Ukandu
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UKANDU RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT CHILDHOOD CANCER HAS ON THE ENTIRE FAMILY. UKANDU AIMS TO PROVIDE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS A RESPITE FROM THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL TOLL CHILDHOOD CANCER POSES TO FAMILIES BY PROVIDING SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO GATHER AND EXPERIENCE THE 'RIGHTS OF PASSAGE' THAT MAY OTHERWISE BE MISSED DUE TO CANCER TREATMENT.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 225
- Highest pay
- $184,014, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 85% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $1.3 million spent. THE CAMP UKANDU PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR SIBLINGS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 8 AND 18. THE CAMP PROGRAM IS ONE WEEK LONG AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 125 KIDS AND INCLUDES BOTH MEDICAL AND CAMP STAFF. THERE ARE SEVERAL EVENTS EACH YEAR. UKANDU FAMILY CAMP IS AN ADDITIONAL EVENT AND A LOGICAL PROGRAM EXTENSION OF THE 'HOPE AND JOY' THAT CAMP UKANDU HAS DELIVERED FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TOO MANY CHILDREN WILL DIE BEFORE AGE 8, AND REALIZING THE BENEFITS OF ALLOWING ADULTS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEIR PEERS WHO SHARE A CANCER JOURNEY, UKANDU FAMILY CAMP OFFERS THE ENTIRE FAMILY SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE CAMPING EXPERIENCES. PARENTS BENEFIT FROM HAVING A COMMUNITY OF PEERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR UNIQUE CHALLENGES AS MUCH AS THEIR CHILDREN DO. UKANDU FAMILY CAMP OFFERS SPECIAL OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAMMING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. THERE ARE NO AGE RESTRICTIONS AND EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY CAN ATTEND INCLUDING ALL SIBLINGS. UKANDU CORPS IS A SEPARATE SERVICE PROJECT FOR YOUNG 'LEADERS' BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12-16 AND IS A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF ONE OF UKANDU'S CORE VALUES THAT LEADERSHIP CAN COME FROM EVERYWHERE. YOUNG PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY A CONCERN IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS. THEY ARE GUIDED BY ADULT STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ADVISORS, BUT THE DECISIONMAKING IS ALL UP TO THE CORPS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 February 2014.
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.