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Gastric Cancer Fund Inc

EIN 27-2978173 · Millbrae, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GASTRIC CANCER FOUNDATION HELPS PATIENTS TO FACE THEIR DIAGNOSIS WITH RELIABLE INFORMATION, TOOLS TO NAVIGATE THE JOURNEY, AND A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY THAT TRULY UNDERSTANDS. THE FOUNDATION FUNDS RESEARCH INITIATIVES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO UNDERSTANDING GASTRIC CANCER AND DEVELOPING IMPROVED METHODS OF PREVENTION, DETECTION AND TREATMENT.

Income
$579,280
Spending
$591,030
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$148,721, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 September 30, 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 (2)
  1. $300,000 spent. RESEARCH: THE GASTRIC CANCER FOUNDATION IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THE GASTRIC CANCER REGISTRY (GCR) BASED AT STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER. IT IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND LARGEST HIPAA-COMPLIANT REGISTRY FOR THIS DISEASE. THE GCR MAKES CLINICAL AND GENOMIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL RESEARCHERS FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH ITS OPEN-ACCESS GENOME EXPLORER INTERNET PORTAL. THE GCR HAS OVER 723 ENROLLED PATIENTS AND HAS UPLOADED DATA TO THE GENOME EXPLORER FROM ITS SEQUENCING OF 257 TUMOR SAMPLES. BEYOND THE GCR, THE FOUNDATION MADE TWO STRATEGIC ONE-YEAR GRANTS TO PROVIDE SEED-FUNDING FOR PROMISING STUDIES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BRING NEW TREATMENTS TO PATIENTS.
  2. $128,879 spent. EDUCATION & AWARENESS INITIATIVES: THE GASTRIC CANCER FOUNDATION WEBSITE (GASTRICCANCER.ORG) SERVES AS A COMPREHENSIVE AND CENTRALIZED RESOURCE OF CURRENT, RELIABLE INFORMATION FOR GASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WEBSITE ENGAGEMENT CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN IN 2025, REACHING 44,000 PAGE VIEWS FROM OVER 18,000 USERS ACROSS 22,000 SESSIONS, REFLECTING BROADER REACH AND MORE FREQUENT VISITS. THE FOUNDATION PRODUCES AN ORIGINAL VIDEO SERIES CALLED THE GESUNDHEIT KITCHEN THAT HELPS PATIENTS COPE WITH THE UNUSUAL NUTRITIONAL CHALLENGES CAUSED BY THE DISEASE. IN FY 2024-2025, 6 NEW EPISODES WERE PRODUCED. WE ALSO DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED A NEW VIDEO EDUCATION SERIES CALLED YOUR NEW NORMAL DESIGNED TO HELP HIGHLIGHT KEY CHALLENGES STOMACH CANCER PATIENT FACE DURING AND AFTER TREATMENT. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS A FREE CLINICAL TRIALS NAVIGATOR SERVICE TO HELP PATIENTS FIND OPEN STUDIES THAT MATCH THEIR DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO BUILD A SAFE AND SECURE ONLINE COMMUNITY WHERE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO EACH OTHER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 January 2012.

    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.

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