Mark Staehely Pediatric Cancerfoundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH. TO IMPROVE AND SUPPORT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH PEDIATRIC CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES. TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN FIRE SCIENCE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP.
- Income
- $7,384
- Spending
- $35,772
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 12.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (diseases, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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, 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 (3)
- $32,500 spent. DR. JOHN A. KALAPURAKAL, FROM NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, IS ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF MAKE YOUR MARK RESEARCH GRANTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION AT NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MAKE YOUR MARK HAS PROVIDED THE FUNDING TO START A NEW STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NANO-PARTICLES AND RADIATION TREATMENT. PRELIMINARY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN RADIATION TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN THESE NANO-PARTICLES HAS SHOWN THE EFFECTS OF THE RADIATION TO BE BOTH MORE SUCCESSFUL AND LONGER LASTING. THIS STUDY CAN BE VIEWED AT HTTP://JANUS.NORTHWESTERN.EDU/WOLOLAB/ ALONG WITH OTHER DETAILS FROM HIS ONGOING NEUROBLASTOMA RESEARCH AND THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LAB OF DR. GAYLE WOLOSCHAK AT FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.
- IN DECEMBER 2005 MARK'S TREASURE CHEST PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED. A TREASURE CHEST WAS BUILT AND DELIVERED TO THE CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (NOW LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL) ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL. MARK'S CRITERIA WAS VERY SIMPLE, YOU HAD TO BE A CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL. THAT WAS THE ONLY CRITERIA NEEDED TO GET A TOY 365 DAYS A YEAR, ANYTIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT. THAT WAS MARK'S WISH. THE PROGRAM WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IN NOVEMBER 2006, THE TREASURE CHEST PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED AT NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN THE RADIATION ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT SO THAT CHILDREN UNDERGOING RADIATION THERAPY ALWAYS HAD ACCESS TO A TOY. MARK'S TREASURE CHEST PROGRAM WAS ALSO ESTABLISHED AT PROVENA ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER ON THE PEDIATRICS FLOOR IN 2007.
- MAKE YOUR MARK ESTABLISHED THE MARK STAEHELY FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP CHILDREN BATTLING PEDIATRIC CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THEIR GREATEST TIME OF NEED. MAKE YOUR MARK ASSISTS FAMILIES WITH GAS CARDS, FOOD CARDS, ETC... THE STAEHELY FAMILY KNEW FIRST HAND HOW DIFFICULT DAY TO DAY LIVING EXPENSES CAN BE WHEN YOUR CHILD IS FACING A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS. IT IS OUR WISH THAT NO FAMILY BE FACED WITH THE CHOICE BETWEEN FOOD ON THEIR TABLE OR GAS FOR THEIR CAR TO DRIVE THEIR CHILD FOR THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED.
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
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 December 2024.
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 March 2007.
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.