At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. We DO this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 500 volunteers and 63 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $8.5M a year · 13% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.6M
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $58.9M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
41
named funders · $1.7M
Looks good: 41 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.6M
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$85.5M
+5% vs prior year
Spent
$82.7M
To programs
89%
Net assets
$83.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$85.5M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$48.9M
FY2021$58.1M
FY2022$61.3M
FY2024$81.4M
FY2025$85.5M
Expenses
$82.7M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$39.1M
FY2021$36.6M
FY2022$59.2M
FY2024$75.1M
FY2025$82.7M
Net assets
$83.4M
FY2025▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$59.7M
FY2021$78.7M
FY2022$74.3M
FY2024$80.6M
FY2025$83.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending March 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $73.9M Management & general 6% · $5.0M Fundraising 5% · $3.8M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $2.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$454,103Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President
$259,128Pt VII · Sec A
Senior VP - Operations/Businesss
$230,197Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Marcomms
$226,431Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - Philanthropy
$208,768Pt VII · Sec A
Philanthropic Advisor
$196,669Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President - R.i.s.e. Program
$161,811Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director - Corp/Community Relations
$157,657Pt VII · Sec A

Donna Mercier’s $454K as Executive Director is at the 90th percentile of top reported officer pay among 661 $10–100M philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2022FY2021FY2020
Donna Mercier$454,103$376,287———
Donna E Palmer—$93,975$319,321——
Robin Rand———$155,729$287,500
Michael R Thirtle——$281,231$215,075—
Robert Kilduff—$75,284$262,234$19,195—
James Ravella$259,128$51,425$178,119$166,717$159,198
Elizabeth Fields———$246,292$230,000
Shannon Woodward—$163,631$245,737——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports military members, veterans, first responders, and their families through community programs, entertainment, education, and critical financial aid during times of crisis.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $64.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Relief and resiliency outreach supports our nation's defenders, WOUNDED/ILL/INJURED veterans, their loved ones and families of fallen heroes as they cope with trauma and loss. The foundation provided over 566 grants to these individuals in their time of urgent need.

$26.3Mprogram expense
02

Through our R.I.S.E (restoring independence, supporting empowerment) program, we're constructing one-of-a-kind specially adapted smart homes for our nation's most severely wounded veterans and first responders.

$21.4Mprogram expense
03

Community outreach and education worked hard to bring joy & relief to so many across the country, including providing critical financial aid to those in crisis. This includes, but is not limited to, disaster relief efforts in response to wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

