Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cancer Support Community

EIN 95-4163931 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CSC UPLIFTS AND STRENGTHENS PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CANCER BY PROVIDING SUPPORT, FOSTERING COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES, AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO CARE.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
83
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$265,215, chief experience officer

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

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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 (3)
  1. $5.5 million spent. THE CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE PSYCHOSOCIAL (MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL) HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE TOUCHED BY CANCER. CSC SERVES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH A GLOBAL NONPROFIT NETWORK WITH OVER 200 CSC, GILDA'S CLUB, AND HEALTHCARE PARTNER LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS A TOLL-FREE HELPLINE, DIGITAL SERVICES, AND HIGH-QUALITY, MEDICALLY REVIEWED CANCER EDUCATION MATERIALS. ALL CSC PROGRAMS ARE RUN BY TRAINED, LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND CONCERNS FROM DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND POST-TREATMENT TO LONG-TERM SURVIVORSHIP AND/OR END OF LIFE. ALL RESOURCES AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANYONE IMPACTED BY A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.
  2. $835,792 spent. THE CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY'S RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE IS THE FIRST INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE IN THE UNITED STATES DEDICATED TO PSYCHOSOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SURVIVORSHIP RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN CANCER. THE INSTITUTE STUDIES THE DISTINCTIVE NEEDS OF PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, AND CAREGIVERS THROUGHOUT THE CANCER EXPERIENCE AND EXAMINES THE ROLE OF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY CANCER. THE RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE ALSO MANAGES THE CANCER EXPERIENCE REGISTRY, AN ONLINE RESEARCH STUDY THAT UNCOVERS THE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, PRACTICAL, AND FINANCIAL IMPACT OF CANCER. THE REGISTRY IS OPEN TO ANY ADULT WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER OR HAS BEEN A FAMILY MEMBER OR CAREGIVER TO SOMEONE WITH CANCER. FINDINGS ARE USED TO INFORM AND DEVELOP SUPPORTIVE CARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
  3. $626,844 spent. THE CANCER POLICY INSTITUTE INFORMS POLICYMAKERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL OF THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL CANCER CARE AND BEST DELIVERY PRACTICES. THE CANCER POLICY INSTITUTE DRAWS DIRECTLY ON EXPERIENCES OF CANCER PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, AND CAREGIVERS LEARNED THROUGH THE CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY'S DIRECT PATIENT SUPPORT SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE'S FORMAL RESEARCH DATA, TO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT FOSTER THE INTEGRATION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT INTO COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE.

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 2024.

    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 February 1993.

    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.