Karen Wellington Memorial Foundation for Living With Breast
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We put fun on the calendars of women and families with breast cancer by sending them on special vacations, relaxing spa days, dinners out, concerts, and other fun-only activities.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 325
- Highest pay
- $99,500, 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $912,961 spent. At KWF we work to put FUN on the calendars for women and families LIVING with breast cancer. From vacations to spa days, backstage passes and sporting events, trips to the zoo, and nights on the town, no single gift of FUN is the same. In 2024 alone, we gave over 1,119 total gifts which provided much needed respite and mental health breaks from breast cancer. As KWF increases giving, we will send about 100+ women on vacations, 300+ women to spas and other gifts of fun, and 700 Lemons to Lemonade FUN boxes. Approximately 75% of those gifts are in-kind donated experiences - including donated vacation home rentals, donated spa days gifts by various spas throughout the U.S., donated concert and sports tickets and more. In short, we leverage donations in putting KWF experiences together for KWF recipients. These experiences are designed to help women, who are actively battling breast cancer, live life to the fullest. 100 % of our recipients have stated that they have had to cancel plans due to treatment. The mental health benefits of having something good to look forward to have been proven to energize and renew them, encouraging them to stay positive during the darkest of times. KWFs mission is to give to all who are nominated and reach more women and families in the coming years. Around 30% of our gifts are the last experiences these families will have, which is why many families choose KWF as a beneficiary of their memorial funds. We call these gifts FUNds. Our list of FUNds keeps growing and while we are saddened at the loss of life, we are privileged to help families heal through paying it forward. Many of those families stay involved with KWF by helping us deliver FUN to others.
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 October 13, 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 February 2009.
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 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.