Head for the Cure Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Head for the cure (hftc) is more than just a fundraising organization; we are a community dedicated to offering connection, hope, and support to those affected by brain cancer. Our mission is to raise funds for brain tumor research and programs that honor and celebrate the lives of patients, caregivers, and their loved ones. In 2024, hftc celebrated its most successful year to date, driven by the guiding threads of "honoring the journey, accelerating the mission." this commitment resulted in raising over $3 million, which will expand our impact on the medical and scientific communities fighting for our brain tumor patients, caregivers, and their loved ones. These funds ensure that we continue honoring and celebrating the lives and legacies of those affected by this disease, ensuring their stories inspire both hope and progress. We amplified our impact by funding innovative research, expanding support programs, and fostering key collaborations with medical professionals nationwide.our core belief that no one fights alone is brought to life by our signature head for the cure 5k run/walk events. These events are the cornerstone of our community building and fundraising efforts. In 2024, more than 20,000 participants came together in 21 cities across the country. Every 5k serves as a beacon of hope and a platform for shared experiences, offering unity, remembrance, and support to the brain cancer community. While a core purpose remains raising funds for vital research, these events equally serve to foster deep community connections.beyond the 5k finish line, hftc provides a variety of specialized resources to support patients and caregivers throughout their journey. This year saw the significant expansion of path to hope (formerly known as brains for the cure) and the brain cancer support & solutions alliance (bcssa). As its first major initiative, the bcssa appointed a neuro-oncology nurse navigator who offers highly specialized assistance addressing both the psychological and practical needs of patients and caregivers. Furthermore, we advanced our technological reach with the launch of the "join your path to hope" (jph) online resource, hosted on path to hope. This accessible platform features a quick, intuitive questionnaire designed to provide newly diagnosed patients and caregivers with immediate, personalized resources. We also continued to cultivate emotional support through our monthly legacy of hope online support group, facilitated by hftc staff, which includes guest speakers and discussions on grief-related topics, helping participants find comfort and honor the legacies of their loved ones.we recognize that the brain cancer diagnosis journey is long. With the support of our dedicated community, we are committed to walking it together, step by step. Looking ahead, we plan to expand our geographical reach by launching in five new cities, enhancing our existing patient and caregiver resources, and creating new connections between community members through compelling content and continuous support initiatives.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.7%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 70.1%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.11 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.2%; rating input score 99; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -2.2%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.28; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.1% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.9% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings