As a nation, we have given billions of dollars (Giving USA) annually to help people in need. That amount continues to climb as the need to help others grows more each year. Fighting cancer has been a strong desire for us and while some progress has been made in prevention and research, it’s unfortunately still touching too many lives.

Since this is October and its Breast Cancer Awareness month, there are many in-need foundations and research companies sending out blogs, posts on social media and email marketing asking for donations. Do you know about the organizations you are giving to? And, is your money going to the right place?

We thought we’d make things easier for you because it can be a daunting task weeding through all the non-profits that are out there as well as figuring out whether they are legit or not. And, you should use these more as a guide and not the sole formative reason.

Do You Know Where Your Money Is Going?

We’ve put together a list of trustworthy charity watch dogs (based from Consumer Reports) and their top-rated cancer organizations, so you can feel more confident in who you donate to. You should be aware of where your money goes and how the organization uses or allocates your money because sadly, there are organizations that spend too much on their administrative costs and not enough going to the worthy cause.

Check out this list of 266 organizations accredited and not accredited.

Their List of Approved Charities:

  • Breast Cancer Research Foundation
    New York, N.Y.
  • Cancer Survivors’ Fund
    Missouri City, Texas
  • Cancer Research Institute
    New York, N.Y.
  • Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRA)
    New York, N.Y.
  • Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
    Manhattan Beach, Calif.
  • Childhood Leukemia Foundation
    Brick, N.J.
  • Children’s Leukemia Research Association
    Garden City, N.Y.
  • United Breast Cancer Foundation
    Huntington, N.Y.
  • Stand Up to Cancer – Entertainment Industry Foundation
    Los Angeles, CA.
  • Walker Cancer Research Institute
    Aberdeen, Md.
  • Childhood Leukemia Foundation
    Brick, N.J.

 

Their top list of cancer charities with ratings:

Charity Rating
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners A-
Breast Cancer Research Foundation A
Cancer Research Institute A
Entertainment Industry Foundation A
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society A-
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center A-
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation A+
National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund A
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance A
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network A-
Prevent Cancer Foundation B+
Prostate Cancer Foundation A-

 

Aside from the Consumer Reports list, we are aware that there are many other cancer related organizations and non-profits out there that can use your help so, check out America’s Best Charities. Their mission: “America’s Best Charities (ABC) is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit association of the nation’s finest charities.  Our purpose is to represent charities that meet the highest standards of public accountability and program effectiveness and to facilitate gifts to those charities from contributors in fund drives conducted at work and on the web.”  They have an extensive list of cancer related non-profits.

While you do need to do your homework, bottom line, regardless of how much you give, it’s the gesture that matters the most especially to those past and present suffering from cancer as well as those in the future who will.