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Roswell Park Alliance Foundation

EIN 16-1391608 · Buffalo, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Roswell Park Alliance Foundation's purpose is to maximize dollars available for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's most promising lifesaving research, treatment and prevention programs, while supporting the psychosocial needs of patients and families touched by cancer.

Income
$32.9 million
Spending
$34.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
104
Volunteers
1,725
Highest pay
$511,973, executive director/senior vice president

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (7)
  1. $11.8 million spent. The Foundation supports robust cancer research programs by disease site and key areas such as Cell Stress and Biophysical Therapies, Developmental Therapeutics, Genetics and Genomics, Population Sciences, and Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy as these research programs relate to finding cures for all types of cancer. Donations made to the Foundation are administered to targeted cancer research programs as indicated. Grants are awarded through our Scientific Advisory Committee, a competitive peer-reviewed process where 25 physicians and scientists select the most promising studies showing the greatest potential to obtain extramural peer-reviewed research funding with the goal to find cures and save lives.
  2. $7.1 million spent. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center launches various capital projects funded by donations to keep pace with an increasing demand for cancer services. In fiscal year 2025, as part of the Igniting Cancer Breakthroughs campaign, new capital projects included the construction of clean rooms and cell manufacturing facilities. Work also continued on the Scott Bieler Amherst Center.
  3. $5.1 million spent. "Quality of life" grants are awarded each year to programs focused on improving the patient and family experience during cancer treatment. Examples of such programs include the Courage of Carly Fund (programs for pediatric cancer patients and families), the Resource Center, Pastoral Care, and Psychosocial Oncology. Such programs help Roswell patients at their critical time of need and ensure that patients' families' questions and concerns outside the clinic setting are met with one-on-one guidance, no matter the hour, during their cancer journey.
  4. $3.4 million spent. Roswell Park's Center for Immunotherapy is dedicated to speeding access to the most promising immunotherapy treatments through clinical trials. The Release the Breakthroughs Campaign was launched to enable these trials to move faster and more efficiently to bring advancements to cancer patients. The Campaign is also supporting translational research and innovation, precision medicine and advances in genetic and biomarker research, enabling capital projects and patient education and support.
  5. $793,193 spent. Through fellowships, seminars and year-round symposiums, the Foundation helps support the education of the next generation of cancer scientists and clinicians. Numerous outreach programs serve to educate community members, particularly those in underserved communities such as the indigenous population, about cancer. Roswell Park's educational focus is in fulfillment of one of four key goals outlined by the National Cancer Institute for the nation's premier Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
  6. $540,296 spent. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center remains on the cutting edge of cancer services and treatment through the use of state of the art equipment. New equipment funded during fiscal year 2025 included Advanced Technology Laboratory for Assisted Surgery (ATLAS).
  7. Schedule O contains a response or note to lines in Part III.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.