The Thompson Cancer Survival Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Thompson Cancer Survival Center provides support services for cancer patients, in alignment with Covenant Health's mission to serve the community by improving the quality of life through better health, regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
- Income
- $7.9 million
- Spending
- $13.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 63%
- Employees
- 76
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $3.2 million, president & 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
Weak: 45 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 71% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 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, 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)
- $12.0 million spent. At Thompson Cancer Survival Center, leading cancer specialists use the most advanced technologies to achieve breakthrough successes in treating many types of cancer. Our network of cancer care providers, including those in Thompson Oncology Group (our own medical oncology, hematology, and gynecologic oncology practice), is supported by a team of patient navigators, oncology pharmacists, dietitians, genetics counselors, clinical trial specialists, physicists, therapists, technologists, oncology nurses, social workers, and counselors, all working to treat and beat cancer. In addition to innovative technologies and treatment methodologies, Covenant Health added a new proton therapy center to the treatment options at Thompson Cancer Survival Center. Patients can now receive proton therapy as part of Covenant Health's umbrella of cancer services offered at Thompson Cancer Survival Center locations throughout the region and the Covenant Cancer Network. One of only 45 proton therapy facilities in the United States, Thompson Proton Center offers an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses beams of high-energy protons to treat various forms of cancer, while protecting nearby healthy tissue and vital organs from unnecessary radiation. Thompson Proton Center treated 345 patients in 2024. SERVICEThompson Cancer Survival Center ("TCSC") offers a range of cancer support services with the aim of providing patients receiving cancer treatment the best possible outcome for their individual situations. Support services include cancer outreach services, treatment care coordination and oncology clinical trials.Covenant Health facilities identify and refer patients to the TCSC Social Services department. In 2024, there were 2,118 new patient referrals to Social Services and 6,254 follow-up patients. The Social Services department includes a nutritional counseling and education program and a genetics clinic. The nutritional counseling and education program had 2,763 new patient referrals in 2024 with 4,019 follow-up assessments and 3,254 education encounters to support patients. In 2024, the genetics clinic received referrals for 1,098 new patients who were in need of genetic counseling. Of these patients, 748 were scheduled, 522 completed genetic counseling, and 412 elected to pursue genetic testing. All patients were able to receive full personal and family history reviews, allowing for a thorough risk assessment for the potential of a hereditary cancer syndrome or other familial risk factors possibly not accounted for through genetic testing. The patients received education and counseling regarding their pursuit of genetic testing. When appropriate, patients received information about support resources for individuals in similar circumstances. Finally, all patients received recommendations for risk-reduction strategies personalized for their individual health history, family history, and genetic test results when available. A goal of TCSC is to provide treatment care coordination for each patient. This goal is achieved by two means: the Multidisciplinary Treatment program and the Nurse Navigator program.Multidisciplinary Treatment is a process of individual patient consultation with members of the patient's oncology care team, where treatment options are discussed based on that individual's circumstances. This approach gives the physician the opportunity to relate one-on-one with the oncology patient and explain treatment choices in layperson's language. Patients needing care coordination come from various Covenant Health organizations and other facilities. The program currently consists of 14 nurses, one department assistant and one conference and patient housing coordinator to support oncology patients throughout the Covenant health system.The TCSC Nurse Navigator program was developed to help oncology patients overcome multiple barriers to healthcare, depending on their needs. Common barriers include financial, education, transportation, language, emotional, and the complexities of navigating a health system. The TCSC Nurse Navigators guide patients to sources of financial support, help complete paperwork, educate patients on diagnoses and medical procedures, arrange and coordinate appointments with multiple providers, help with transportation, assist with housing, communicate with providers about unique patient needs, ensure medical records arrive at scheduled appointments, direct patients to support groups or counseling services, and attend patient appointments for support. Nurse Navigators work diligently to meet the needs of patients and families and become their liaisons between all physicians and services. There were 27,121 oncology patient education encounters in 2024, and 3,371 patients were assisted with their treatment by TCSC Nurse Navigators. For those patients who receive curative treatment, over 126 Survivorship Care Plans were completed by Nurse Navigators and discussed with patients in 2024.The Nurse Navigator is actively involved in the multidisciplinary care of patients. Nurse Navigators currently schedule, organize, oversee, summarize, and provide follow-up for 4-5 multidisciplinary cancer conferences per week. In 2024, 1,165 patients were presented at multidisciplinary conferences, with 140 of those patients being seen in our clinics where a Nurse Navigator is in attendance. TCSC continued all conferences in-person as well as via virtual format. In 2022, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center became the first hospital in Tennessee to receive accreditation from National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), affirming a commitment to providing the best possible care to patients with rectal cancer. Oncology clinical trials offer cancer patients access to proven standard cancer treatments and to newly developed cutting-edge therapies. Since the opening of TCSC in 1988, the Clinical Trials Department has enrolled 2,772 patients in oncology clinical trials. In 2024, the TCSC Cl
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 February 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 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.