The Breathing Room Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION IS ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE AID AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF LIVING WITH CANCER.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 450
- Highest pay
- $85,000, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. BRF'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CANCER BY ADDRESSING THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS SO THAT THEY CAN CONCENTRATE THEIR EFFORTS ON REGAINING THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1997, BRF HAS WORKED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING THE DEVESTATING EFFECTS OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. FOUNDERS DIANE AND BERNIE FITZGERALD'S VISION FOR BRF WAS SPARKED BY DIANE'S ONGOING BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER AS THEY PARENTED THREE YOUNG CHILDREN. DIANE AND BERNIE NOTICED THAT THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THEY RECEIVED FROM THEIR LARGE FAMILY AND TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY DID NOT EXIST FOR OTHER FAMILIES FACING THE SAME HURDLES, SO THEY FOUNDED BRF TO CREATE THAT SUPPORT FOR OTHERS. SINCE THAT TIME, BRF, A 501C3 ORGANIZATION, HAS SERVED OVER 15,000 CANCER PATIENTS AND 43,000 FAMILY MEMBERS. IN THIS SERVICE, BRF BELIEVES ALL RECIPIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS MAKE UP ONE COMMUNITY, ONE FAMILY, FIGHTING CANCER TOGETHER. TO THAT END, BRF PARTNERS WITH HOSPITALS AND CANCER TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY MEET THE NEEDS OF CANCER PATIENTS IN OUR FIVE COUNTY SERVICE AREA. SOCIAL WORKERS AT EACH PARTNER INSTITUTION ASSESS PATIENT DIAGNOSIS AND NEED TO ENSURE THEY FIT THE BRF MISSION. ONCE A PATIENT IS REFERRED TO BRF, A STAFF PERSON CALLS THE PATIENT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR HOW BRF CAN OFFER THEM "BREATHING ROOM" FROM THEIR ONGOING BATTLE AND EVERYDAY STRESS. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS THEN GO TO WORK FULFILLING EACH FAMILY'S NEEDS. OUR HELP ALLOWS PATIENTS TO CONCENTRATE ON TREATMENT AND RECOVERY WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR FAMILIES' BASIC NEEDS WILL BE MET. BRF RELIEVES THE FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL BURDENS INDIVIDUALS FACE WHILE BATTLING CANCER THROUGH ITS FOUR MAJOR PROGRAMS: COMFORT PROGRAM, CRITICAL NEEDS FUND, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS AND BREAKING BARRIERS.COMFORT PROGRAM: EACH FAMILY RECEIVES SUPPORT FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. THIS SUPPORT IS INDIVIDUALIZED TO EACH FAMILY'S NEEDS BUT OFTEN INCLUDES DELIVERIES OF HOME-COOKED MEALS AND GROCERIES, HOUSE CLEANING OR YARD WORK AND OFFERINGS OF COMFORT ITEMS AND GAS OR GROCERY STORE GIFT CARDS. BRF ENSURES ALL OF THIS SUPPORT IS ACCOMPANIED BY PERSONAL TOUCHES, INCLUDING GREETING CARDS, PHONE CALLS, AND OTHER COMMUNICATION TO CHECK IN ON FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THEIR CANCER JOURNEYS- ALL DESIGNED TO ENSURE NO ONE FEELS ALONE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.CRITICAL NEEDS FUND: INITIALLY, FAMILIES ARE OFFERED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR A ONE-TIME PAYMENT, MADE DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR, FOR SUCH NEEDS AS RENT OR MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE TO STOP FAMILIES FROM BEING EVICTED, UTILITY BILLS TO KEEP THE HEAT OR WATER ON, OR MEDICAL BILLS.CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS: BECAUSE WE REALIZE THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN BECOMES A MAIN CONCERN WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER IS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, WE CONCENTRATE A LARGE PORTION OF OUR