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Expect Miracles Foundation

EIN 20-4127495 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXPECT MIRACLES FOUNDATION RALLIES THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY AND BYEOND TO INVEST IN LIFE-SAVING CANCER RESEARCH WHILE ADVANCING THE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CANCER. WE ARE A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
13
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$333,698, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% 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 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 33 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE: EXPECT MIRACLES FOUNDATION IS A MAJOR SUPPORTER OF THE HEART OF DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE'S REVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MODEL, THE ROBERT AND RENE BELFER CENTER FOR APPLIED CANCER SCIENCE. THE BELFER CENTER ADDRESSES KEY CHALLENGES IN CANCER TREATMENTS BY LEVERAGING DFCI DISCOVERIES AND APPLYING THEM TO DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT. THE BELFER CENTER IS FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE TO EXISTING TREATMENTS. USING A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH APPROACH THAT BRINGS TOGETHER RESOURCES FROM ACADEMIA AND THE BIOMEDICAL INDUSTRY, THE BELFER CENTER IS LEADING THE WAY IN TRANSLATING TODAY'S SCIENCE INTO TOMORROW'S TARGETED THERAPIES MORE QUICKLY THAN EVER, BRINGING NEW HOPE TO CANCER PATIENTS.
  2. $500,000 spent. MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER: EXPECT MIRACLES FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AT MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER'S CENTER FOR EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS, A CRITICAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE WITH THE MISSION OF HASTENING THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET NEW, MORE EFFECTIVE AND LESS TOXIC THERAPIES TO CANCER PATIENTS. SPECIFICALLY, WE SUPPORT THE REVOLUTIONARY WORK OF THE HELLER LAB, LED BY DANIEL HELLER, PHD, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON UTILIZING NANOMEDICINE TO SOLVE THE PARADOX OF METASTATIC CANCER, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 90% OF CANCER DEATHS.
  3. $488,409 spent. SAMFUND GRANTS CANCER ISN'T FREE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A YOUNG ADULT JUST STARTING OUT. THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS TO HELP WITH EVERYDAY LIVING EXPENSES, LIKE RENT, MORTGAGE, CAR PAYMENTS, DENTAL, RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND FAMILY BUILDING EXPENSES, SUCH AS FERTILITY STORAGE, IVF, SURROGACY, AND ADOPTION. OUR SAMFUND GRANTS ACT AS A LIFELINE FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO THE FINANCIAL TOXICITY CAUSED BY A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.
  4. $351,822 spent. OTHER CANCER PATIENT AND SURVIVOR SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.