American Friends of Cancer Research Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES AND TREATMENT OF CANCER.
- Income
- $7.2 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $187,344, managing director of business
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $3.0 million spent. OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO CANCER GRAND CHALLENGES (CGC) AND OTHER RESEARCH INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS, EITHER LED AND DELIVERED BY CRUK OR SUPPORTED BY CRUK-EXECUTED THE TRADEMARK, DATA AND COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH CRUK-COMPLETED 3RD FORMAL AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 (JAN - DEC)-SUCCESSFULLY RENEWED ALL APPLICABLE STATE FUNDRAISING REGISTRATIONS-HELD 1ST IN PERSON BOARD MEETING IN LONDON, ENGLAND IN MARCH 2024PROCUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF PHILANTHROPIC AND PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT AND DONOR ENGAGEMENT-SECURED GIFT FROM NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST (JANUARY 2024) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,600,000, WHICH WERE SUCCESSFULLY GRANT FUNDED TO CGC FOR THE SUPPORT OF EDYNAMIC PROJECT -SECURED GIFT FROM THE DEBORAH LOEB BRICE FOUNDATION (APRIL 2024) IN THE AMOUNT OF $312,500 TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH AT THE FRANCIS CRICK INSTITUTE -DRAFTED FUNDRAISING COLLATERAL MATERIALS INCLUDING INTRODUCTORY DESCRIPTION OF CGC INITIATIVE - WHY/WHAT/HOW, MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS - TO SHARE WITH PROSPECTIVE DONORS.-SECURED GIFT FORM ITERION THERAPUETICS (JUNE 2024) IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 TO SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH AT THE CRUK SCOTLAND (BEATSON INSTITUTE).MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, EVENTS, AND ENGAGEMENT-DEVELOPED FOLLOW-UP EMAILS AND SEGMENTED COMMUNICATIONS FOR PHILANTHROPY EVENTS -DEVELOPED BESPOKE LEADERSHIP UPDATES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-DEVELOPED DONOR RECOGNITION FRAMEWORK AND COMPREHENSIVE GIFT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PROGRAM.-DEVELOPED INDIVIDUALIZED STEWARDSHIP PLAN TEMPLATE-DEVELOPED A REFRESHED TEMPLATE AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ANNUAL DONOR IMPACT REPORTS-DRAFTED DONOR IMPACT REPORTS
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 December 1994.
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.