evolving needs of those we serve. We are grateful for all who are an integral part of our community and for standing with us as we navigate the exciting path ahead. Community commitment strengthens our resolve to make a lasting difference in the lives of those we are privileged to serve.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Donor-supported. 82% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
- Distribution model
- Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 69% for direct work, and 31% for grants.
The verdict
SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 53
- Transparency & Controls: 94
- Accountability: 70
- Sustainability: 68
- Growth: 20
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 58.3%; rating input score 58
- Program expense ratio: 62.5%; rating input score 63
- Fundraising efficiency: Limited
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
- Pay-setting controls: Limited
- Foreign activity oversight: Limited
- Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
- Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
- Related-party transparency: Limited
Accountability
- Independent voting board: 75%; rating input score 75; 20th percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
- Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
- Whistleblower policy: Fail
- Document-retention policy: Pass
- CEO compensation review process: Pass
- Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
- Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
- Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
- Audit committee oversight: Missing
- Independent financial-statement audit: Fail
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 21.7%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 7.52; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 36.6%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: -11.6% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings
- Revenue growth: -8.7% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 16.7% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- What they do: 7 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 1 operating location identified
- Where the money goes: 58.3% of revenue deployed · 62.5% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 3 of 4 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
- Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $78K in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $46K · 4 people listed
- Consistency: 19 of 19 current checks pass
- Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
- Filing history: 12 filing years from 2013 to 2024
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
- Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
- Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
- People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
Key Signals
Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.
- Review — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 58/100.
- Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 7 not reported.
- High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
- High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
- High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 8/100.
- Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 56/100.