American Cancer Society, Inc.
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December 15, 2012
I have donated to this charity several time for Memorials. Not only have they NEVER acknowliedged these donations, they NEVER sent an acknowledgement to the families I "memorialized". They won't be getting any more donations from me ValentineGal
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Was your donation impactful?
Unlikely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Unlikely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
Review from CharityNavigator
1 previous review
February 23, 2012
My mother-in-law died in 2004. After she passed away, my father-in-law moved in with us. We started getting requests for donations from ACA addressed to my mother-in-law (they forwarded her mail to ... more
December 13, 2012
I have been trying for years to get my mother-in-law off their donation request mailing list. She never lived at my address, but they send donation requests here anyway. She died in 2004. I have repeatedly called and emailed the national headquarters. I have called the local office - not an easy thing to get their number. Nothing works, and nobody seems to know why I am still receiving solicitations. Any organization that wastes that much money sending paper to dead people doesn't deserve my money. Any organization that disorganized that they don't know how to remove names from their mailing lists doesn't deserve my money.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
February 23, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
My mother-in-law died in 2004. After she passed away, my father-in-law moved in with us. We started getting requests for donations from ACA addressed to my mother-in-law (they forwarded her mail to our address. She never lived here.) I have tried for years to get off their snail mail list to no avail. The most recent person I spoke with apologized and admitted that it was very difficult to get off their mailing list! Why should I support an organization that wastes that much money? They should automatically stop mailing money requests after a few years if nothing comes in.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
December 13, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I am the president of a non profit that provides funding to families of children afflicted with cancer. We help with travel and lodging expenses. We take in only a drop in the bucket of donations compaired to the ACS. We have had numerious families refered to us for help by the ACS. I have a hard time understanding how this orginazation can take in millions of dollars a year in donations but will not offer $1 of support to these families. Even though we are a small non profit I guess we will have to, take up the slack from the big guys.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Somewhat badly
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Some
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 28, 2012
Impressed that the ACS provides free wigs and make up kits for women going thru treatment. They also have volunteers who provide transportation for those who need a ride to their treatments. They were very helpful when my aunt was going thru treatment. I highly recomend the work they are doing!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
November 2, 2012
I have been giving to this charity for the better part of a decade and I can't believe I didn't know how over paid the CEO of this non-profit is. 3 million of of the 919 million in revenue goes to this CEO yet there is a deficit each year. I'm switching my money to the red Cross. Out of the billions that they take in, the CEO only makes 500k, leaving more money to actually help people.
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Was your donation impactful?
Unlikely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 23, 2012
I am very saddened with the affairs of ACS. I am disgusted with their misuse of donations, including a CFO that makes over $2mill and secretaries that make six figures. It is also very difficult to obtain their financials and what they actually donate to research or care. As you may have recognized, you never hear about them donating funds to actual care of an individual cancer patient. My recommendations to all of you is to donate to St. Jude and to an individual dept in a University that is doing indepth research. Let's stop throwing our money away to these large monopolies that seem to use Cancer as a reason to get together for balls and parties. I am disgusted!!!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 18, 2012
I have been volunteering for Raly for Life, along with my daughter who organizes bake sale events and pariticpates in other fund raisers at her school for ACS. After seeing the , we'll be sepdning our time elsewhere. Shame on you, John Seffrin!
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
No
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A little
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Somewhat badly
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
October 10, 2012
I personally know someone who works for ACS, and I can personally tell you that they are legit. They do not spend a lot of money on commercial or ads. The Susan B. Komen is different than the ACS. Both are looking for a cancer cure, but the ACS is a good organization. They have many programs dedicated to helping patients. There is a free class taught by a volunteer cosmetologist to help those patients learn how to do their makeup and how to wear their wigs. There is a road to recovery service where they provide rides to doctor appointments or treatments when patients have no other way. There is a hope lodge so that patients can have a free place to stay if they have to travel away from home to get the best care. There are many more services that are provided like a wig bank. A cancer patient can go to this wig bank with a picture of themselves before cancer, and they will try to create a wig that is closest to their original hair. Yes, this organization sounds awful...are you kidding me? Only about 7 cents of every dollar goes to administration...that is 7 pennies...I'm glad I could clear a few things up for you. Never doubt the American Cancer Society...I know a LOT of people who have had cancer, one being my mom...and they helped her when we didn't know what else to do. the American Cancer Society is amazing. It is a very UNSELFISH organization. The next time you folks want to say otherwise, look at their website...and do some research before you open your mouth!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
October 4, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
The American Cancer Society is THE leading funder of research grants in the country. As a research scientist I have benefitted from their grants and as a patient, I have directly benefitted from their patient support. My research, along with my partners in the field, would not have made the strides we have made without the ACS. You guys are completely wrong. Over 80% of their incoming funds go to RESEARCH! Perhaps their national CEO receives close to a million dollars because they are extremely short staffed across the country. I wonder what Komen does with the millions they raise? Does 100% of it go to research? How much is the overhead for putting on three day walks? Do they have patient programs and services? To name a few that the ACS does, Look Good Feel Better sessions for women, support groups, peer counseling from survivors, oncology summer camps for children, transportation assistance, lodging assistance, free wigs, equipment, supplies... All of these programs are free of charge and paid for by donations, and program fundraisers. The American Cancer Society does an incredible amount of work for patients. The patient services is what sets them apart from other organizations that I have worked with. The patient services across ALL cancer diagnosis and ALL age ranges. Talk to the patients that have directly benefitted from ACS patient services. They don't help everyone and in my opinion that is in large part due to them trying to help ALL cancers. But I promise you, they do their absolute best and try to help everyone. I am here to tell you that a cure for some cancers are right around the corner. The ACS is playing a primary part in these cures. The only gripe I have is that they don't toot their own horn ENOUGH about all the great things they have accomplished. I promise you, there isn't a research development out there that the ACS does not have a hand in. In regards to their advertising, WHAT ADVERTISING? They have very little. And I promise you, they are only paying for heavily discounted or free advertising.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Quite well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
September 18, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
Washington Post 16 Sept 2012 Business Section says ACS paid InfoCision telemarketers 102% of the $5.4 million InfoCision collected for ACS in 2010. Telemarketers for charity apparently usually take the majority of the money they raise. Usually, it costs the charities nothing but only costs donors, so it's no skin off the charity's nose. I'm horrified.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Some
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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