Sam's Fans
Sams fans is dedicated to the promotion of music and art therapy for children and their families facing life-threatening illnesses.
Sam's Fans at a glance
In short: Sam's Fans gave $233K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $26K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $232,500
- +34.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,833
- +34.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $424,571
- +4.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Sam's Fans funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dayton Children's Hospital ($60K). Together the top 9 received $233K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 18 (94%).
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2024) to $233K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton Children's Hospital | — | $60,000 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital | — | $35,000 |
| Promedica | — | $30,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic | — | $30,000 |
| Golisano Children's Hospital | — | $25,000 |
| Akron Children's Hospital | — | $25,000 |
| Center for Courageous Kids | — | $10,000 |
| A Kid Again Central Ohio Chapter | — | $10,000 |
| Flying Horse Farms | — | $7,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $424,571 | $438,993 | $422,376 | $232,500 | 9 | $9,785 |
| 2024 | $407,954 | $489,907 | $371,647 | $172,847 | 9 | $4,475 |
| 2023 | $289,694 | $373,567 | $409,654 | — | — | $65 |
| 2022 | $325,781 | $377,417 | $294,941 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $243,305 | $327,057 | $262,464 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $178,712 | $173,179 | $276,420 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | $281,953 | $256,991 | $173,550 | — | — | — |
About Sam's Fans
Based on IRS filings
Sam's Fans is a public charity, based in Columbus, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $425K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $233K. Net investment income was $10K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sam's Fans is led by Alethea Sabo, Board Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alethea Sabo
Board Chair
Board Member → Board Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nikki McCarthy
Executive Di
President → Executive Di, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $35K (2025)
Bill Brennan
Vice President
Board Member → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Davis-Shedd
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Nelson-Carney
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Humphrey MD
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cameron O'Reilly
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Bogacik
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Joe Feidner (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Miranda Boyle (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Allie Sabo (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Mandy McGlone (2019) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $35K, to Nikki McCarthy (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Sam's Fans
How much does Sam's Fans give each year?
Sam's Fans gave $233K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $173K across 9 grants.
What is Sam's Fans's typical grant size?
Sam's Fans's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $25,833, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Sam's Fans's largest grantees?
Sam's Fans's largest 2025 grantees include Dayton Children's Hospital ($60,000), Cincinnati Children's Hospital ($35,000) and Promedica ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sam's Fans?
Sam's Fans reported $425K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $439K.
What is Sam's Fans's EIN?
Sam's Fans's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3808548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
Live grants for the work Sam's Fans funds
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