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Cancer for College

EIN 93-1144756 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT CANCER FOR COLLEGE, OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE YET PROFOUND: TO PROVIDE HOPE AND INSPIRATION TO CANCER SURVIVORS THROUGH ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS, MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
67.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
13
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$184,008, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 67.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. CANCER FOR COLLEGE PROVIDES NEED-BASED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF TO CANCER SURVIVORS. COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS: SCHOLARS MUST BE ATTENDING AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OR TRADE SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES. SCHOLARS MUST BE A SURVIVOR OF CANCER AND HAVE A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $150,000 OR LESS. A SURVIVOR IS DETERMINED AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED EITHER CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY WITH CANCER. SINCE INCEPTION IN 1993, CANCER FOR COLLEGE HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $7 MILLION AND 1,700 SCHOLARSHIPS TO CANCER SURVIVORS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. EACH YEAR WE AWARD MANY GENERAL, NATIONWIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL AS SEVERAL SPECIALTY SCHOLARSHIPS. EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES: WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING OUR SCHOLARS NOT ONLY THROUGH THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEYS BUT ALSO BEYOND. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE MEANT TO CONNECT, EDUCATE, AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR SCHOLARS THROUGH PERSONALIZED CURRICULA DESIGNED FOR THEIR HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT. MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF : WE ALSO LAUNCHED A PILOT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS MEDICAL DEBT AMONG OUR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, REDUCING SCHOLARS' MEDICAL DEBT BY OVER 75%.

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 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 September 1994.

    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.