Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

What Is The Best Breast Cancer Charity To Donate To

Where should I donate? is one of the most common questions Googled on the topic of breast cancer, but the answer is not simple. One big misconception is that all breast cancer charities are the same. Another misconception is that there is one large umbrella organization calling the shots.

In reality, there are several large national organizations that have built trust over many decades and impact the lives of millions. These are the organizations with the brands and names you may recognizeAmerican Cancer Society, Breastcancer.org, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Young Survival Coalition.

There are also many grassroots organizations that specifically focus on impacting their local communities. These smaller breast cancer charities may provide excellent support locally, but their brand recognition or impact may not extend beyond their community.

Each breast cancer organization has its own mission, visions, goals, and ideas about how to impact the lives of people affected by breast cancer. This is why research is crucial when youre making a donation.

When selecting a breast cancer charity to identify with or support, its important to choose one thats right for you and aligns with your goals, and maybe even your own personality.

Here are a few of the top breast cancer charities, what they do, and what makes them unique:

Have Your Gift Matched

To make a matching gift, use our search tool to find your employer. If your company is in our database, select it to see the specific instructions for the companys matching gifts process. Organizations have different requirements and procedures, so please look up each company individually. Learn more.

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the most well-known breast cancer organizations you might consider donating to.

Evelyn Lauder, a breast cancer survivor and senior corporate vice president of The Estee Lauder Companies, founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help fund research and raise public awareness. Lauder is also the co-creator of the original pink ribbon launched in 1992 with Alexandra Penney, former editor-in-chief of Self magazine.

BCRF is currently one of the largest private funders for breast cancer research. The money is allocated to research grants to more than 250 researchers worldwide.

In 2019, BCRF celebrated its 25th anniversary with its annual Hot Pink Party, a charity fundraiser that raised over $6 million in one night.

Read Also: What Are The Side Effects Of Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer

National Breast Cancer Foundation

National Breast Cancer Foundations mission is to help women now by providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. Founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, NBCF envisions a world where no one will navigate breast cancer alone. NBCF has provided over a million free mammograms, early detection, and patient navigation services to uninsured patients and those in need of financial assistance. Their programs include:

• National Mammography Program
• Metastatic breast cancer retreats and support groups
• Breast health education

After hearing the concerns of metastatic patients, NBCF recently launched a metastatic retreat program for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their caregivers. During the retreats, patients and caregivers receive oncology consultations, end-of-life preparations, and thorough examination of patients hopes and fears.

Diversity Equity & Inclusion

This organization has not provided information regarding the diversity, equity and inclusion practices it is presently implementing. As such, the organization has not earned a score on this metric. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective DEI policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit’s decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Cure Rate For Breast Cancer

Early Detection And Optimal Treatment Improve Survival

With knowledge and support, the initial fear of diagnosis can be channeled into action, and action can lead to hope. If caught early when cancer cells are confined to the breast, breast cancer has a 5-year survival rate of over 95%and the number of long-term breast cancer survivors continues to grow. Mortality rates could decrease by 30% if all women age 50 and older who need a mammogram are screened.

Funding Our National Grant Program

The Komen Foundation offers one of the country’s most innovative and responsive grant programs. Since its inception in 1982, the Foundation has raised more than $200 million for the fight against breast cancer. The work funded includes basic, clinical and translational breast cancer research. Grant recipients in these areas are selected through a blind peer review process recognized by the National Cancer Institute. In order to recruit and retain young scientists in the field of breast cancer research, the Foundation also awards 3-year postdoctoral fellowships to individuals working under the guidance of experienced cancer researchers.

For 14 years, our grant program has also provided funding for innovative outreach projects in the areas of breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment. In addition, our Affiliates administer local grant programs funded by local Komen Race for the Cure and other fund-raising events. Community programs are selected for funding based on needs identified through community profiles developed by local Komen Foundation Affiliates.

1998 was a stellar year for our National Grant Program. We funded 77 national grants totalling more than $11 million.

Recommended Reading: Where Does Metastatic Breast Cancer Spread To

This Post Has 55 Comments

To Build An Organization To End Breast Cancer You Need A Strong Foundation

Like so many others, Nancy Brinker’s life was forever changed by her sister’s battle against breast cancer. Susan Goodman Komen died at the age of 36. Founded in her memory in 1982, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was born from a sister’s love and a solemn promise to do something to stop breast cancer from taking more lives. Within 2 years of Suzy’s death, it was Nancy who was battling breast cancer and now she is a survivor!

Read Also: What Is Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer

Leave A Legacy Of Hope

You can support Susan G. Komen® in a variety of ways, including through your estate. Including Komen in your estate plan will not only assist you in reaching and achieving your own philanthropic and charitable giving goals, but it will also allow Komen to continue its mission of discovering and delivering the cures for breast cancer. Learn more.

Susan G Komen For The Cure

Susan G. Komen is a breast cancer organization in the United States.

Komen focuses on patient navigation and advocacy, providing resources for breast cancer patients to understand the American medical system. It has also funded research into the causes and treatment of breast cancer. However, the organization has been mired by controversy over pinkwashing, allocation of research funding, and CEO pay. Its revenue and public perception have steeply declined since 2010.

Read Also: How Do You Know If Breast Cancer Has Spread

How Can A Needle Biopsy Miss Breast Cancer

A needle biopsy can miss breast cancer if the needle takes a sample of tissue or cells from the wrong area or if theres a problem with the sample.

Even when samples are taken from the correct area, false negative results can occur if the pathologist misinterprets the tissue or cells as benign when in fact, cancer is present.

The Difference We Make

Komen Missouri is part of the big picture to eradicate breast cancer. But were also focused on the local needs of our neighbors. We are dedicated to educating the residents in our service area about breast cancer and the resources available along with funding life-saving screening, patient navigation and support programs for our neighbors currently battling this disease.

Recommended Reading: How Does Breast Cancer Affect The Body

What Is The Best Breast Cancer Charity To Donate To Uk

The Pink Ribbon Foundation is a grant making trust with a mission to fund projects and provide financial support to UK charities which relieve the needs of people who are suffering from, have been affected by breast cancer, or who work to advance the understanding of breast cancer and its early detection and treatment.

Relationship With Planned Parenthood

Beginning in 2007, Komen granted money to pay for 170,000 clinical breast exams and 6,400 mammogram referrals at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and affiliates. Komen had said its affiliates provide funds for screening, education and treatment programs in dozens of communities where Planned Parenthood is the only place poor, uninsured or under-insured women can receive these services.

On January 31, 2012, Komen stopped funding exams provided by Planned Parenthood, citing a congressional investigation by Representative Cliff Stearns and a newly created internal rule about not funding organizations under federal, state or local investigation. While conservative religious and anti-abortion groups applauded the move, it was denounced by several editorials, women’s health advocacy groups, and politicians.

In the 24 hours after the news broke, Planned Parenthood received more than $400,000 from 6,000 donors, followed by pledges of a $250,000 matching grant from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a $250,000 gift from a foundation run by the CEO of Bonanza Oil Co. in Dallas to replace the lost funding.

Karen Handel, the Brinker protégée whose opposition to abortion was at the center of the Planned Parenthood controversy, resigned and has published a book on the controversy titled Planned Bullyhood.

You May Like: Has Anyone Survived Stage 4 Breast Cancer

Eli Levene: The Human Side Of Why Breast Cancer Researchers Do What They Do

As a 41-year-old mother of two, Eli Levene had just started a new job as the executive director of a North Carolina-based childhood education nonprofit in 2016 when she went for her routine mammogram. A biopsy confirmed she had estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes.

Following a mastectomy to remove her right breast and surgery to remove the impacted lymph nodes, she started chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a year-long regimen of HER-2 targeted infusions. Three months after completing her infusions, Eli found a lump in her left breast. She underwent a mastectomy to remove the breast, along with more rounds of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and infusions.

My oncologist at Duke Cancer Institute, Dr. Paul Marcom, suggested I have a brain MRI because Id never had one before, Eli said. I didnt have any brain tumor symptoms, but he suggested routine, annual MRIs for all of his patients.

The MRI confirmed that Elis breast cancer had metastasized to her brain. She was referred to radiation oncologist John Kirkpatrick, M.D., Ph.D., the radiation director at Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis, in October 2018. Over the course of the next year, Eli underwent two stereotactic radiosurgery procedures to use radiation to remove six total brain tumors.

A Passion for Research

When Two Worlds Collide

< < Previous Post

Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Organization

Susan G. Komen, formerly known as Susan G. Komen for the Cure and originally as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the United States. Since its inception in 1982, Komen has spent nearly $1.5 billion for breast cancer education, research, advocacy, health services and social support programs in the U.S., and through partnerships in more than 50 countries. Today, Komen has more than 100,000 volunteers working in a network of 124 affiliates worldwide.

According to the Harris Interactive 2010 EquiTrend annual brand equity poll, Komen was one of the most trusted non-profit organizations in America. As of March 2013, Komen dropped from Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars down to three stars due to a financial rating of two stars. The organization has been criticized for its use of donor funds, its choice of sponsor affiliations, its role in commercial cause marketing and its use of misleading statistics in advertising. In 2012, a Komen attempt to withdraw funding to Planned Parenthood for mammograms drew controversy, leading to a significant decline in donations and event participation from which Komen has yet to fully recover.

Don’t Miss: What Percentage Survive Breast Cancer

Susan G Komen Awards Grant To Define And Advance Diagnosis Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Clinical Research Team Will Test Validity of First-of-its-Kind Diagnostic Tool

Susan G. Komen®, the worlds leading breast cancer organization, awarded a research grant to apply a new, first-of-its-kind tool that seeks to more accurately diagnose inflammatory breast cancer . The grant funds collaborative work being done at two of the largest IBC centers in the world The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

World-renowned breast cancer clinicians Filipa Lynce, MD, at Dana-Farber, and Wendy A. Woodward, MD, PhD, at MD Anderson, are building off findings from the Susan G. Komen-IBCRF IBC Collaborative, in partnership with the Milburn Foundation®, that were recently published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. The research teams work will involve the application of a scoring system to increase diagnostic accuracy, predict outcomes, guide treatment decisions and identify criteria for inclusion in clinical trials. The scoring system uses a set of common diagnostic criteria to differentiate between patients who definitely have IBC, have a strong possibility of IBC or have a weak possibility of IBC. Upon confirming the scoring systems accuracy, it could then be applied prospectively to patients.

Limitations On Political Activity

Section 501 organizations are prohibited from supporting political candidates, as a result of the enacted in 1954. Section 501 organizations are subject to limits on , having between two sets of rules establishing an upper bound for their lobbying activities. Section 501 organizations risk loss of their tax-exempt status if these rules are violated. An organization that loses its 501 status due to being engaged in political activities cannot subsequently qualify for 501 status.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Disability For Breast Cancer

Comparing Top 7 Breast Cancer Charities

When you or your company donate to a breast cancer charity, you can impact lives, support treatment, and create hope. Donations of all sizes can make a difference and help both individuals and the nonprofits that focus on breast cancer awareness, care, and prevention. Further, donors and partners today enjoy a wealth of options when it comes to outstanding, dedicated breast cancer nonprofits.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit that connects people with trusted information and a community of support. Dr. Marisa C. Weiss, a radiation oncologist, founded Living Beyond Breast Cancer in 1991 in response to a lack of resources and support for her patients. Today, hundreds of thousands of people turn to Living Beyond Breast Cancer for trusted information, connection, and support. Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers multiple points of contact for patients, through:

• Educational conferences
• Ask-the-Expert sessions
• Videos focusing on patients concerns and questions

Living Beyond Breast Cancers Breast Cancer Helpline connects patients in need with trained volunteers for emotional support, guidance, and hope. Patients can be matched with trained volunteers with similar breast cancer experiences based on type, stage, age, or area of concern.

Recommended Reading: How Fast Does Breast Cancer Grow

Nonprofit Organizations Worthy Of Your Support

Blyss Splane is a certified operating room nurse working as a freelance content writer and former travel nurse. In 2020, Nurse Splane Writes, LLC, was created and Blyss continues to work as an OR nurse while writing articles for healthcare blogs as a freelance writer.

Peter Weiss, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in women’s health.

Lisa Sullivan, MS, is a nutritionist and health and wellness educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry.

Breast cancer charities and organizations raise money to research a cure and support people living with breast cancer. But how do you pick a breast cancer charity to support?

There are several options, and it’s always worth learning more about any charity before you donate so that you know your money is going toward what you want it to.

You can do your own research on breast cancer charities by looking them up on Charity Navigator, a website that tells you how charities allocate funds.

To get your search started, here are five breast cancer organizations with strong missions and transparency about how they use the money they receive.