Saint John S Cancer Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF, AND EDUCATION IN, THE BASIC AND CLINICAL SCIENCES FOR THE PREVENTION, DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF CANCER.
- Income
- $16.8 million
- Spending
- $19.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -22.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 91
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $1.8 million, director/chief executive
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
Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 155% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $14.5 million spent. AT PROVIDENCE, WE USE OUR VOICE TO ADVOCATE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND NEEDED REFORMS IN HEALTH CARE. WE ARE ALSO PURSUING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO TRANSFORM HEALTH CARE BY KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY, AND MAKING OUR SERVICES MORE CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR ALL. IN AN INCREASINGLY UNCERTAIN WORLD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO HIGH-QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE - REGARDLESS OF COVERAGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. WE HELP PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM THE BEST HEALTH CARE MODEL FOR THE FUTURE - TODAY. TOGETHER, OUR 125,000 CAREGIVERS (ALL EMPLOYEES) SERVE IN 51 HOSPITALS, 1,014 CLINICS AND A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES ACROSS ALASKA, CALIFORNIA, MONTANA, NEW MEXICO, OREGON, TEXAS AND WASHINGTON. THE PROVIDENCE AFFILIATE FAMILY INCLUDES: -PROVIDENCE ACROSS FIVE WESTERN STATES -COVENANT HEALTH IN WEST TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO -FACEY MEDICAL GROUP IN LOS ANGELES, CA -KADLEC IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON -PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTERS IN SEATTLE, WA -SWEDISH HEALTH SERVICES IN SEATTLE, WA IN 2024, PROVIDENCE MINISTRIES AND AFFILIATES PROVIDED $1.9 BILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES FREE AND DISCOUNTED CARE, UNCOMPENSATED AND SUBSIDIZED CARE, AND OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTIVITIES. ONE OF THESE VITAL PROGRAMS, MEDICAID, IS A LIFELINE FOR MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING SENIORS, CHILDREN, PREGNANT PATIENTS, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES AND VETERANS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO HAS JOINED US IN ADVOCATING FOR CONTINUED FUNDING AND EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM. TOGETHER, WE ARE HELPING TO ENSURE MORE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO NEEDED CARE. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: HTTPS://WWW.PROVIDENCE.ORG/ABOUT/ANNUAL-REPORT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS, WE FOCUS ON MEETING THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE BY WORKING TO ENSURE BASIC HEALTH NEEDS ARE MET, REMOVING BARRIERS TO CARE, BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND INNOVATING FOR THE FUTURE. PROVIDENCE CONTINUES TO WORK TOWARDS CARBON NEGATIVE AND IN 2024 DECREASED EMISSIONS BY 19 PERCENT COMPARED TO OUR 2019 BASELINE. OUR EFFORTS EARNED US A SYSTEM RECORD 55 ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS FROM PRACTICE GREENHEALTH AND MADE US THE FIRST LARGE SYSTEM TO RECEIVE THE JOINT COMMISSION'S SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE CERTIFICATION IN 2024 FOR EACH OF OUR HOSPITALS. 2024 PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TRANSLATIONAL MOLECULAR MEDICINE (TMM): THE DEPARTMENT OF TMM IS A LARGE RESEARCH PROGRAM AT SJCI (17 MEMBERS, INCLUDING 1 FACULTY, 6 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS, AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES). THE MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY PROGRAM IS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE DISCOVERIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF MOLECULAR BIOMARKERS. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS, PHILANTHROPY, PHARMA BIOTECH AND AMRF FOUNDATIONS. THE MAJOR FOCUS IS ON SOLID TUMORS, INCLUDING MELANOMA, BREAST, UROLOGY, BRAIN, OVARIAN, AND GASTROINTESTINAL CANCERS. IN RECENT YEARS EMPHASIS HAS BEEN ON MOLECULAR PROGNOSTIC/DIAGNOSTIC BIOMARKERS AND EPIGENETICS REGULATORY AND THERAPEUTIC TARGETS. SOME OF THE MAJOR PIONEERING STUDIES ACCREDITED TO THE DEPARTMENT ADDRESS THE PROGNOSTIC UTILITY IN CANCER PATIENTS (PHASE II AND III CLINICAL TRIALS) OF CELL-FREE NUCLEIC ACIDS IN BLOOD AND URINE. THESE TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH EFFORTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGH CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SJCI ONCOLOGISTS AND OTHER CANCER CENTERS. THE TMM DEPARTMENT HAS COLLECTED WELL-ANNOTATED BLOOD AND TUMOR SPECIMENS FOR MOLECULAR STUDIES FROM MULTIPLE CENTERS AROUND THE WORLD AND HAS SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN LARGE SCALE PHASE II AND III STUDIES. THE DEPARTMENT THEREFORE OFFERS A WELL-ORGANIZED RESEARCH PROGRAM THAT CAN OFFER COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT TO THE PROVIDENCE HEALTH SYSTEM AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. THE DEPARTMENT OF TMM TRAINS ON AVERAGE 6 RESEARCH POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS PER YEAR AND HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF TRAINING FOREIGN SURGICAL ONCOLOGY MD AND MD/PHD FELLOWS (>100) FROM MAJOR ELITE UNIVERSITIES IN JAPAN (TOKYO, KEIO, OSAKA). GENE SEQUENCING CENTER: THE GENE SEQUENCING CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE SJCI IN DECEMBER 2013. USING STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT, THE CENTER CAN PERFORM ANY POTENTIALLY USEFUL TYPE OF GENE SEQUENCING, INCLUDING BOUTIQUE SEQUENCING. TO DATE, 5,000 TUMORS HAVE BEEN SEQUENCED. MELANOMA RESEARCH: SJCI HAS ONE THE LARGEST MELANOMA PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD. RESEARCH HAS INVOLVED INTERNATIONAL MULTICENTER CLINICAL TRIALS, INDUSTRY-SPONSORED CLINICAL TRIALS, AND BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH. RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN NUMEROUS PEER-REVIEW JOURNALS, INCLUDING THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. THERE ARE ONGOING POTENTIALLY PRACTICE-CHANGING CLINICAL TRIALS IN MELANOMA. BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH INCLUDES GENOMICS, TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL IMMUNOTHERAPIES. SURGICAL ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM AND OTHER RESEARCH PROGRAMS: SURGICAL ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM - SJCI HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TRAINING LEADING CLINICIANS, RESEARCHERS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH ITS FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY SJCI HAS CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGY (ACGME-ACCREDITED), GENITOURINARY ONCOLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY. AS OF AUGUST 1ST, 2023, WE RESUMED OUR BREAST SURGICAL ONCOLOGY PROGRAM (SSO-ACCREDITED). GRADUATES OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT LEADING ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA, THE SJCI HAS SEVERAL ALUMNI ON THE FACULTIES OF CEDARS SINAI (COMPLEX SURGICAL ONCOLOGY AND BREAST ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR, VICE CHAIR OF SURGICAL EDUCATION, DIRECTOR, GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY), KAISER (ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR), AND HARBOR-UCLA (CHIEF OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, VICE CHAIR OF RESEARCH). GENITOURINARY (GU) ONCOLOGY PROGRAM: SJCI HAS 2 GU SURGICAL ONCOLOGISTS, AND 1 GU MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST. THE SJCI GU ONCOLOGY PROGRAM PARTICIPATES IN CUTTING EDGE PHARMA-SPONSORED MEDICAL AND DEVICE CLINICAL TRIALS AS WELL AS COLLABORATES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSLATIONAL MOLECULAR MEDICINE ON GU RELATED T
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.