EFFORTS ON ENSURING THE CHILDREN IMPACTED BY CANCER, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH THEIR OWN DIAGNOSIS OR THAT OF A FAMILY MEMBER, CONTINUE TO HAVE POSITIVE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. WE HOLD ANNUAL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EASTER BASKETS, FULFILL HOLIDAY WISH LISTS, DELIVER ALL-INCLUSIVE THANKSGIVING DINNERS, AND OFFER SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS TO EACH FAMILY.BREAKING BARRIERS: AS DESCRIBED IN MORE DETAIL BELOW, BREAKING BARRIERS ASSISTS IN REMOVING BARRIERS TO CANCER CARE, WITHOUT A ONE-YEAR LIMIT TO SERVICES. THE GREATEST NEED WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS TRANSPORTATION, SO BRF PROVIDES RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR RECIPIENTS TO GET TO AND FROM CANCER TREATMENTS. CANCER TREATMENT SAVES LIVES- BUT ONLY THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO CAN SHOW UP. TRAGICALLY, TOO MANY CANCER PATIENTS LACK THE RESOURCES OR SUPPORT TO CONSISTENTLY ATTEND CANCER TREATMENT. THE PURPOSE OF BRF'S BREAKING BARRIERS PROGRAM IS TO TEAR DOWN OBSTACLES SO THAT CANCER PATIENTS CAN SHOW UP FOR THEIR LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT. OFTEN THIS PROGRAM SERVES A LIFELINE TO RECENTLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS TO RELY ON UNTIL THEY AND THEIR SOCIAL WORKERS CAN LOCATE AND APPLY FOR OTHER TRANSPORATION RESOURCES OR WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS OR SHUTTLE SERVICES ARE UNAVAILABLE ON CERTAIN DAYS OF TREATMENT. WITH AN EFFORT TO SUSTAIN AND ADVANCE THE BREAKING BARRIERS PROGRAM, BRF HAS HIRED A STAFF MEMBER TO COORDINATE SERVICES AS WELL AS FACILITATE COLLABORATION IN THE PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT BROADER SOLUTIONS TO THE TRANSPORTATION GAP. BRF PARTNERS WITH ROUNDTRIP HEALTH TO PROVIDE DOOR-TO-DOOR RIDE SERVICES FROM A PATIENT'S HOME TO THEIR TREATMENT FACILITY, TAKING AWAY THE ANXIETY OF LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LACK OF TRANSPORTATION DOES NOT STOP AT ANXIETY. IN FACT, EVEN JUST TWO MISSED RADIATION APPOINTMENTS INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD A CANCER SURVIVOR WILL EXPERIENCE A RECURRENCE OR DISEASE BY 9%. BUT, RESEARCH FROM THE SYDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER AT JEFFERSON HEALTH IN PHILADELPHIA IDENTIFIED PATIENT-FOCUSED TRANSPORTATION PLATFORMS, LIKE ROUNDTRIP HEALTH THAT BRF UTILIZES, AS A SOLUTION ENSURES "ONCOLOGY PATIENTS ARE MORE COMPLIANT WITH TREATMENT REGIMENS." IN FACT, JEFFERSON HEALTH SOCIAL WORKERS REFER PATIENTS TO BRF'S BREAKING BARRIERS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AT ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES. ON TOP OF THE LASTING CRITICAL NEEDS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO CANCER TREATMENT THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, DOCTORS CONTINUE TO ADVISE CANCER PATIENTS NOT TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR OTHER SHARED RIDE OPTIONS, INCREASING THE NEED FOR SAFE, RELIABLE, PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION. TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING UNMET NEED, BREAKING BARRIERS WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS:DIRECT RIDES THROUGH ROUNDTRIP HEALTH: IF RIDES ARE NEEDED, BRF REGISTERS THE PATIENT IN THE ROUNDRTIP PORTAL SO THAT THE REFERRING PARTNER, USUALLY A HOSPITAL OR SOCIAL WORKER, CAN THEN SCHEDULE THE NECESSARY RIDES FOR THE PATIENT. BRF THEN PAYS THE COST DIRECTLY TO ROUNDTRIP. SINCE NOVEMBER 2018, BRF HAS PARTNERED WITH ROUNDTRIP. THIS INNOVATIVE COMPANY EMPOWERS HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO COORDINATE RIDE
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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