Cancer Legal Care
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CANCER LEGAL CARE'S (CLC) MISSION IS TO ENGAGE THE LAW TO RESOLVE THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES FACING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY CANCER. SINCE BEGINNING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE MINNESOTA CANCER COMMUNITY ON OCTOBER 1, 2007, CANCER LEGAL CARE'S VARIOUS PROGRAMS HAVE PROVIDED OVER $26 MILLION IN FREE LEGAL CARE INFORMATION AND/OR DIRECT SERVICES TO NEARLY 16,000 MINNESOTANS AFFECTED BY ANY CANCER RESIDING IN 80 OF MINNESOTA'S 87 COUNTIES. OVER 6,700 MINNESOTANS HAVE RECEIVED DIRECT LEGAL CARE SERVICES FROM CLC STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND 9,062 CANCER PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, CAREGIVERS, ATTORNEYS, AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE ATTENDED AND LEARNED FROM ONE OR MORE OF OUR 293 GROUP EDUCATION OR VIRTUAL INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 83
- Highest pay
- $181,101, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $451,209 spent. IN 2025, CLC'S LEGAL CARE PROGRAM (LCP), OUR LARGEST COMBINED PROGRAM, PROVIDED FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO A TOTAL OF 647 MINNESOTANS WHO HAD A COMBINED 858 DIFFERENT LEGAL MATTERS; MAINTAINING THE 20+% GROWTH IN CLIENTS SINCE 2023. THE BIGGEST AREAS OF NEEDED LEGAL CARE WERE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE ISSUES. AS HAS BEEN THE TREND FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, A GROWING NUMBER OF CLIENTS HAVE STAGE IV CANCER. IN 2015, 26% OF OUR CLIENTS WERE STAGE IV. IN 2025, 52% OF OUR CLIENTS WERE LIVING WITH STAGE IV CANCER. THE LCP IS DESIGNED TO HELP OUR CLIENTS MAINTAIN FINANCIAL SECURITY AND FAMILY STABILITY EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. THE FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF CLIENT'S LEGAL NEEDS AND AREAS OF LEGAL CARE PROVIDED: 18% - INSURANCE COVERAGE (HEALTH INSURANCE, SHORT/LONG TERM DISABILITY)8% - HOUSING AND FINANCIAL (EVICTION, FORECLOSURE, CREDITOR ISSUES, BANKRUPTCY) 8% - EMPLOYMENT (ADA/MHRA DISCRIMINATION/REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, FMLA) 23% - LEGAL PLANNING (HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES, GUARDIANSHIP, WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY) 34% - PUBLIC BENEFITS (SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY, MEDICAID) 9% - OTHER (IMMIGRATION, TAX, FAMILY).80% OF OUR CLIENTS NEEDED ADVICE OR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR LEGAL ISSUE OR POINT OF CONFUSION (WHY AM I NOT GETTING PAID FOR MY FMLA TIME OFF? CAN I BE FIRED BECAUSE OF MY CANCER? AM I ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?) OR A REFERRAL TO A MORE APPROPRIATE AGENCY FOR THEIR NEEDS.20% OF OUR CLIENTS NEEDED EXTENDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN LARGER, ONGOING MATTERS (A COMPLEX INSURANCE APPEAL DENYING THEIR TREATMENT BASED ON MEDICAL NECESSITY, CREATION OF AN ESTATE PLAN INCLUDING GUARDIANSHIP FOR THEIR MINOR CHILDREN, APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS). FOR THESE LONGER PERIODS OF ENGAGEMENT, A CLC STAFF ATTORNEY OR ONE OF OUR 70+ VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WILL TAKE THE MATTER ON.OUR CLIENTS IN 2025:- WOMEN 58%, MEN 42%- 50% HAVE A HOUSEHOLD INCOME UNDER 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES- AFRICAN AMERICAN 11%, AI/AN 1% ASIAN 4%, HISPANIC 4%, UNKNOWN/PREFER NOT TO STATE 2%, WHITE 78%- 76% RESIDE IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO; 24% IN GREATER MINNESOTA- 36% LIVE ALONE- 22% HAVE MINOR CHILDREN IN THEIR HOME AND CARE- 74% ARE STILL OF WORKING AGE- 52% ARE LIVING WITH A STAGE IV CANCER - 34% SOUGHT HELP WITH A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFIT ISSUE OR OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFITS ISSUE (UP FROM 17% IN 2022).WORDS OF IMPACT FROM OUR CLIENTS:"EVERYONE HAS A PLAN UNTIL THEY GET PUNCHED IN THE FACE. I KNEW I NEEDED TO GET LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE INSURANCE SIDE OF THINGS. I HAD TO COME TO CANCER LEGAL CARE TO GET THE FOLLOW THROUGH.""CANCER LEGAL CARE WAS AS MANDATORY TO ME AND MY CANCER AS MY CT SCANS, BLOODWORK, EVERYTHING.""THE SOONER YOU CAN GET THE HELP YOU NEED, THE BETTER. THE STRESS, THE WORRY CANCER LOVES THAT AND IT WILL MAKE YOU SICKER. CANCER LEGAL CARE IS THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE LAW, AND PEOPLE CAN MAKE ALL THE LAWYER JOKES THEY WANT, BUT YOU CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. CANCER LEGAL CARE WILL GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO CALL IT LIKE IT IS WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY."
- $129,925 spent. ICARE - A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF OUR WORK TOOK PLACE IN 2020 WITH THE CREATION OF OUR ICARE PROGRAM UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF OUR LEGAL CARE PROGRAM OFFERINGS. ICARE (INSURANCE CLAIM ADVOCACY AND RESOLUTION) ADDRESSES THE GROWING NUMBER OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE DENIALS DUE TO MANY FACTORS INCLUDING SHRINKING NETWORKS AND EVER-CHANGING PRE-AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS. OUR GOAL WITH ICARE IS TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF OUR CLIENTS BY WAY OF ENSURING THAT THEIR INSURANCE COVERS WHAT IT SHOULD, AND THAT HOSPITAL BILLING AND CODING ERRORS ARE CORRECTED SO THAT OUR CLIENTS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BILLS THAT ARE NOT THEIRS TO PAY. SINCE PILOTING THIS WORK IN 2019, WE HAVE CLOSED 176 COMPLICATED INSURANCE MATTERS WITH A 94% SUCCESS RATE FOR OUR CLIENTS. OF THESE CLOSED MATTERS, SUCCESS INCLUDED PROTECTING OR RECOVERING $4,471,875.94 IN HEALTH, DISABILITY, OR LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS THAT HAD INITIALLY BEEN DENIED TO 85 OF OUR CLIENTS BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT DOLLAR AMOUNT RANGES FROM $150 TO $565,000, WITH AN AVERAGE RECOVERY/PROTECTION OF $52,610.31 PER CLIENT. "YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, AND I TRULY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.""THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IT TRULY FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS FINALLY ON OUR SIDE, AND MY FAMILY AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT.""THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING FOR ME. IT ALLOWS ME TO FOCUS MY ENERGY ON GETTING MY HEALTH BACK ON TRACK. DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD HANDLE ALL THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP."OUR ICARE PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO CLIENTS ON THE FULL SPECTRUM OF ASSISTANCE LEVELS, FROM EDUCATING CLIENTS ON PROTECTIONS OF THE LAW (SUCH AS THE NO SURPRISES ACT AND THE MINNESOTA DEBT FAIRNESS ACT), EXPLAINING BENEFITS AND CLAIM DETERMINATIONS, "COACHING" CLIENTS THROUGH THEIR OWN CLAIM DENIAL APPEALS, AND PROVIDING FULL REPRESENTATION AND CLAIM DENIAL APPEAL AND/OR MEDICAL BILLING DISPUTE HANDLING. WE TACKLE A WIDE VARIETY OF CLAIM DENIAL AND BILLING ISSUES SUCH AS MEDICAL NECESSITY, PRIOR AUTHORIZATION, OUT-OF-NETWORK, EXPERIMENTAL AND INVESTIGATIONAL PROCEDURES AND MEDICATIONS, OFF-LABEL MEDICATION USE, BILLING CODING ERRORS, PROVIDER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND GENERAL NAVIGATION OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN MEDICAL TREATMENT AND THE INSURANCE CLAIM PROCESS. OUR MODEL OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE PROTECTS OUR