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Jacobs Heart Childrens Cancer Support Services

EIN 68-0413822 · Watsonville, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Since 1998, Jacob's Heart has provided emotional, practical, financial and peer support to hundreds of children with cancer and thousands of their family members.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
26
Volunteers
295
Highest pay
$151,523, executive dir.

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 85% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. PRACTICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN INCLUDING: $208,641 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, UTILITIES, FUEL AND FUNERAL EXPENSES; 8,954 BAGS OF GROCERIES; 202 CARE PACKAGES WITH PERSONALIZED GIFTS AND ESSENTIALS; 1,556 DOOR-TO-DOOR RIDES TO TREATMENT; 583 HOME AND HOSPITAL VISITS; 5,162 CARDS, GIFTS AND REMEMBRANCES TO HONOR TREATMENT MILESTONES; PERSONALIZED GIFTS AND CELEBRATIONS VALUED AT $97,126 WHICH ALLEVIATED STRESS AND DELIVERED JOY TO 300 FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH HOLIDAY HEARTS ADOPT-A-FAMILY.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE CANCER, THEIR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS INCLUDING: ONE ON ONE COUNSELING FOR ALL FAMILY MEMBERS, SAND TRAY THERAPY, BILINGUAL IN-TREATMENT SUPPORT GROUPS, BILINGUAL BEREAVED SUPPORT GROUPS, TEEN SUPPORT GROUPS, CAMP HEART & HANDS LED BY PACKARD HOSPITAL PICU NURSES, FOREVER LOVED BEREAVED FAMILY RETREAT.
  3. $412,084 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: IN 1999, JACOBS HEART LED THE EFFORTS TO DECLARE SEPTEMBER CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH BY EXECUTIVE ORDER IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAS SINCE GROWN TO NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. IN CONTINUATION OF THESE EFFORTS, OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS STRIVE TO INSPIRE COMPASSIONATE ACTION WITHIN LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH; PROCLAMATIONS WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; AND COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CEREMONIES TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD IS EVER FORGOTTEN.
  4. $276,384 spent. FOREVER LOVED GRIEF SUPPORT: JACOBS HEART HAS REALLOCATED FUNDING, RESOURCES, AND STAFF TIME TO FORMALIZE ITS CULTURALLY RELEVANT, MULTIMODAL COMPREHENSIVE GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM. RATHER THAN A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH, JACOBS HEART HONORS THE UNIQUE JOURNEY OF EACH GRIEVING FAMILY MEMBER AND DESIGNS SUPPORTIVE OPTIONS AND PROCESSES TO FIT THE INDIVIDUAL, WITH NO TIME LIMIT AFTER THE DEATH OF A CHILD. JACOBS HEART IS ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING TO EVALUATE AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF GRIEVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND OUR BOARD AND STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE A STRONG SAFETY NET OF SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THEM EFFECTIVELY, EFFICIENTLY, AND WITH COMPASSION.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.