$16.5Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
See all 41 funders →
Grants paid · 652 grants · $79.8M · 2020–2024
Boulder Crest FoundationVA · FY2024$4,500,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$3,339,410
Hyperformance Foundation INCTN · FY2024$2,000,000
Metanoia Films LLCFY2024$1,841,750
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,833,737
Friends of Firefighters INCNY · FY2024$570,000
Training to Perform Under Pressure LLCFY2024$427,254
Unitemized GrantFY2024$350,000
Travis Mills FoundationME · FY2024$350,000
Lighthouse Family Retreat INCGA · FY2024$284,625
Centerstone of Tennessee INCTN · FY2024$250,000
Mes Service Company LLCFY2024$229,920
Never Alone Widows INCGA · FY2024$220,500
Warriors Heart VirginiaFY2024$200,000
Valor Partners FoundationKS · FY2024$200,000
The Gratitude InitiativeTX · FY2024$150,000
See all 652 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$85.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$77.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$7.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.0M
Money outPt IX
$82.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$73.9M
Managementcol C$5.0M
Fundraisingcol D$3.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$83.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.9M
Total assetsLn 16$89.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A13
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$77.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$293K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$8.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$7.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.0M
Gains on assetsLn 7$4.7M
Total revenueLn 12$85.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.9M
SavingsLn 2$15.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$17.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$58.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M
Other assetsLn 15$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$89.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.6M
Net assetsLn 32$83.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 563
VolunteersI 6500
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$25.3M$17.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$50.0M$58.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$85.6M$89.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.1M$5.6M
Net assetsLn 32$80.6M$83.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$18.3M$18.3M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$9.2M$9.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.2M$1.6M$259K$352K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.8M$2.4M$588K$1.8M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$73K$33K$9K$30K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$735K$383K$98K$254K
Payroll taxesLn 10$494K$280K$60K$154K
Legal feesLn 11b$793K$100K$693K
Accounting feesLn 11c$273K$142K$131K
Investment management feesLn 11f$229K$229K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$8.0M$7.4M$363K$272K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$312K$199K$114K
Office expensesLn 13$1.8M$1.1M$270K$400K
Information technologyLn 14$1.3M$548K$404K$387K
OccupancyLn 16$1.5M$980K$548K
TravelLn 17$5.9M$5.6M$150K$117K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$177K$176K$1K$419
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$220K$115K$106K
InsuranceLn 23$379K$315K$64K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$24.8M$24.4M$403K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$1.1M$607K$479K$54K
Total functional expensesLn 25$82.7M$73.9M$5.0M$3.8M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $85.5M$82.7M$2.8M$83.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $81.4M$75.1M$6.3M$80.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 Not on file
FY2022 $61.3M$59.2M$2.2M$74.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $58.1M$36.6M$21.4M$78.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $48.9M$39.1M$9.8M$59.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $85,518,656 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $77,775,642$77,259,350
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,907,987$7,220,056
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $679,744$1,039,250
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $81,363,373$85,518,656
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $19,104,525$27,513,288
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $6,727,913$8,303,276
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $49,229,249$46,897,015
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $75,061,687$82,713,579
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $6,301,686$2,805,077
Part VI · Governance 7 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $85,518,656 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $279,706 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$292,870
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$76,966,480
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$8,372,766
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$77,259,350
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,507,770$2,507,770
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $130,683$130,683
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $4,712,286$4,712,286
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $628,861$628,861
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $279,706 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,979,600$85,518,656
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $82,713,579 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $18,344,655$18,344,655
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $9,168,633$9,168,633
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,569,409 · Management $259,089 · Fundraising $352,500$2,180,998
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,438,890 · Management $587,580 · Fundraising $1,794,244$4,820,714
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $33,443 · Management $8,856 · Fundraising $30,257$72,556
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $383,261 · Management $97,625 · Fundraising $254,035$734,921
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $279,970 · Management $60,306 · Fundraising $153,811$494,087
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $100,000 · Management $693,427$793,427
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $141,706 · Management $130,885$272,591
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $229,261$229,261
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $7,372,762 · Management $362,974 · Fundraising $272,126$8,007,862
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $198,518 · Management $113,735$312,253
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,092,221 · Management $270,129 · Fundraising $399,976$1,762,326
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $547,543 · Management $404,087 · Fundraising $386,808$1,338,438
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $979,935 · Management $547,658$1,527,593
IX-17 TravelPrograms $5,644,435 · Management $149,543 · Fundraising $117,078$5,911,056
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $175,621 · Management $1,080 · Fundraising $419$177,120
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $114,592 · Management $105,843$220,435
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $314,746 · Management $64,334$379,080
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $24,403,389 · Management $403,354 · Fundraising $18,272$24,825,015
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $606,767 · Management $479,499 · Fundraising $54,292$1,140,558
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $73,910,496 · Management $4,969,265 · Fundraising $3,833,818$82,713,579
Part X · Balance sheet $89,011,140 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,423,628$2,888,343
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $20,918,839$14,967,782
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,469,146$4,478,675
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,362,387$2,479,351
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $286,970$471,884
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,041,310$1,697,528
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,105,220$1,069,643
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $49,951,117$58,911,516
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,082,442$2,046,418
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $85,641,059$89,011,140
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,835,801$3,517,322
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,221,225$2,095,111
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,057,026$5,612,433
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $70,361,466$74,359,718
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $10,222,567$9,038,989
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $80,584,033$83,398,707
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $85,641,059$89,011,140
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $83,398,707 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$85,518,656
XI-2 Total expenses$82,713,579
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,805,077
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$80,584,033
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$9,597
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$83,398,707

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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