American Cancer Society Inc

Atlanta, GA · Founded 1942

National health organization funding cancer research, patient support, and public health advocacy

Primary audience
General Public
Work area
Community Service
Topic
Social Impact
Contact
Karen E Knudsen PHD

About Organization

American Cancer Society funds cancer research, provides patient support services, and advocates for public health policies to reduce cancer incidence and mortality. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the organization operates with $656.8 million in annual revenue and 3,300 employees serving patients and families nationwide through research grants, education, and direct services.

What They Focus On

Program Delivery

Implements evidence-based programs designed to achieve measurable outcomes and community impact.

Capacity Building

Develops organizational infrastructure and partnerships to enhance service quality and sustainability.

Research Impact

Conducts research and evaluation to inform best practices and demonstrate program effectiveness.

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2024)

$656.8M

-9.3% vs 2024

Assets (2024)

$1.8B

+3.6% vs 2024

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2024
2024 $724,184,531 $791,860,890 $1,746,878,475 3,348
2023
2023 $656,838,115 $756,272,604 $1,809,676,040 3,300
2022
2022 $674,472,929 $669,203,696 $1,780,605,245 3,153
2020
2020 $576,295,531 $564,007,903 $1,700,046,787 4,320
2019 $720,131,846 $730,686,668 $1,674,187,464 4,922
2018 $769,888,861 $740,575,770 $1,634,380,835 5,160

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Assess Needs

    Identifies community needs through data analysis and stakeholder engagement to inform program design.

  • 02

    Design Programs

    Develops evidence-based programs and services tailored to address identified needs and achieve measurable outcomes.

  • 03

    Deliver Services

    Implements programs through trained staff and partners to ensure quality service delivery and participant engagement.

  • 04

    Evaluate Impact

    Measures program effectiveness and collects feedback to continuously improve services and demonstrate results.

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by American Cancer Society Inc

Fund American Cancer Society, Probate & Trust Mana

Provides fund american cancer society, probate & trust mana designed to support organizational goals and deliver measurable community impact.

New Market Tax Credit Contribution

Provides new market tax credit contribution designed to support organizational goals and deliver measurable community impact.

Research/publiceducation

Conducts evidence-based research to inform program design, policy recommendations, and organizational strategy.

General Support For The Greater Cleveland Area

Provides general support for the greater cleveland area designed to support organizational goals and deliver measurable community impact.

Unrestricted General Support

Provides unrestricted general support designed to support organizational goals and deliver measurable community impact.

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind American Cancer Society Inc.

William L Dahut

William L Dahut

Chief Scientific Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $1,011,912
Arif Kamal

Arif Kamal

Chief Patient Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $868,358
Karen Downs

Karen Downs

Chief Communications Officer
Phyllis Harris

Phyllis Harris

Chief Legal and Risk Officer
Ricky Koch

Ricky Koch

Chief Information Officer
Lisa Lacasse

Lisa Lacasse

President, ACS CAN
Dave Lew

Dave Lew

Chief Marketing Officer
Brant Woodward

Brant Woodward

Senior Executive Vice President, Field Operations
Darrow Zeidenstein

Darrow Zeidenstein

Chief Development Officer
David Benson

David Benson

Executive Vice President, North Region
Jeff Fehlis

Jeff Fehlis

Executive Vice President, South Region
Kimberly Jackson

Kimberly Jackson

Executive Vice President, Southeast Region
Maria Gonzalez Olson

Maria Gonzalez Olson

Executive Vice President, West Region
Lillian Santos, Psy.D.

Lillian Santos, Psy.D.

Executive Vice President, Puerto Rico
Sarah Wells

Sarah Wells

Executive Vice President, Northeast Region
KE

Karen E Knudsen PHD

Chief Executive Officer, Outgoing
Full-time
Compensation: $2,015,611
KR

Kael Reicin

Chief Financial & Strategy Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $1,150,466
ML

Michael L Neal

Chief Of Organizational Advancement
Full-time
Compensation: $977,147
AC

Andre C Bokhoor

Chief People Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $950,673
TB

Timothy B Phillips

Chief Legal And Risk Officer, Outgoing
Full-time
Compensation: $677,507
TT

Tawana Thomas-Johnson

Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer
Full-time
Compensation: $497,819
ES

Emily Sandman

Senior Vice President, People Team
Full-time
Compensation: $486,536
SJ

Shane Jacobson

CEO
JB

John B Woodward

Senior EVP, Field Operations
Full-time
Compensation: $641,450

Milestones

2020

Program Expansion

2020

Enhanced service delivery and broadened community reach through strategic initiatives.

