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Where Do the Funds Go

At Cancer for College, we strive to utilize our funds in the best way possible to impact as many survivors as possible. We appreciate each and every individual, sponsor and donor that has entrusted us to realize the vision of the charity. We understand that there are many worthy causes for everyone to support and it is our desire to be as transparent as possible when it comes to reporting our income and expenses associated with the charity. Since inception, Cancer for College has granted over $6 million in scholarships totaling over 1,600 scholarships. The charity has shifted its focus into building a sustainable scholarship endowment fund with an ultimate endowment goal of $10 million. Now that that has been achieved in 2021, we are moving toward raising another $10M to allow for additional scholarship, educational opportunities and mentor experiences for cancer survivors across the country.

Get more information about our achievements, administrative costs and funding through detailed financial statements in our annual report,

CFC on GuideStar

Cancer for College holds a GuideStar Platinum Transparency rating. It is the highest level of recommendation provided by GuideStar to donors illustrating that the non-profit is showing complete transparency to donors in regard to operational expenses.

View Our GuideStar Profile

CFC on Charity Navigator

CHARITY NAVIGATOR
An explanation of Charity Navigator score.
Program Expense Ratio (25 or 13 points)

CFC currently is scored a 0. We feel this is not a true reflection of CFC’s use of funds, yet Charity Navigator offers no appeal process. CFC has been in a process of building an endowment for being able to provide scholarships in perpetuity. The score is based purely on the 990 return using a Program Expense Ratio. The Program Expense Ratio is determined by the amount an organization spends on program expenses (page 10, line 25b) as a percentage of its total expenses. This data is an average of an organization’s three most recent 990 forms. A ratio of 70 percent or higher earns an organization 25 points. A ratio of 60 – 69% earns an organization 13 points. Nonprofits that fall below 50 percent will receive zero points for all financial metrics (Program Expense and Liabilities to Assets) – donors expect that when they support an organization, most of their charitable gifts impact programs. The data we reviewed for all eligible nonprofits (including ones that passed and failed) included over 150,000 nonprofits of all types. This data showed that 85% of the organizations had a three year average program spend of 70% or higher. Per that data we deemed that setting the bar for this metric at 70% was appropriate. You can score higher in this area if your next 990 puts you into the 60% or higher range. Cancer for College had a ratio of 63.75 in 2021 and is tracking over 60% again in 2022 through Q3.

Charity Navigator Program Expense Ratio

Cancer for College uses the funds raised each year through events, donations and grants to award scholarships, provide educational experiences and to provide a small staff to oversee all the operations. In addition, the board of directors is guiding the organization toward building a $20M endowment so that these services can be provided in perpetuity.

1,326,432

2022 Total Expenses

807,758

2022 Program Expenses

60.9%

2022 Expense Ratio

How the funds were used in 2022…

Cancer for College uses the funds raised each year through events, donations and grants to award scholarships, provide educational experiences and to provide a small staff to oversee all the operations. In addition, the board of directors is guiding the organization toward building a $20M endowment so that these services can be provided in perpetuity.

788,397

Scholarships Awarded
2,630,533
Funds to Endowment

4,326,411

Total Funds Raised

Financial Statements and Additional Information

Cancer for College is committed to donors’ rights and transparency. That’s why we make our financial statements, administrative costs and funding available for your review online.

We Have Received Generous Grants From:

  • HBO
  • Agua Caliente Tribe
  • Bank of America
  • Disney Foundation
  • Stand Up to Cancer
  • Entertainment Industry Foundation
  • 7-Eleven Foundation
  • Biofilm/Astroglide
  • United Talent Agency
  • CITI Foundation
  • J&L Pie Company
  • Ben & Jerry’s Foundation
  • Sax 5th Avenue Foundation
  • Hansen’s
  • Landmarks Live
  • Time Inc.
  • RJ Hubbard Foundation
  • Looking Out Foundation
  • Katz Family Foundation
  • Pechanga Foundation
  • Muckleshoot Tribe
  • Tulalip Tribe
  • Puyallup Tribe
  • Remedy One
  • Sony
  • Moccasin Lake Foundation
  • GFYC Foundation

ROBERT LISAC

  • University of Central Florida
  • Graduate/Doctor of Medicine
  • Survivor/Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
42

of Cancer Survivors lose their life savings due to the high cost of treatment

5,000

Young people aged 15-19 will be diagnosed with cancer this year.