The Thanc Foundation Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

The thanc foundation carries out research related to head and neck cancer and thyroid cancer; provides education for both the physicians who treat these patients as well as patients and their care partners, and also provides patient support materials via online resources. The various programs which the organization focused on in 2025 are tiro (thyroid international recommendations online), the thanc (thyroid, head and neck cancer) guide and a mentoring and clinical research initiative led by a team of research associates under the direction of medical advisor dr. Mark urken. The research conducted within the various programs of the thanc foundation is designed to result in studies with statistical significance regarding the effect of cancer therapies so treatments can be tailored to improve clinical outcomes for patients to enhance quality of life. As referenced above, the thanc guide is a comprehensive website to help thyroid, head and neck cancer patients and their care partners and family members deal with the early stages following the diagnosis of head and neck cancer as well as thyroid cancer. This initial diagnosis period is typically fraught with tremendous anxiety and uncertainty. The website has been continually updated. In 2025 we continued to add written and video content on the head and neck and thyroid cancer journey in addition to simplifying and updating the language of the website. The site currently contains many pages of expert written content in layman's terms and is used by over 70,000 unique visitors globally each month. The website also provides suggestions for how to manage the emotional and psychological aspects of a cancer diagnosis and treatment and how to talk to younger family members about these cancers and their treatments. It also contains videos of patients sharing their stories. This gives a keen awareness of the upheaval these diseases have on the family unit and provides much needed support so patients realize they are not alone - and that others before them have successfully navigated this difficult journey. The website also includes information for children and teens, with stories and games to reach this younger audience. In 2020 thanc developed tiro (thyroid international recommendations online) which is a tool designed to compare and contrast trusted clinical practice guidelines in the management of thyroid cancer. Areas of concordance and discordance are highlighted. In areas where discordance exists, educational content is referenced and a weekly education session for all thyroid cancer providers was started during the first week of the covid-19 pandemic lockdown and has continued to the present day with over 265 sessions to date. These sessions are recorded, referenced in tiro and available to educate physicians at a time convenient to them. Thanc runs awareness campaigns twice per year in which 30 stories are shared in 30 days in april (oral, head and neck cancer awareness month) and september (thyroid cancer awareness month). These stories are shared on social media and bring new users to the resources thanc has created. In 2025, thanc continued a quarterly webinar series which was started in 2024 aimed at patients and care partners and moderated by a childlife expert. The webinars focus on topics relevant to traveling the cancer journey and at times may also include patients and physicians or professionals involved in the care of these patients to provide knowledge, hope and support. In 2025 thanc continued work on marginview3d which is a unique software and workflow program designed to enhance communication between the surgeon and pathologist during oncologic surgery. It is thanc's goal to ultimately improve cancer outcomes for patients through use of this tool.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 92%; rating input score 92
• Program expense ratio: 72.1%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.33 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15.9%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.83; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 37.4%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -6.8% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -4.6% per year; rating input score 0; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings