Keaton Franklin Coker Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO COME ALONGSIDE FAMILIES IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE MEMORIES THAT TRANSCEND TIME. WE SEEK TO ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WHERE A PARENT OR CHILD HAS CANCER. OUR FOCUS IS TO BATTLE FEAR BY INFUSING HOPE, INSPIRING LAUGHTER, AND INSTILLING AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE IN EACH FAMILY WE SERVE.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $718,664
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 68.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 630
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 68.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 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)
- $664,161 spent. THE 2024 MINISTRY YEAR WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND JOY-FILLED SEASONS IN THE HISTORY OF THUMBS UP MISSION. BY GOD'S GRACE, AND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE WERE ABLE TO WALK ALONGSIDE FAMILIES FACING CANCER IN POWERFUL AND PRACTICAL WAYS. THIS YEAR, WE SERVED 160 GUEST FAMILIES BATTLING CANCER THROUGH TWO FULL- WEEKEND THUMBS UP RETREATS-80 FAMILIES IN FEBRUARY AND 80 FAMILIES IN NOVEMBER-BOTH HOSTED AT GREAT WOLF LODGE. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT WOLF LODGE TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO DEEPEN; STAFF MEMBERS NOT ONLY REQUEST TO SERVE DURING OUR RETREAT WEEKENDS BUT NOW PROUDLY WEAR UNIFORMS FEATURING THE THUMBS UP MISSION LOGO CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE EVENTS. OUR RETREATS WERE SUPPORTED BY AN EXTRAORDINARY VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY. 275 VOLUNTEERS SERVED IN FEBRUARY AND 256 VOLUNTEERS SERVED IN NOVEMBER-MORE THAN 530 VOLUNTEERS POURING LOVE, TIME, AND ENERGY INTO OUR GUEST FAMILIES. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO SEE FORMER GUEST FAMILIES RETURN AS VOLUNTEERS, A DEEPLY MEANINGFUL SIGN OF THE HEALING, CONNECTION, AND HOPE THAT THE RETREATS FOSTER. WE WELCOMED FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND BEYOND, INCLUDING GUESTS TRAVELING FROM ILLINOIS, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND FLORIDA, IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE PARTNER HOSPITALS IN GEORGIA, ALABAMA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. AS WE APPROACH OUR 25TH THUMBS UP RETREAT IN FEBRUARY 2026, WE CELEBRATE HOW GOD HAS EXPANDED THIS MINISTRY FROM A SINGLE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE TO A MOVEMENT THAT IS TOUCHING FAMILIES ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED TO FLOURISH IN 2024. -THE LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LEADERSHIP CLASS HOSTED THEIR ANNUAL GOLD OUT GAME, RAISING 17,000.00 TO SEND FAMILIES ON A RETREAT. -THE FAITH CENTER IN TUCKER, GA CONTINUED THEIR FAITHFUL COMMITMENT THROUGH THEIR 5K, CONTRIBUTING 15,000.00 DIRECTLY TOWARD RETREAT COSTS. -OUR ANNUAL DRESSED TO KILLCANCER FUNDRAISER FEATURED SEVEN CANCER WARRIORS MODELING WITH COURAGE AND JOY, HELPING US RAISE A RECORD-BREAKING 203,000.00 FOR RETREAT SCHOLARSHIPS. -A LONGTIME FRIEND OF THUMBS UP, NFL RECEIVER MACK HOLLINS, ENTERED A CHARITY CHESS TOURNAMENT AND WON 15,000.00 WHICH WENT TO SENDING NEW FAMILIES TO A THUMBS UP RETREAT. -OUR FALL FAMILY FUN DAY AT SKITTS MOUNTAIN FARMS WELCOMED 391 ATTENDEES, STRENGTHENING OUR MINISTRY FAMILY AND REACHING NEW SUPPORTERS. IN TOTAL, THUMBS UP MISSION RAISED 951,553.09 IN 2024-RESOURCES THAT DIRECTLY FUEL OUR MISSION TO BRING HOPE, CONNECTION, AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES TO FAMILIES WALKING THROUGH THE DARKEST SEASONS OF CANCER. THIS YEAR MARKED AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN EXPANDING OUR TEAM. WE HIRED JUSTIN CHANDLER FULL-TIME AS DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY, LEADING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW GUEST FAMILIES AND WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ANDREW MCCLESKEY, AS THEY GUIDE OUR CORE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS INTO NEW AREAS OF GROWTH. THESE AREAS INCLUDE DEVELOPING MORE ONE-DAY REGIONAL GATHERINGS TO CONNECT FAMILIES BY PROXIMITY, BUILDING DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS WITH CANCER NAVIGATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS, AND INVESTING IN RETURNING GUEST FAMILIES WHO FEEL CALLED TO SERVE FUTURE RETREATS. 