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John Wayne Cancer Foundation

EIN 46-2250073 · Costa Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 44% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER WITH COURAGE, STRENGTH AND GRIT.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
44%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 85%
Employees
15
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$216,070, vice president (thru 10/2024)

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    44% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    1 of 1 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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 April 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 (3)
  1. $503,269 spent. JWCF EXECUTES AND SUPPORTS PROGRAMS FOR CANCER PREVENTION AND EDUCATION/ADVOCACY, INCLUDING: "BLOCK THE BLAZE PROGRAM." BLOCK THE BLAZE IS A YOUTH SUN SAFETY PROGRAM THAT TEACHES KIDS HOW TO BE SAFE IN THE SUN AND PREVENT SKIN CANCER. IT ALSO TEACHES ABOUT HOW TO IDENTIFY MOLES AND SKIN SPOTS THAT NEED TO BE SEEN BY A DOCTOR. THE PROGRAM CONTRIBUTES TO THE CALIFORNIA JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS, USLA JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS WHICH INCLUDES DONATIONS OF SUNSCREEN AND SKIN CANCER PREVENTION TRAINING, AND OTHER CANCER EDUCATION/YOUTH SKIN CANCER AWARENESS.
  2. $209,771 spent. JWCF SUPPORTS CANCER RESEARCH BY FUNDING RESEARCH GRANTS FOR JOHN WAYNE ALUMNI FELLOWS AND OTHER PROMINENT CANCER RESEARCHERS WITH THE GOAL TO SPOT AND/OR PREVENT CANCER.
  3. $27,500 spent. JWCF FUNDS JOHN WAYNE CANCER FOUNDATION SURGICAL ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE AND TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER. JWCF FUNDS ARE USED TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A JWCF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DEDICATED TO TRAINING DOCTORS ON ADVANCED SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, RESEARCH AND STATE OF THE ART PATIENT CARE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 December 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 October 21, 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.