Why do various national charity watchdog groups rate the American Cancer Society differently?
Charity watchdog groups rate organizations based on various criteria. Some evaluate organizations solely on the percentage of funds dedicated to programs, without consideration of the organization’s size, the scope of its mission or achievement of the organization’s stated goals. Others compare dissimilar organizations with dissimilar funding sources. In the case of mission and funding, one size does not fit all. Some organizations receive large endowments or government funding. The American Cancer Society relies mainly on small, private donations. Some organizations charge fees to offset program costs. The American Cancer Society provides all patient services free of charge. Some organizations offer a single service to their clients. The American Cancer Society offers an array of services and addresses cancer in four major and distinct ways: through research, education, advocacy and service. That said, the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey spends only 3 percent of its
