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Triage Cancer

EIN 45-5132661 · Malibu, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRIAGE CANCER IS A NATIONAL, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION ON LEGAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND THEIR CAREGIVERS, THROUGH EVENTS, MATERIALS, AND RESOURCES. THE LEGAL & FINANCIAL NAVIGATION PROGRAM OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE HELP WITH ISSUES SUCH AS WORK, HEALTH AND DISABILITY INSURANCE, FINANCES, AND ESTATE PLANNING. TRIAGE HEALTH, A PROGRAM OF TRIAGE CANCER, PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION ON THE LEGAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES RELATED TO NAVIGATING A CHRONIC OR SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
17
Volunteers
145
Highest pay
$197,105, ceo

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 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 (1)
  1. $1.6 million spent. TRIAGE CANCER IS A NATIONAL, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION ON LEGAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND THEIR CAREGIVERS, THROUGH EVENTS, MATERIALS, AND RESOURCES. TRIAGE CANCER ALSO OFFERS TRIAGE HEALTH, A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE EDUCATION ON LEGAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES TO HELP PEOPLE WITH A CHRONIC OR SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION NAVIGATE HEALTH CARE, THROUGH EVENTS, MATERIALS, AND RESOURCES. IN 2025, MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE WERE REACHED THROUGH OUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, WEBSITES, BLOGS, AND PODCASTS. ADDITIONALLY, FROM 2012-2025, WE PROVIDED MORE THAN 569,702 PEOPLE WITH LEGAL AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH 1,815 ONLINE AND IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL EVENTS HELD IN ALL 50 STATES, DC, GUAM, PUERTO RICO, AND CANADA. IN 2025, OUR LEGAL FINANCIAL & NAVIGATION PROGRAM PROVIDED 2,035 INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND OTHER CHRONIC OR SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS, CAREGIVERS, ADVOCATES, AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WITH FREE ONE-ON-ONE HELP IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH INSURANCE, DISABILITY INSURANCE, EMPLOYMENT, FINANCES, MEDICAL DECISION-MAKING, ESTATE PLANNING, AND MORE. THE GOAL OF THESE NAVIGATION SERVICES IS TO EXPLAIN OPTIONS, PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO TAKE NEXT STEPS. WE HELP PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY - OR NAVIGATE - THROUGH THE LEGAL, FINANCIAL, AND PRACTICAL BARRIERS THAT THEY MAY FACE AFTER DIAGNOSIS. DURING 2025, TRIAGE CANCER HOSTED 27 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND ADVOCATES ON PRACTICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES, THEREBY MITIGATING FINANCIAL TOXICITY, AND IMPROVING THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. TRIAGE CANCER ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN 241 ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL EVENTS HOSTED BY ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. TRIAGE CANCER DEVELOPED NEW EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDE BLOGS, ARTICLES, QUICK GUIDES, PRACTICAL GUIDES, ANIMATED VIDEOS, STATE-SPECIFIC RESOURCES, AND PODCAST EPISODES. TRIAGE CANCER DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 603,000 EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 2025. CANCERFINANCES.ORG IS AN ONLINE TOOLKIT TO HELP PEOPLE MANAGE FINANCES AFTER A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. TRIAGE CANCER ALSO ENGAGES IN POLICY ANALYSIS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY TO INFORM PATIENT-CENTERED REFORMS AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THAT BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC OR SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 November 2013.

    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 November 4, 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.