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Semper Fi & America's Fund

CharityWatch report issued
June 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
91%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$3
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Semper Fi & America's Fund
825 College Blvd
Suite 102, PMB 609
Oceanside, CA 92057

Other Names

America's Fund
IMSFF
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
Semper Fi Fund

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

thefund.org

Stated Mission

To care for our nation’s critically wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and military families; provides one-on-one case management, connection, and lifetime support for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2021

Program Percentage: 91%

The percentage of Semper Fi & America's Fund's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$41,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $3

How many dollars Semper Fi & America's Fund spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$44,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

Semper Fi & America's Fund's rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
92% $2
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Semper Fi & America's Fund IRS Form 990 26-0086305
Semper Fi & America's Fund Audited Financial Statements 26-0086305
Entity: Semper Fi & America's Fund
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 26-0086305
Entity: Semper Fi & America's Fund
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 26-0086305

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Semper Fi & America's Fund
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Semper Fi & America's Fund
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Karen Guenther President $211,362
2 Tom Benoit CFO $187,559
3 Sondria Saylor Executive VP $182,443
1
Name: Karen Guenther
Title: President
Compensation: $211,362
2
Name: Tom Benoit
Title: CFO
Compensation: $187,559
3
Name: Sondria Saylor
Title: Executive VP
Compensation: $182,443

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Semper Fi & America's Fund audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 10, Risks and Concentrations): "Two donors comprised 33% and 36% of contributions for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively..."

According to the Semper Fi & America's Fund audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 6, Note Payable):

"On May 4, 2020, the Organization received loan proceeds in the amount of $1,906,100 under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP, established as part of the CARES Act, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The loans and accrued interest are forgivable after twenty-four weeks as long as the borrower uses the loan proceeds for eligible purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities, and maintains its payroll levels. The amount of loan forgiveness will be reduced if the borrower terminates employees or reduces salaries during the twenty-four-week period. The unforgiven portion of the PPP loan is payable over two years at an interest rate of 1%, with a deferral of payment for the first six months. The Organization used the proceeds for purposes consistent with the PPP. The loan was forgiven by the SBA and the bank on March 31, 2021 and the Organization recognized the forgiveness as revenue in the statement of activities during the year ended June 30, 2021."

According to the Semper Fi & America's Fund tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, Semper Fi reports for Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons transactions described as "Employee Wages" in the amounts shown below, related to five individuals who share a family relationship with a Semper Fi officer, director, or key employee (IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Parts IV & V):

(1) Charo Bates, Child of Director: $53,709

(2) Cicely Kent-Warren, Child of Director: $68,623

(3) Matthew Rocco, Child of Key Employee: $66,122

(4) Brooke Guenther, Child of Officer: $10,574

(5) Christopher Saylor, Child of Key Employee: $69,013

According to the Semper Fi & America's Fund audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 13, Subsequent Event):

"On March 31, 2021, the Organization entered into an agreement (the 'Agreement') with Vail Veterans Foundation, Inc. (VVF). Under the Agreement, the Organization received $4.7 million in investments and cash from VVF and agreed to assume operations of VVF's five programs, but did not acquire VVF's legal entity. All assets received from VVF were included in Contributions in the FY 2021 Statement of Activities. As of June 30, 2021, the Organization was in compliance with all terms of the Agreement. Subsequent to June 30, 2021, the Organization and VVF agreed it was in their respective best interests to rescind and cancel the Agreement. A rescission agreement (the Rescission) was entered into by both parties on October 21, 2021. Per the Rescission, the Organization returned $4.8 million to VVF, consisting of the assets it received under the Acquisition, plus earnings on the investments, less costs incurred by the Organization under the Acquisition. Per the Rescission, the Organization was released from all obligations it assumed in the Acquisition and has no future financial obligations. The $4.8 million will be recorded as a non-operating loss in The Fund's FY 2022 Statement of Activities."

According to the Semper Fi & America's Fund audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 12, Contingencies):

"On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has caused business disruptions through mandated and voluntary closing of businesses and shelter-in-place orders. In response, the U.S Government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes significant provisions to provide relief and assistance to affected organizations. While the disruption is currently expected to be temporary, there is considerable uncertainty around the duration of business closures, shelter-in-place orders, and the ultimate impact of the CARES Act and other governmental initiatives. The Organization did not incur any significant financial impact as a result of the pandemic for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2021. However, the future financial impact and duration cannot be reasonably estimated at this time."


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