Friends of Mel Foundation Inc

What it reported doing in 2017

Presently, the organization aims to support programs that educate cancer patients and their caregivers via resources and conferences. The goal is to provide survivors with the tools they need to navigate their cancer journey. The organization is collaborating with other non-profits to develop a curriculum for their annual conference. The aim is to provide individuals with information that will help them manage their lives during and after cancer treatment. The organization is most widely known in the community for the distribution of mel's bracelets. Mel was a boston based flight attendant for delta air lines for 38 years. Mel delighted in giving bracelets as gifts to the people she met while receiving treament, to the oncology nurses, to the fellow patients or to whomever she wished. Mel's bracelet is gifted as a token of appreciation to donors for their loyal support. Donations are accepted on the website, retail outlets and upon request. Proceeds from this activity have provided the means to distribute nearly 3 million dollars in support of research and support services to the community. The organization strives to find promising projects that impact patient care at both the grassroots and institutional levels. For example, one of the programs the organization has funded focuses exclusively on innovative clinical transitional cancer research. This program was chosen because it shares research results with other entities in the cancer community worldwide. In addition, the organization works closely with other not- for-profits that provide services directly to the cancer patients. Such services include but are not limited to: - individual and group support - immediate need - daycare, transportation, food - support for prosthetic, wig and accessory shops for cancer patients and survivors - partnering with organizations to raise funds for specific projects such as a resource center, lending library and healing garden - aiding other non-profits in their efforts to raise funds for programs they offer by way of auction donations or matching funds - providing opportunities for community service for youth groups and other volunteer programs - promoting services and support for persons with intellectual disabilities by contracting with the arc of middlesex (emarc) to assemble and package mel's bracelets

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 58.2%; rating input score 58

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -116.4%; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 16.5%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -23.4% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -28.8% per year; rating input score 0; 4th percentile among comparable filings