2023

Program Expansion

2023

Enhanced service delivery and broadened community reach through strategic initiatives.

2026

Program Expansion

2026

Enhanced service delivery and broadened community reach through strategic initiatives.

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

WA
Wayne A I Frederick MD MBA Facs Interim CEO/Board Director, Former 55.0 hrs/week · $553,974
AD
Asif Dhar MD MBA Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
BA
Brian A Marlow Cfa Board Chair 8.0 hrs/week
CL
Connie Lindsey Board Secretary 5.0 hrs/week
DG
Desiree G Rogers Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
ET
Edison T Liu MD Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
JW
Jaime Wesolowski Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
JC
Jose C Buenaga MBA Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
KE
Karen Etzkorn Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
KG
Kathleen Gallagher Msn Board Treasurer 5.0 hrs/week
KA
Katie A Eccles ESQ Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
KR
Kenneth R Stoll Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
MA
Mark A Goldberg MD Board Scientific Officer 5.0 hrs/week
MP
Michael Pellini MD Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
MT
Michael T Marquardt Board Immediate Past Chair 5.0 hrs/week
MM
Michelle M Le Beau PHD Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
NE
Norman E Sharpless MD Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
RW
Robert Winn MD Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
ST
Sean T Farnham Board Director 3.0 hrs/week
TM
Terri McClements Board Vice Chair 5.0 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2024)

$10.3M

Highest Paid

$2.1M

Karen E Knudsen PHD

Compensated Officers

11

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Karen E Knudsen PHD Chief Executive Officer, Outgoing $2,015,611 $53,274 $2,068,885 55
Kael Reicin Chief Financial & Strategy Officer $1,150,466 $48,911 $1,199,377 55
William L Dahut Chief Scientific Officer $1,011,912 $61,544 $1,073,456 55
Andre C Bokhoor Chief People Officer $950,673 $69,801 $1,020,474 55
Michael L Neal Chief Of Organizational Advancement $977,147 $43,185 $1,020,332 55
Arif Kamal Chief Patient Officer $868,358 $24,053 $892,411 55
John B Woodward Senior EVP, Field Operations $641,450 $67,657 $709,107 55
Timothy B Phillips Chief Legal And Risk Officer, Outgoing $677,507 $15,644 $693,151 55
Wayne A I Frederick MD MBA FACS Interim CEO/Board Director, Former $553,974 $553,974 55
Tawana Thomas-Johnson Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer $497,819 $46,589 $544,408 55
Emily Sandman Senior Vice President, People Team $486,536 $49,116 $535,652 55

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$19.8M Grants Received
$137.3M Grants Given
95 Organizations

Top Funders

45 total
CT
Cancer Trust
$5.0M
PC
PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund
$4.1M
AD
Acs Development Company Ii Inc.
$2.6M
TC
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation 2 grants
$790K
CC
Chc Creating Healthier Communities
$616K
UW
United Way Of Central Alabama Inc.
$578K
SG
Sanford Group Return
$505K
TC
The Cleveland Foundation
$498K
MS
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc.
$458K
AE
American Endowment Foundation 2 grants
$395K
+35 more funders

Top Grantees

50 total
AC
ACS Cancer Action Network Washington, DC
$34.0M
YU
Yale University New Haven, CT
$5.6M
TO
Trustees Of The Univ Of Penn Philadelphia, PA
$5.1M
MG
Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA
$4.3M
WU
Washington University St Louis, MO
$3.9M
DF
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA
$3.7M
IS
Icahn Schl Of Med At Mt Sinai New York, NY
$3.6M
CU
Columbia University New York, NY
$3.5M
RO
Regents Of The Univ Of CA UCLA Los Angeles, CA
$3.5M
UO
Univ Of Colorado Denver, CO
$3.4M
+40 more grantees
Cancer Trust PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund Acs Development Company Ii Inc. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Chc Creating Healthier Communities United Way Of Central Alabama Inc. Sanford Group Return The Cleveland Foundation Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. American Endowment Foundation Columbus Foundation Spinks Family Foundation Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc. The Albertsons Companies Foundation The Joseph S And Jeanette M Silber Greater Houston Community Foundation Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund The Wawa Foundation Inc. The Ayco Charitable Foundation Pledgeling Foundation Captain Steve's Poor Girls Open Inc. United Way of Greater Cincinnati The Connecticut Community Foundation The Rhode Island Community Foundation Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians United Way Of Berks County Inc. Community Foundation Of New Jersey Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center The Clara Lionel Foundation Colorado Gives Foundation ACS Cancer Action Network Yale University Trustees Of The Univ Of Penn Massachusetts General Hospital Washington University Dana Farber Cancer Institute Icahn Schl Of Med At Mt Sinai Columbia University Regents Of The Univ Of CA UCLA Univ Of Colorado Ohio State University The Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Northwestern University Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Board Of Regents On The Univ Stanford University Trustees Of Boston Univ Bumc Sloan - Kettering Ins For Cancer Research Univ of Texas Southwestern Medical CTR Johns Hopkins University St Jude Children's Resrch Hosp University Of Rochester The University Of Texas Health Baylor College Of Medicine University Of Utah Indiana University University Of Massachusetts Regents Of The Univ Of CA Mayo Clinic University Of Miami
Cancer Trust PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund Acs Development Company Ii Inc. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Chc Creating Healthier Communities United Way Of Central Alabama Inc. Sanford Group Return The Cleveland Foundation Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. American Endowment Foundation Columbus Foundation Spinks Family Foundation Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc. The Albertsons Companies Foundation The Joseph S And Jeanette M Silber Greater Houston Community Foundation Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund The Wawa Foundation Inc. The Ayco Charitable Foundation Pledgeling Foundation Captain Steve's Poor Girls Open Inc. United Way of Greater Cincinnati The Connecticut Community Foundation The Rhode Island Community Foundation Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians United Way Of Berks County Inc. Community Foundation Of New Jersey Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center The Clara Lionel Foundation Colorado Gives Foundation ACS Cancer Action Network Yale University Trustees Of The Univ Of Penn Massachusetts General Hospital Washington University Dana Farber Cancer Institute Icahn Schl Of Med At Mt Sinai Columbia University Regents Of The Univ Of CA UCLA Univ Of Colorado Ohio State University The Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Northwestern University Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Board Of Regents On The Univ Stanford University Trustees Of Boston Univ Bumc Sloan - Kettering Ins For Cancer Research Univ of Texas Southwestern Medical CTR Johns Hopkins University St Jude Children's Resrch Hosp University Of Rochester The University Of Texas Health Baylor College Of Medicine University Of Utah Indiana University University Of Massachusetts Regents Of The Univ Of CA Mayo Clinic University Of Miami

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Federal Funding

Government awards and grants from USAspending.gov

$17.4M Total Obligated
$17.4M Total Amount
4 Awards
1 Agency

Awards

Agency Award ID Type Period Amount
HHS NU38OT000283 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (B) 2018-2024 $9,496,521
HHS NU38PW000015 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (B) 2024-2029 $3,200,000
HHS NU66IP000682 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (B) 2021-2026 $2,450,000
HHS NU58DP007540 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (B) 2023-2028 $2,250,000

Source: USAspending.gov. Amounts represent total federal obligations.

Lobbying Activity

Lobbying Disclosure Act registrations

Self-Lobbying
6 Registrations
4 Clients
Yes Self-Lobbying

Clients 4 total

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc..
3 filings
Self
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
1 filing
Self
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (Acscan)
1 filing
Self
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.
1 filing
Self

Source: Senate Office of Public Records — Lobbying Disclosure Act

Contact

Get in touch with American Cancer Society Inc

Phone

800-227-2345

Social

Visit Website
270 Peachtree St NW 1300 Atlanta, GA 303031246