Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Austin Hatcher Foundation Forpediatric Cancer

EIN 20-8065108 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A LIFETIME OF FREE, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO CHILDHOOD CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, SO THEY CAN COPE IN THE PRESENT AND THRIVE IN THE FUTURE.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
39
Volunteers
721
Highest pay
$198,781, president & ceo

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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 1% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $2.2 million spent. PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT - THE AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, FAMILY-CENTERED PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND PRACTICAL IMPACTS OF A CHILDHOOD CANCER DIAGNOSIS. THE FOUNDATION'S SERVICES ARE DELIVERED UNDER THE BROAD UMBRELLA OF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, RECOGNIZING THAT THE EFFECTS OF PEDIATRIC CANCER EXTEND FAR BEYOND MEDICAL TREATMENT AND IMPACT THE ENTIRE FAMILY SYSTEM.THROUGH AN INTEGRATED AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES NEUROCOGNITIVE AND COGNITIVE TESTING TO IDENTIFY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS THAT MAY ARISE DURING OR AFTER TREATMENT. THESE ASSESSMENTS INFORM INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT PLANS THAT INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY, ACADEMIC COACHING, AND ASSISTANCE WITH SCHOOL-BASED ACCOMMODATIONS SUCH AS 504 PLANS AND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS (IEPS), HELPING CHILDREN SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE INTO AND THRIVE WITHIN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENTS.THERAPEUTIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES RECREATIONAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, NUTRITION EDUCATION, STEM-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND WORKFORCE READINESS INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO BUILD LIFE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND LONG-TERM INDEPENDENCE. THESE SERVICES AIM TO PROMOTE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL ENGAGEMENT, AND FUTURE PREPAREDNESS FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS.FAMILY-CENTERED CARE IS A CORE COMPONENT OF THE FOUNDATION'S MODEL. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE FAMILY THROUGH SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL COACHING, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, FAMILY COUNSELING, GRIEF COUNSELING, AND COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE TOOLS FOR EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE, COPING, COMMUNICATION, AND HEALTHY FAMILY FUNCTIONING THROUGHOUT AND BEYOND THE CANCER JOURNEY.ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL ARTS AND HANDS-ON SKILL DEVELOPMENT, FURTHER SUPPORTS COGNITIVE ENGAGEMENT, CREATIVITY, AND PERSONAL GROWTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF CARE, THE AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION SEEKS TO REDUCE THE PSYCHOSOCIAL BURDEN OF PEDIATRIC CANCER AND EMPOWER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE SKILLS, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO NAVIGATE TREATMENT, SURVIVORSHIP, AND LONG-TERM WELLBEING.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 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 June 2007.

    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 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.