National Children's Cancer Society
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
-
Board Oversight
-
Board Size
-
Board Meetings
-
Board Compensation
-
Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
-
Effectiveness Policy
-
Effectiveness Report
Finances
-
Program Expenses
-
Fundraising Expenses
-
Accumulating Funds
-
Audit Report
-
Detailed Expense Breakdown
-
Accurate Expense Reporting
-
Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
-
Truthful Materials
-
Annual Report
-
Website Disclosures
-
Donor Privacy
-
Cause Marketing Disclosures
-
Complaints
National Children's Cancer Society does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 13 (Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements)
Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.
The NCCS does not meet this Standard because:
-
In BBB WGA’s opinion, the organization overvalued the in-kind donation valuation of pharmaceuticals it received as reported in the audited financial statements for the year ended September 20, 2024. For example, one of the three largest in-kind donations in that fiscal year was 1,988 bottles of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (0.12%) Oral Rinse, 473 ml per bottle. The NCCS indicated it valued this gift at their claimed wholesale acquisition valuation of $250 per bottle for a total value of $497,000. When BBB WGA viewed the online retail price of this item it ranged from several dollars to about $40 per bottle.
In response to this report, the NCCS states, in part that:
"The NCCS is a licensed wholesale drug distributor and utilizes a Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) index to determine the fair market value of donated pharmaceuticals. Because the NCCS holds this licensure, we are advised to use the most complete and comprehensive index available. As a licensed distributor, the NCCS operates in a different capacity than charities that simply solicit and pass along donated medications.”
National Children's Cancer Society meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to provide vital and unique services for children with cancer, their families, and survivors."
Year, State Incorporated:
1987, MO
The National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS) provides direct financial services to children with cancer, their families, and survivors. The organization reports it does this through its Transportation Assistance Fund, Emergency Assistance Fund, Family Support program, Beyond the Cure program and Global Outreach program. Additionally, the NCCS distributes donated pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to medical centers in countries with less advanced treatment facilities. The NCCS also provides emotional and educational support for children and their families at every stage of illness and recovery.
For the year ended September 30, 2024, National Children's Cancer Society's program expenses were:
| Division of Patient and Family Services | $6,350,017 |
| Supplemental Family Support | $1,372,078 |
| Public Information and Education | $258,736 |
| Total Program Expenses | $7,980,831 |
Chief Executive
Mark Stolze, President and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*
$246,318
Chair of the Board
Scott Stringer
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Forensic Accountant
Board Size
13
Paid Staff Size
17
*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
The NCCS incurred joint costs of $3,130,174 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $2,054,394 was allocated to fundraising expenses, $839,688 was allocated to program expenses, and $236,092 was allocated to administrative expenses.
Fundraising costs were 29% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $9,038,117, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
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 National Children's Cancer Society's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024.
Source of Funds
| In-kind contributions | $4,572,610 |
| Contributions | $4,173,103 |
| Investment income | $1,228,990 |
| Gain on Forgiveness of Accounts Payable | $1,226,059 |
| Special events, net | $292,404 |
| List rental income | $29,113 |
| Total Income | $11,522,279 |
Programs: 71% Fundraising: 23% Administrative: 6%
| Total Income | $11,522,279 |
| Total expenses: | $11,309,130 |
| Program expenses | $7,980,831 |
| Fundraising expenses | $2,651,206 |
| Administrative expenses | $677,093 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $213,149 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $5,532,293 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $-14,010 |
| Ending Net Assets | $5,731,432 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,431,685 |
| Total Assets | $7,163,117 |
Note 1: As noted in the financial section above, "other changes in net assets" refers to change in value of annuities.
Note 2: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024, the NCCS received in-kind gifts totaling $4,572,610 in the form of pharmaceuticals.
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 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 International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Meets Standards
-
Standards Not Met
-
Did Not Disclose
-
Review in Progress
-
Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance