"Looking at Charity Navigator’s list of charities,
Susan G. Komen’s overall rating is a disappointing 57.90 "
The Komen foundation has the highest rating of any major breast cancer foundation. The scale, by the way is 0 - 70. For comparison, the Red Cross is extremely well managed and scores a 60. The Boy Scouts of America score 47.
Komen Foundation fundraisers criticized
For nearly 20 years, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been raising money for breast cancer research. In fact, the group has become one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations and has raised more than $250 million over the last two decades.
But a pro-life group says the Komen Foundation may actually be contributing to the problem of breast cancer by funding organizations that promote abortion.
In a statement released May 3, Karen Malec, a 15-year cancer survivor and president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, said that since abortion became legal in 1973, the rate of breast cancer has doubled. She said that if the Komen Foundation and its supporters were truly interested in reducing rates of breast cancer, they would not give money to Planned Parenthood and other organizations that promote abortion.
“Every year, sneakered women raise [money] for cancer businesses that are more interested in research than disease prevention,” said Malec. “Breast cancer rates haven’t declined. They’ve increased.”
She said that more than 211,000 cases of invasive breast cancer and 59,000 cases of in-situ breast cancer are expected this year. One in 7.5 American women develops the disease in her lifetime. In 1970, one in 12 women developed the disease.
Malec’s mention of “sneakered women” refers to the Komen Foundation’s most widely known and most successful fundraising method — a series of 5K races around the country called The Race for the Cure. Over a million people participate in races across the nation, with each participant raising money through sponsors. Proceeds from races go to research and education projects, and each local Komen chapter awards grants to local organizations that have breast cancer research or awareness programs.
The Komen Foundation gives millions of dollars each year to hundreds of non-profit organizations - including several Planned Parenthood chapters.
The Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer points to 28 out of 37 worldwide studies that have independently linked induced abortion with breast cancer. These studies suggest that induced abortions cause biological changes to occur in women’s breasts that make them more susceptible to cancer.
The Coalition has criticized the Komen Foundation for awarding grants to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides abortions. Karen Malec, president of the Coalition said in a recent press release, “We find it appalling that an anti-breast cancer foundation would help fund Planned Parenthood whose sales of abortion ‘services’ contribute significantly to the breast cancer rates in this country.”
— E.P. News
Looking at Charity Navigator’s list of similar charities, though, we find more alarming news, especially to anyone concerned with actually finding a cure for breast cancer. It seems that the breast cancer industry is far more interested in lining its own pockets than in finding a cure or treating patients. While Susan G. Komen’s overall rating is a disappointing 57.90, look how she compares to others in the same arena:
PEER ANALYSIS
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation 57.90
National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund 47.55
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization 42.74
The Rose 61.13
American Breast Cancer Foundation 40.71
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Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Eradicating breast cancer through research, education, screening and treatment Dallas, TX 75265
RATINGS
OVERALL RATING:
(57.62)
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY
Program Expenses 76.2%
Administration Expenses 11.9%
Fundraising Expenses 11.9%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.13
EFFICIENCY RATING:
(32.62)
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY
Primary Revenue Growth 16.9%
Program Expenses Growth 12.9%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.41
CAPACITY RATING:
(25.00)
PEER ANALYSIS
Charity Name Overall
Score Overall
Rating
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation 57.62
National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund 47.55
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization 42.74
The Rose 61.13
American Breast Cancer Foundation 40.71
INCOME STATEMENT: FYE 03/2004
Revenue
Primary Revenue $117,686,976
Other Revenue $14,278,435
Total Revenue: $131,965,411
Expenses
Program Expenses $98,674,726
Administration Expenses $15,452,558
Fundraising Expenses $15,432,736
Total Functional Expenses: $129,560,020
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the Year $2,405,391
Net Assets: $56,457,947
MISSION
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Komen Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Komen Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards, educational and scientific conferences and community-based outreach programs around the world.