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Ruth Cheatham Foundation College Fund

EIN 82-2633861 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRCF PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF ESSENTIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS: FINANCIAL AID, THROUGH NEEDS BASED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS - EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, THROUGH TUTORING, CAREER READINESS, AND PEER MENTORING- AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
5
Volunteers
129

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. FINANCIAL AID / SCHOLARSHIPS: TEEN CANCER PATIENTS FACE SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND DIVERSE TREATMENT NEEDS, YET RECEIVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SUPPORT OF ANY PATIENT POPULATION. EDUCATION IS KEY TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS, YET OUT OF REACH FOR MANY YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS DUE TO THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL, COGNITIVE, AND EMOTIONAL HARDSHIPS OF CANCER. TRCF SUPPORTS TEEN SURVIVORS FINANCIALLY VIA SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. TRCF PROVIDES PERPETUAL (MULTI-YEAR) FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SCHOLARS IN THE FORM OF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, RANGING FROM $2,000-$5,000 PER YEAR. THIS YEAR, TRCF AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO HUNDREDS OF YOUNG ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS. TRCF PRIORITIZES TEEN CANCER SURVIVORS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THEIR CANCER DIAGNOSIS.
  2. $73,733 spent. ADVOCACY: CANCER ADVOCATES SPEAK UP FOR THOSE THAT CANT. ADVOCACY HELPS THE CANCER COMMUNITY NAVIGATE THIS OFTEN DIFFICULT LANDSCAPE, AND PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CREATING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL CANCER PATIENTS. TRCF WORKS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY TO RAISE SUPPORT AND AWARENESS FOR ADOLESCENT CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS. TRCF ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON MARKETING TO HIGHLIGHT PREVENTION AND EARLY CANCER DIAGNOSIS FOR TEENS. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF COLLABORATIVE NON-PROFIT COHORTS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE CANCER TREATMENT AND SURVIVORSHIP FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS. TRCF HAS A STRONG ONLINE FORUM WHERE WE ADDRESS SURVIVORSHIP ISSUES OUR SCHOLARS MIGHT FACE. TRCF TYPICALLY SPEND 520 HRS/YR DRAFTING THE CONTENT AND MARKETING FOR THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS ONLINE, AS WELL AS 200 HRS A YEAR ON COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH OTHER CANCER ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING TEEN CANCER SURVIVORS.
  3. $25,640 spent. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT: IN ADDITION TO WRITING THE CHECK TO SUPPORT COLLEGE TUITION, TRCF MEETS EACH STUDENT WHERE THEY ARE WITH VITAL EDUCATIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS. EACH SCHOLAR HAS ACCESS TO SUBJECT-SPECIFIC ONLINE TUTORING, SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUPS, AND CAREER READINESS WORKSHOPS. TRCF SCHOLARS ARE ABLE TO THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE, AND HAVE AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE WITH THIS ADDITIONAL TARGETED SUPPORT. THIS YEAR, TRCF PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ALL TRCF SCHOLARS. SUPPORT INCLUDED BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO QUARTERLY ROUND TABLE SESSIONS OFFERING MENTORING/ SUPPORT GROUPS/CAREER READINESS, PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT, SCHOLAR SUPPORT BOXES (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES) AND ONLINE SUBJECT-SPECIFIC TUTORING.

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.