Childrens Oncology Group Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP FOUNDATION, INC. (THE FOUNDATION), HELPS SUPPORT THE RESEARCH OF THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP (COG), WHICH IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST ORGANIZATION DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT CANCER RESEARCH.
- Income
- $10.4 million
- Spending
- $9.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $119,097, asst. secretary
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
7 of 7Has a 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 May 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)
- $8.9 million spent. THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP FOUNDATION, INC. ENABLES COG'S LEADERSHIP, COMPRISED OF A TEAM OF DOCTORS, NURSES, LABORATORY SCIENTISTS AND OTHER ALLIED PROFESSIONALS, THE ABILITY TO DIRECT THE RESOURCES RAISED FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH TO THE AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED AND OPPORTUNITY. THE FOUNDATION ALLOWS PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS FROM INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO GO DIRECTLY TO COG TO FUND ITS MUCH NEEDED RESEARCH. IN AN ERA OF RAPID SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, THIS DIRECT LINK ALLOWS COG RESEARCHERS TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO NEW DISCOVERIES WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH CANCER. THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP HAS OVER 50 ACTIVE CLINICAL TRIALS OPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THESE TRIALS INCLUDE FRONT-LINE TREATMENT FOR MANY TYPES OF CHILDHOOD CANCERS, STUDIES AIMED AT DETERMINING THE UNDERLYING BIOLOGY OF THESE DISEASES, AND TRIALS INVOLVING NEW AND EMERGING TREATMENTS, SUPPORTIVE CARE, AND SURVIVORSHIP. THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP RESEARCH HAS TURNED CHILDREN'S CANCER FROM A VIRTUALLY INCURABLE DISEASE 50 YEARS AGO TO ONE WITH A COMBINED 5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATE OF 80% TODAY. OUR GOAL IS TO CURE ALL CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER, REDUCE THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM COMPLICATIONS OF CANCER TREATMENTS, AND DETERMINE THE CAUSES AND FIND WAYS TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD CANCER. PROJECT: EVERYCHILD: CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY GROUP'S PROJECT: EVERYCHILD IS OUR AMBITIOUS INITIATIVE TO FIND BETTER CURES FOR EVERY TYPE OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, NO MATTER HOW RARE. ALL CHILDREN WITH CANCER CARED FOR AT COG'S MORE THAN 200 PEDIATRIC CANCER PROGRAMS WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT: EVERYCHILD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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 May 2025.
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 December 2011.
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.
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.