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Bright Spot Network

EIN 84-2925337 · Alameda, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Provide young cancer survivors who are parents of small children with a safe space for individual and familial healing, recovery and reconnection.

Income
$662,260
Spending
$632,287
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$120,754, executive dir.

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $206,755 spent. Bright Grants: Bright Grants is an emergency financial assistance program that provides families where a parent or primary caregiver has cancer and is raising a child 0-6 years old with a $500 grant. Families use this money for childcare, rent/mortgage, food, utilities, medical co-pays, adjuvant therapies, and other basic necessities. We distributed grants to 295 families facing cancer, raising small children and in financial need in 2025.
  2. $97,416 spent. Bright Reads: Bright Reads is a free book program providing families with age-appropriate childrens books on cancer, big emotions, grief, and loss. We also send families discussion guides paired with each book, as well as other resources to help them talk to their children about a parents cancer. We distributed books and resources to 1000 families in 2025.
  3. $72,941 spent. Bright Spot Network's virtual support groups are peer-facilitated, creating a supportive and welcoming community where parents and partners affected by a cancer diagnosis can share, listen, and connect with others who truly understand their experience. These groups are led by professionals and follow a peer-support format that empowers parents to lead with their own expertise and attend to each other's needs, helping members feel less isolated. We offer groups for parents in active treatment, stage IV, parents of color, survivorship, partners, and bereavement.
  4. $67,811 spent. Bright Box: Bright Box is a free art box for families navigating a parent's cancer. Designed with kids who have a parent with cancer in mind, each box comes with everything included for simple art activities. These kits are meant to be a point of connection when a family is experiencing a medical crisis. In 2025 we distributed 1025 art kits.
  5. $50,189 spent. Bright Spot Network's virtual support groups are peer-facilitated, creating a supportive and welcoming community where parents and partners affected by a cancer diagnosis can share, listen, and connect with others who truly understand their experience. These groups are led by professionals and follow a peer-support format that empowers parents to lead with their own expertise and attend to each other's needs, helping members feel less isolated. We offer groups for parents in active treatment, stage IV, parents of color, survivorship, partners, and bereavement. Bright Spot Network's Kids Connections programming is designed to bring comfort and reduce isolation for children ages 010 who have a parent with cancer, connecting them with peers who truly understand what they're going through. Bright Circle (ages 05) welcomes young children alongside a parent for gentle, connective activities, while Bright Club (ages 510) encourages peer-to-peer interaction through play, sharing, and creative exploration. These groups are grounded in social and emotional learning to help kids build coping skills. Our kids' programming also includes pen pal-style exchanges and other activities that help children stay connected, build friendships, and feel part of a community.

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 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 2025.

    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 2019.

    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.