CLIENTS' FINANCIAL STABILITY BY ENSURING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO RECOVER BENEFITS OR KEEP FUNDS THAT ARE RIGHTFULLY THEIRS TO BEGIN WITH. IN ADDITION TO DEALING WITH CANCER AND THE STRESSORS OF INSURANCE DENIALS, OUR ICARE CLIENTS ARE FACING INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL STRAIN. FULLY 29% OF OUR ICARE CLIENTS ARE UNDER 200% FPG (UP FROM 24% IN 2021), WITH ANOTHER 18% IN BETWEEN 200%-300% FPG. ALL OF THE ICARE WORK IS DONE AT NO CHARGE AND WITHOUT ANY INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMITATIONS. WHY?1. VERY FEW FAMILIES COULD AFFORD AN ATTORNEY'S HELP IN LIGHT OF CANCER'S GROWING FINANCIAL TOXICITY.2. ANY BARRIER TO REACHING OUT OR GETTING HELP MORE OFTEN THAN NOT BECOMES A NON-STARTER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THEIR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL BREAKING POINT. WE KNOW THAT INSURANCE ISSUES ARE AT THE TOP OF THE MOST STRESSFUL THINGS OUR CLIENTS FACE.
- $155,053 spent. SOCIAL SECURITY APPLICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SSAAP) - IN 2025, OUR SSAAP PROGRAM ENTERED ITS 3RD YEAR, AND WE SURPASSED $1 MILLION IN BENEFITS RECOVERED ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS. WHEN THIS PROGRAM STARTED IN JANUARY 2023, OUR WORK FOCUSED ON COMPLETING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFIT (EITHER SSDI OR SSI) APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF CANCER PATIENTS. THIS WORK CONTINUES, REDUCING BARRIERS AND ASSISTING CANCER PATIENTS WHOSE HIGH COST OF TREATMENT AND INABILITY TO WORK ARE IMPACTING THEIR ECONOMIC SECURITY AND INCREASING THEIR RISK FOR FINANCIAL TOXICITY.AFTER THREE YEARS WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM OUR CLIENTS AND HOW TO BEST SUPPORT THEM IN ACCESSING THESE ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORTS. ONE THING WE HAVE LEARNED IS THAT SOME OF OUR CLIENTS WANT TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS ON THEIR OWN BUT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT FROM A TRUSTED GUIDE TO GET THEM FROM START TO FINISH. THIS IS WHERE CANCER LEGAL CARE CAN HELP. IN THE LAST YEAR CLC ATTORNEYS HAVE GUIDED 33 CANCER PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR SSDI OR SSI ON THEIR OWN.WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? OUR ATTORNEYS HELP TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE APPLICATION, REVIEW LETTERS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO COMPLETE SPECIFIC FORMS, AND REMAIN A REASSURING PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE CLIENTS WHO NEED FULL ASSISTANCE, THIS WORK IS A WAY TO SUPPORTS CANCER PATIENTS WHO WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES IN COMPETING THE APPLICATION ON THEIR OWN DURING A TIME OF MUCH UNCERTAINTY. AS ONE CAREGIVER RECENTLY SHARED AFTER LEARNING THEY HAD SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR BENEFITS FOR A LOVED ONE ON THEIR OWN WITH THE SUPPORT FROM CLC:YOU'VE BEEN SO HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING EVERYTHING TO US IN DETAIL. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU AS A RESOURCE, AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU, YOUR EXPERTISE, AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HELP US DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME OF OUR FAMILY'S LIVES.NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FILED: 104SUCCESS RATE (START OF THE PROGRAM): 80%DOLLARS RECOVERED FOR OUR CLIENTS SINCE THE START OF THE PROGRAM: $1,398,864HOUSEHOLD INCOME BELOW 200% (SINCE THE START OF THE PROGRAM): 66%NO INCOME (SINCE THE START OF THE PROGRAM): 35%GOV'T BENEFIT BASED ON NEED (SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED): 68%
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.