2024 ALSO BROUGHT A DEEP AND PERSONAL LOSS TO OUR MISSION FAMILY. WE MOURNED THE PASSING OF DICK BAXTER, A BELOVED LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE THUMBS UP STAFF, WHO FAITHFULLY SERVED THIS MINISTRY WITH COMPASSION AND JOY. DICK'S RELATIONAL MINISTRY CONTINUES TO RIPPLE OUTWARD-SHAPING OUR CONNECTIONS WITH CANCER NAVIGATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND GUEST FAMILIES. HIS LEGACY REMAINS WOVEN INTO THE HEART OF THUMBS UP MISSION. AS WE LOOK BACK ON THIS REMARKABLE YEAR, WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY THE NUMBERS BUT THE STORIES OF RESTORATION, JOY, AND COMMUNITY THAT GOD BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH THIS MINISTRY. AND WE LOOK AHEAD WITH ANTICIPATION FOR ALL HE HAS IN STORE FOR THUMBS UP MISSION AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO OUR 25TH RETREAT MILESTONE AND CONTINUE EXPANDING THE REACH OF THIS MISSION. THE 2024 MINISTRY YEAR WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND JOY-FILLED SEASONS IN THE HISTORY OF THUMBS UP MISSION. BY GOD'S GRACE, AND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE WERE ABLE TO WALK ALONGSIDE FAMILIES FACING CANCER IN POWERFUL AND PRACTICAL WAYS. THIS YEAR, WE SERVED 160 GUEST FAMILIES BATTLING CANCER THROUGH TWO FULL- WEEKEND THUMBS UP RETREATS-80 FAMILIES IN FEBRUARY AND 80 FAMILIES IN NOVEMBER-BOTH HOSTED AT GREAT WOLF LODGE. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT WOLF LODGE TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO DEEPEN; STAFF MEMBERS NOT ONLY REQUEST TO SERVE DURING OUR RETREAT WEEKENDS BUT NOW PROUDLY WEAR UNIFORMS FEATURING THE THUMBS UP MISSION LOGO CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE EVENTS. OUR RETREATS WERE SUPPORTED BY AN EXTRAORDINARY VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY. 275 VOLUNTEERS SERVED IN FEBRUARY AND 256 VOLUNTEERS SERVED IN NOVEMBER-MORE THAN 530 VOLUNTEERS POURING LOVE, TIME, AND ENERGY INTO OUR GUEST FAMILIES. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO SEE FORMER GUEST FAMILIES RETURN AS VOLUNTEERS, A DEEPLY MEANINGFUL SIGN OF THE HEALING, CONNECTION, AND HOPE THAT THE RETREATS FOSTER. WE WELCOMED FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND BEYOND, INCLUDING GUESTS TRAVELING FROM ILLINOIS, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND FLORIDA, IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE PARTNER HOSPITALS IN GEORGIA, ALABAMA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. AS WE APPROACH OUR 25TH THUMBS UP RETREAT IN FEBRUARY 2026, WE CELEBRATE HOW GOD HAS EXPANDED THIS MINISTRY FROM A SINGLE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE TO A MOVEMENT THAT IS TOUCHING FAMILIES ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED TO FLOURISH IN 2024. -THE LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LEADERSHIP CLASS HOSTED THEIR ANNUAL GOLD OUT GAME, RAISING 17,000.00 TO SEND FAMILIES ON A RETREAT. -THE FAITH CENTER IN TUCKER, GA CONTINUED THEIR FAITHFUL COMMITMENT THROUGH THEIR 5K, CONTRIBUTING 15,000.00 DIRECTLY TOWARD RETREAT COSTS. -OUR ANNUAL DRESSED TO KILLCANCER FUNDRAISER FEATURED SEVEN CANCER WARRIORS MODELING WITH COURAGE AND JOY, HELPING US RAISE A RECORD-BREAKING 203,000.00 FOR RETREAT SCHOLARSHIPS. -A LONGTIME FRIEND OF THUMBS UP, NFL RECEIVER MACK H
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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