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Cancer Commons

EIN 45-3266802 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CANCER COMMONS IS A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND TREATING PHYSICIANS WITH ACTIONABLE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT INFORMED TREATMENT DECISIONS, ALONG WITH DIRECT-TO-PATIENT NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH CANCER AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
6
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$170,180, chief operating officer

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

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% 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 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $809,763 spent. PATIENT NAVIGATION AND SUPPORT:CANCER COMMONS PROVIDED PERSONALIZED NAVIGATION AND EXPERT GUIDANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 1,200 NEW AND RETURNING CLIENTS DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS FACED ADVANCED OR HARD-TO-TREAT CANCERS, INCLUDING BRAIN AND PANCREATIC CANCERS, WHERE TREATMENT DECISIONS ARE COMPLEX AND TIME-SENSITIVE.THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICES HELP PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS UNDERSTAND THEIR DIAGNOSIS, CLARIFY TREATMENT GOALS, AND EVALUATE TESTING, THERAPIES, AND CLINICAL TRIALS. EACH PATIENT IS PAIRED WITH A SCIENTIST WHO REVIEWS MEDICAL HISTORY, RESEARCHES ADDITIONAL TESTING, AND IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL TREATMENT PATHS AND TRIAL OPPORTUNITIES. THIS INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT EMPOWERS PATIENTS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AT CRITICAL MOMENTS IN THEIR CARE AND HELPS FAMILIES NAVIGATE AN OVERWHELMING AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING MEDICAL LANDSCAPE. DONOR SUPPORT ENABLES CANCER COMMONS TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES AT NO COST TO PATIENTS.
  2. $298,783 spent. LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT:CANCER COMMONS CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT ON THE LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEM (LHS), A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE AND IMPROVE TREATMENT DECISION-MAKING FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CANCERS. THE SYSTEM INTEGRATES REAL-WORLD PATIENT DATA AND AI-DRIVEN ANALYSIS TO HELP IDENTIFY PROMISING TREATMENT OPTIONS AND REFINE RECOMMENDATIONS OVER TIME. THIS WORK ADVANCES THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG-TERM VISION: A LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEM IN WHICH EACH PATIENT'S EXPERIENCE CONTRIBUTES TO KNOWLEDGE THAT BENEFITS THE NEXT. DONOR INVESTMENT IN THIS INITIATIVE HELPS BUILD A FUTURE WHERE PERSONALIZED, DATA-INFORMED CANCER CARE IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
  3. $133,290 spent. WEBSITE, MARKETING, AND COMMUNICATIONS:THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCED ITS WEBSITE, MARKETING, AND COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT AN UPDATED BRAND IDENTITY AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO PATIENT-FACING RESOURCES. DURING THE YEAR, CANCER COMMONS COMPLETED FOUNDATIONAL WORK, INCLUDING CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN PLANNING, AND USER-EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL ENABLE A FULL LAUNCH IN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATION'S ABILITY TO REACH PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS SEEKING TIMELY, TRUSTWORTHY GUIDANCE.
  4. $127,653 spent. PARTNERSHIPS:CANCER COMMONS COLLABORATES WITH MISSION-ALIGNED PARTNERS TO EXTEND EXPERT GUIDANCE TO PATIENTS WHO NEED IT MOST. THESE PARTNERSHIPS STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATION'S REACH AND ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS REFERRED BY TRUSTED INSTITUTIONS RECEIVE TIMELY, PERSONALIZED SUPPORT.KEY PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDED THE MUSELLA FOUNDATION FOR BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH & INFORMATION AND HEAD FOR THE CURE, WHICH JOINTLY PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO EXPAND BRAIN CANCER NAVIGATION SERVICES. THIS SUPPORT ENABLED THE ORGANIZATION TO ENGAGE AN ONCOLOGY NURSE NAVIGATOR AND OFFER SPECIALIZED GUIDANCE TO BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. THROUGH THESE COLLABORATIONS, CANCER COMMONS REACHED MORE FAMILIES CONFRONTING SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING CANCER DIAGNOSES AND ENSURED THEY HAD ACCESS TO EXPERT, COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 July 2012.

    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.