BBB Wise Giving Report for
American Cancer Society

BBB Wise Giving Report issued January 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires January 2014


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: American Cancer Society
Address: 250 Williams Street NW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 800-227-2345
Web Address: www.cancer.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1913, New York
Affiliates: American Cancer Society California Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Eastern Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Florida Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Great Lakes Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Great West Division, Inc., American Cancer Society High Plains Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Illinois Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Mid-South Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Midwest Division, Inc., American Cancer Society New England Division, Inc., American Cancer Society South Atlantic Division, Inc., America Cancer Society Ohio Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Pennsylvania Division, Inc., American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.

Stated Purpose: "to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives from cancer, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

American Cancer Society (ACS) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

ACS awards grants to academic institutions and professionals in the fields of medicine and science for investigations into the causes, prevention, and cure of cancer. Research staff at ACS analyze trends in cancer occurrence, risk factors, screening, and supply epidemiologic support for the monitoring of international tobacco production, consumption, associated health consequences, and oversee behavioral studies on areas such as family dynamics, minority issues, and communication between physicians and patients. The organization also coordinates an educational, advocacy, and media campaign to help adults and children lower their risks of contracting cancer. Furthermore, ACS reports that through its advocacy work in conjunction with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM, it unites millions of Americans each year to deliver a clear message to elected leaders: fighting cancer must be a national priority. Its grassroots advocacy volunteers work with lawmakers at the local, state, and federal levels to support legislation protecting patients’ rights and to safeguard public health. In addition to providing informational materials to the public and health professionals, ACS also issues guidelines for forms of cancer pertaining to diagnosis, care options, symptom management, pain control, and related aspects. Some ($7,118,000 or 2%) of the Society's program activities are conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, ACS' program expenses were:

  
Research 144,246,000
Patient support 78,858,000
Prevention 47,975,000
Detection and treatment 32,339,000
Total Program Expenses: $303,418,000
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : John R. Seffrin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
$2,401,112

Chair of the Board: Cynthia M. LeBlanc, EdD
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Educational Consultant, Senior Associate, National School Reform

Board Size: 43

Paid Staff Size: 1400

*September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. The total compensation figure also includes monies from the CEO's supplemental executive retirement account.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, television, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, door to door, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.
Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $373,570,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
ACS incurred joint costs of $19,034,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $9,587,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses, $7,118,000 was allocated to program expenses, and $2,329,000 was allocated to administrative expenses.
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Tax Status

              

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on the ACS' audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 302,652,000
Legacies and bequests 43,893,000
Contributed services, merchandise and other in-kind contributions (at fair value) 21,328,000
Exchange transactions, net 13,360,000
Investment income 6,569,000
Grants and contracts 5,697,000
Other revenue 2,839,000
Change in value of split-interest agreements 39,000
Loss on disposal of fixed assets -259,000
Total Income $396,118,000


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 80%  Fund Raising: 11%  Administrative: 9%  Other Expenses: Less than 1%

Total income   $396,118,000
  Program expenses $303,418,000
  Fund raising expenses 42,400,000
  Administrative expenses 33,183,000
  Other Expenses 1,599,000
Total expenses   $380,600,000
Income in Excess of Expenses   15,518,000
Beginning net assets   517,598,000
Other Changes in Net Assets (689,000)
Ending net assets   532,427,000
Total liabilities   1,005,308,000
Total assets   $1,537,735,000

Note 1: In the above financial summary, "other expenses" represents public support allocatable to affiliate programs and other activities while "other changes in net assets" represents a net change in retirement liability .

Note 2: According to ACS' audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2010, the organization received in-kind contributions in the amount of $20,712,000 which includes $14,856,000 (cosmetic kits), $2,275,000 (media/advertising), $1,881,000 (wigs), and $1,700,000 (peer review services).

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Complaints

              

Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 3

Mailing List Removal

The organization addressed the complaint issue brought to its attention: 3

(These complaints involve individuals seeking to have their names and addresses removed from the organization's mailing list.)

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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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