Vital Options
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND PROGRAMMING (INCLUDING WEB-BASE VIDEO CONTENT) FOR THE CANCER COMMUNITY: PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, ONCOLOGY PROFESSIONALS, CLINICAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE PATIENT ADVOCACY COMMUNITY.THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR QUALIFIED CANCER PATIENTS THROUGH THE SELMA SCHIMMELL VITAL GRANT PROGRAM.
- Income
- $423,622
- Spending
- $477,257
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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: 74 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 66 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $183,360 spent. PROVIDE WEB-BASED EDUCATIONAL VIDEO CONTENT, DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT CHARGE ON OUR WEBSITE AND AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND ONCOLOGY-FOCUSED WEBSITES.
- $286,100 spent. PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO QUALIFIED PATIENTS, THEIR CAREGIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS ALL CHRONIC, TERMINAL AND RARE CONDITIONS THROUGH THE SELMA SCHIMMEL VITAL GRANT.
- ASSISTANCE TO OTHER CANCER ORGANIZATIONS - WORK WITH OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT CANCER ORGANIZATIONS, CANCER CENTERS AND HOSPITALS, ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL SOCIETIES TO DEVELOP VIDEO CONTENT FOR PATIENT EDUCATION.
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 March 1985.
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.