Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cancer Wellness Center

EIN 36-3604463 · Northbrook, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CANCER WELLNESS CENTER EXISTS TO HELP ANYONE TOUCHED BY CANCER FIND A WAY FORWARD. THROUGH GUIDANCE, COMFORT, AND COMMUNITY, WE EQUIP PEOPLE WITH CANCER AND THEIR LOVED ONES TO COPE WITH THE DIAGNOSIS THAT HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
31
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$171,875, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (4)
  1. $690,984 spent. COUNSELING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTER'S STAFF OF CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE A VENUE IN WHICH PEOPLE GAIN SUPPORT, LEARN AND EXPAND COPING STRATEGIES AND PROCESS THE IMPACT OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS ON THEIR LIVES. DURING 2025, 798 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH 4,192 SERVICE UNITS.
  2. $600,470 spent. WELLNESS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ENCOMPASSES A VARIETY OF CLASSES AND PRESENTATIONS TO HELP ADDRESS THE STRESS RELATED TO A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. WEEKLY CLASSES, SUCH AS YOGA, EXERCISE AND MINDFULNESS, ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PARTICIPANTS COPE. EDUCATIONAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE SOURCE OF CANCER-RELATED INFORMATION. DURING 2025, 1,377 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH 10,031 SERVICE UNITS (CLASSES/SESSIONS/HOURS).
  3. $358,745 spent. SUPPORT GROUPS ARE PROFESSIONALLY FACILITATED AND PROVIDE AN ARENA TO RECEIVE PEER SUPPORT RELATED TO THE CANCER EXPERIENCE. THROUGH THESE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO BOLSTER AND EXPAND SOCIAL SUPPORT, ALLOWING THEM TO COPE, SHARE INFORMATION AND FIND COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS AFFECTED BY A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. DURING 2025, 306 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH 3,035 SERVICE UNITS.
  4. $4,955 spent. THROUGH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMING, THE CENTER EXPANDS THE REACH AND IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMMING. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE COUNSELING AND WELLNESS CLASSES, SUCH AS YOGA AND MINDFULNESS, THAT ARE PROVIDED IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL HOSPITAL CANCER PROGRAMS. DURING 2025, 174 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH 1,096 SERVICE HOURS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.