Breast Cancer Funding: Direct Services vs. Research and Advocacy
In recent years, overall nonprofit funding for direct services, like diagnostic procedures and treatment, has decreased, thus making it increasingly difficult for organizations to serve their populations.
The American Cancer Society’s most recent Form 990 reflects that $102,531,589 of grant money was given towards organizations performing research, but only $87,214 was dedicated to direct services. The increase in research funding in recent years highly benefit organizations like ACS, who is focused on finding a cure for breast cancer. However, we must also address the immediate issue of the significant disparity between the amount of funding that research groups receive compared to direct service programs.
In fact, the growing disparity of funding is exemplified by dissolution of Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, the host of AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer. At the end of 2017, AVON announced that they would “no longer [be] funding partnerships/projects in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada” as their operations become more global, and focus instead on research efforts by becoming the first national presenting sponsor for ACS’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program. However, AVON’s retreat from funding breast cancer organizations was a significant blow to direct service programs, including Breast Treatment Task Force (BTTF).
Other breast cancer groups, such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure, do offer programs for direct services, but these services only make up 7% of their annual budget (as reflected by their 2016 annual report). As direct service funds decrease, larger responsibility to offer free or affordable services fall on safety-net organizations like BTTF.
Yet, what is the impact on underserved patients who need breast care procedures when the focus of prominent non-profit groups shifts from direct services to research? When large non-profit organizations decrease the funds that are allocated for direct services it sends a message to breast cancer patients that access to care and treatment is no longer a priority. While it is important to look to the future and support contributions to clinical research that could one day lead to a cure for breast cancer, let us not forget the millions of underserved women right now who need support and services made possible by the level of funding that only these large, non-profit organizations can provide.
The figures that are represented in the chart provide the general impression of the distribution of funds designated for research, advocacy/education, and direct service programs*. The data has been gathered from 10 large breast service organizations with NYC as the primary or a prominent location: American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, CancerCare, Ralph Lauren Center, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Project Renewal ScanVan, Young Survival Coalition, and the American Italian Cancer Foundation. This data was collected from financial reports that span 2014-2017. Although the data is not from all the same years, we believe that it accurately represents the disproportionate distribution of funds for breast services.
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BTTF provides high-quality detection, treatment and education to the uninsured, working patients of New York City. While large cancer organizations have substantial funding and exhaustive networks, more and more patients are referred to BTTF. As the Cuomo initiative roll out in 2018, BTTF has experienced a 30% increase in patient referrals, and expects this number to increase to 50% or more later this year. Higher number of referrals for programs like BTTF signals the need for direct services program, which are losing funds to research programs.
*Research refers to money that was granted to groups to perform research into new cures and treatments for breast cancer. Advocacy indicates funds that are used to promote education and prevention tactics regarding breast cancer. Direct services are treatments and detection programs that directly aid the patients.
