Prevent Cancer Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Prevent Cancer Foundation's mission is to empower people to stay ahead of cancer through prevention and early detection. We carry out our mission in four key ways: support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, outreach, and advocacy.
- Income
- $10.0 million
- Spending
- $8.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 21.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $362,187, chief executive officer
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 45% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 24 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
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, 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)
- $3.4 million spent. Educating people about how they can prevent cancer and detect it early through healthy lifestyle choices and routine medical screenings. The Foundation holds several educational conferences for professionals in the cancer field. We educate the public about cancer screenings and cancer prevention through online resources, easy-to-understand messaging on our website and social media platforms, national media, and more. The Foundation's Guide to Preventing Cancer outlines the nine cancers the Foundation focuses on (+ viruses and cancer), and includes symptoms, risk factors, ways to reduce risk, and screening methods.
- $1.2 million spent. Research. The Foundation funds researchers and fellowships in the nation's most prestigious academic medical centers. This research increases insight into these diseases and allows us to better understand how to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it is more likely to be successfully treated. The fellowships enable the transfer of information between institutions and countries to facilitate the use of best practices in the field.
- $1.5 million spent. Outreach. Reaching out to communities through programs that allow us to fund globally and act locally. By empowering those who know their communities best, we are able to lend a hand to implement lifesaving cancer prevention and early detection programs that benefit all populations, especially the medically underserved.
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
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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 1986.
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 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.