Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	American Cancer Society
Address:	250 Williams Street, Suite 400
	Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone:	800-227-2345
Web Address:	www.cancer.org

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

The Society 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 with the Society also analyze trends in the occurrence of cancer, key risk factors, and screening, supply epidemiologic support for its monitoring of international tobacco production, consumption, and associated health consequences, and oversee behavioral studies on areas such as family dynamics, minority issues, and communication between physicians and patients. The Society also coordinates an educational, advocacy, and media campaign to help adults and children lower their risks of contracting cancer. Examples of current prevention activities in which the Society is involved in includes sponsorship of Healthy Kids Network groups, smoking cessation programs, and its National School Health Coordinator Leadership Institute. For cancer patients, families, and survivors, the Society offers support groups, classes/workshops, and other services to meet individual needs. In addition to providing informational materials to the public and health professionals, the Society also issues guidelines for forms of cancer pertaining to diagnosis, care options, symptom management, pain control, and related aspects. Some ($8,112,000 or 2%) of the Society's program activities are conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, the Society's program expenses were:

Research	153,503,000
Patient support	84,064,000
Prevention	69,588,000
Detection/treatment	46,791,000
Total Program Expenses:	$353,946,000

Chief Executive : John R. Seffrin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*:

$1,045,887

Chair of the Board: Van Velsor Wolf, Jr.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney

Board Size: 43

Paid Staff Size: 1400

*September 1, 2007 - August 31, 2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, television, radio, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $405,781,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

The Society incurred joint costs of $21,140,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $10,359,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses, $8,112,000 was allocated to program expenses, and $2,669,000 was allocated to administrative expenses.

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.

The following information is based on the Society's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008.

Source of Funds
Contributions received through affiliates	342,795,000
Contributions raised by national home office	50,225,000
Interest and dividends, net	15,153,000
Exchange transactions, net	14,265,000
Grants and contracts from government agencies/affiliates	12,761,000
Other revenue	893,000
Unrealized gains on perpetual trusts, net	162,000
Realized/unrealized investment losses, net	-3,134,000
Total Income	$433,120,000

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

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

Total income				$433,120,000
	Program expenses			$353,946,000
	Fund raising expenses			50,978,000
	Administrative expenses			39,149,000
	Other Expenses			594,000
Total expenses				$444,667,000
Expenses in Excess of Income				(11,547,000)
Beginning net assets				531,541,000
Ending net assets				519,994,000
Total liabilities				1,160,521,000
Total assets				$1,680,515,000

Note 1:
According to the Society's audited financial statements, the orgnization received $14,959,000 in in-kind donations including cosmetic kits ($6,557,000), advertising ($4,175,000), wigs ($1,833,000), peer review services ($1,822,000), and contributed media ($572,000).

Note 2:
In the above financial summary, the amount $594,000 which represents "other expenses" includes public support allocable to affiliates programs and other activities ($1,813,000) and the net change in retirement plan liability ($-1,219,000).