American Cancer Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT SUPPORT, TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT, DETECT, TREAT, AND SURVIVE CANCER.
- Income
- $136.8 million
- Spending
- $166.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 13.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 436,638
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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.
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 March 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)
- $103.2 million spent. PATIENT SUPPORT: THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, INC. (ACS) OFFERS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO HELP INDIVIDUALS DURING AND AFTER CANCER TREATMENT. WE PROVIDE THE LATEST, EVIDENCE-BASED CANCER INFORMATION AND ARE AVAILABLE 24/7 TO HELP PEOPLE FACING CANCER FIND SERVICES AND RESOURCES, WHETHER THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS, LEARN HOW TO COPE WITH SIDE EFFECTS, FIND TRANSPORTATION, OR NEED LODGING WHEN TREATMENT IS FAR FROM HOME. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH CANCER, CAREGIVERS, AND SURVIVORS THROUGH ONLINE COMMUNITIES AND ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT.
- $13.2 million spent. RESEARCH: ACS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE, HIGH-IMPACT RESEARCH TO FIND MORE - AND BETTER - TREATMENTS, UNCOVER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE CANCER, AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE FACING CANCER. WE FUND RESEARCH GRANTS AND CONDUCT CANCER RESEARCH STUDIES TO HELP ACCELERATE THE PACE OF PROGRESS. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND ISSUES RELATED TO CANCER DISPARITIES IN AN EFFORT TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY AMONG ALL COMMUNITIES.
- $12.0 million spent. ADVOCACY: ACS PROMOTES POLICIES THAT BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES, CREATE SAFER WORKPLACES, AND PROVIDE GREATER, MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE. ADVOCACY EFFORTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, GRANTS TO AFFILIATES. AS ACS' NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN AFFILIATE, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK, INC. (ACS CAN) ADVOCATES FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICIES TO REDUCE THE CANCER BURDEN FOR EVERYONE. ACS CAN IS MAKING CANCER A TOP PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS. BY ENGAGING ADVOCATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD, ACS CAN INFLUENCES LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY SOLUTIONS THAT WILL END CANCER AS WE KNOW IT, FOR EVERYONE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 November 6, 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 March 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 November 1942.
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 November 4, 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.