An Insider’s Guide to Choosing a Cancer Charity
A veteran fundraiser shares his best tips to make the biggest difference
You want to make a difference in the fight against cancer. You are motivated enough to volunteer your time or make a donation, but where do you begin? There are scores of cancer-related organizations all claiming to do important work. So how do you choose?
This isn’t a stinging expose about waste, fraud, or scandal. It’s a practical tip sheet from a 30-year veteran fundraiser and nonprofit marketing professional, offering you an insider’s take on the vast network of cancer charities.
I began my career in the nonprofit sector straight out of college in the late 1980’s doing grassroots fundraising in rural Tennessee for the American Cancer Society. It was a fascinating introduction to the world of charities. One of my volunteer groups would meet monthly at a meat-and-three restaurant in the town square in Centerville, TN. The chapter president would call the ACS meeting to order by instructing members to put out their cigarettes. I learned quickly to place the most important items at the top of our agenda, because when someone in the group starting jonesing for a smoke, the meeting would abruptly adjourn. This little chapter would organize a variety of fundraisers to benefit the ACS, from…
