Susan G. Komen for the Cure

History

The foundation's namesake, Susan Goodman Komen, died of breast cancer in 1980 at age 36. Her younger sister Nancy Brinker, who has stated that she believed Susan's outcome might have been better had she known more about cancer and its treatment, founded the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982.

In 1998, the U.S. Postal Service issued the first Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp.

In 2007, the 25th anniversary of the organization, they changed the name to "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" and its logo to the pink ribbon. The logo represents Komen's signature Race for the Cure event, a jogging race that raises money for the foundation.

In December 2009, Nancy Brinker was appointed CEO of the organization. Judith A. Salerno became CEO in 2013. In November 2016, the organization announced that Salerno would step down as CEO the following month. In 2017, Paula Schneider breast cancer survivor and business executive who led the turnaround of American Apparel as its CEO and held several leadership roles in global brands, became the CEO.

In August 2025, after seven years of leadership, Schneider transitioned into the role of honorary vice chair.

Activities

Use of funds

In the fiscal year 2024, Susan G. Komen reported total expenses of $145.1 million, with 73% ($105.6 million) allocated to program services including research, patient care, and advocacy. Fundraising accounted for 19% ($27.4 million) of expenses, while management and general administrative costs were 8% ($12 million). During the year, the organization reported providing more than 44,000 patient support services, distributing $9.1 million in financial assistance, and investing $17.2 million in breast cancer research, including grants focused on metastatic and aggressive forms of the disease.

Grants and awards

Komen provides funding for basic, clinical, and translational breast cancer research and in breast health education. The organization has invested nearly $1.1 billion in over 2800 research grants.

Since 1992, Komen has also annually awarded work in the field of cancer research with the Komen Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction.

In 2012, a Reuters analysis found that while Komen’s research grants had grown in absolute terms, they accounted for a smaller share of its increasing donations In 2011, the foundation spent $63 million (15%) of its donations on research grants and awards.

Global activities

Since 1982, the organization has reported awarding more than 200 grants to 167 international research recipients, totaling approximately $59.4 million. As of 2024, Komen maintains international affiliates in Italy and Puerto Rico.

The organization also participates in several international cancer-related collaborations and provides breast cancer educational tools and materials translated into multiple languages.

Advocacy

The Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy, launched in 2019, works to empower, connect, and mobilize advocates and policymakers to drive lasting change. The organization supports state and federal policies aimed at accelerating breast cancer research, expanding insurance coverage for diagnostics and treatment, and reducing the burden on patients.

Fundraising

Events

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure consists of a series of 5K runs and fitness walks to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

The first race was run in Dallas, Texas in 1983, with 800 participants. By 2016, over 1.6 million people participated in the race.

The race's primary source of revenue is donations collected by the participants. In 2011, Komen said that three-quarters of the event's proceeds were being used locally to pay for community outreach programs, breast health education, and breast cancer screening and treatment projects run by the Komen affiliate, with the remaining quarter sent to the central organization.

Komen's other nationwide events include:

• Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, a 60-mile (97 km) fundraiser walk
• Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure – fundraiser half and full marathon
• Susan G. Komen Bowl for the Cure – fund-raising and awareness initiative founded in 2000 and sponsored by USBC and The Bowling Foundation.

Controversy and criticism

In 2010, Komen was rated one of the most trusted nonprofit organizations in America. Following a series of controversies between 2011 and 2017, some of its local affiliates merged or dissolved, and the organization experienced a decline in revenue. Komen's ranking on Charity Navigator, which was four stars (the highest rating) in 2013, sank to two stars in 2014. As of 2021, it ranked three stars, with a score of 82 out of 100. In 2023 it ranks 4 stars with a 95% rating.

Pinkwashing

Pinkwashing in cause marketing Main article: Pinkwashing (breast cancer)

Komen has faced controversies for alleged "pinkwashing". The term refers to marketing practices where organizations use breast cancer awareness campaigns while potentially contributing minimally to the cause or promoting products with questioned health impacts.

The organization stated that such collaborations provide outreach, particularly to underserved communities. In the 2010 'Buckets for the Cure' campaign with KFC, Komen highlighted that health messaging and alternative menu options were offered, and participation was voluntary.

In 2019, Komen created 'Live Pink' (now called Shop for the Cure), an online shopping platform for products that benefit breast cancer research and patient services.[[File:Letzigrund PR 87.JPG|left|thumb|Ribbon Branded Stadium]]

Donation criticisms

Komen receives over $55 million a year from 216 corporate sponsors. Some observers have raised questions about certain corporate partnerships and their alignment with breast cancer prevention goals.

Some campaigns require that consumers mail proof of purchase for a promoted item before the manufacturer donates, and some have a cap on the maximum amount donated. In 2002, credit card operator American Express launched the "Charge for a Cure" campaign that claimed that "in the search for a cure, every dollar counts." The amount donated per qualifying transaction, regardless of the purchase amount, was one cent.

Health criticisms

In 2008, Ford Motor Company released a limited edition of 2,500 Ford Mustangs with a "Warriors in Pink" package as part of its ongoing association with Komen.

In April 2010, Komen partnered with fast food restaurant chain KFC for the "Buckets for the Cure" campaign, which sold fried and grilled chicken in pink-branded buckets. The promotion raised over $4.2 million for the organization, its largest single contribution at the time. The partnership received media attention and some criticism regarding the promotion of fast food, though Komen stated that the campaign allowed it to reach a broader audience of women.

Komen has also collaborated with other companies for awareness campaigns, including Baker Hughes, which produced pink drill bits to raise awareness for breast cancer. Media coverage noted concerns about environmental and health impacts of the drilling industry, though these were not directly linked to Komen’s organizational practices.

Legal battles over trademarking

In 2007, the organization changed its name to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and trademarked the running ribbon as part of its branding strategy.

Komen has come under fire for legal action against other organizations using the phrase "for the cure" in their names. An August 2010 Wall Street Journal article detailed a case in which Komen told the organization Uniting Against Lung Cancer no longer to use the name "Kites for the Cure" for its annual fund-raising event. Komen also wrote to the organization to warn it "against any use of pink in conjunction with 'cure.'" More than 100 small charities have received legal opposition from Komen as a consequence of the use of the words "for the cure" in their names. Among the offending organizations and events were "Par for the Cure," "Surfing for a Cure," "Cupcakes for a Cure," and "Mush for the Cure".

Komen says that the organization protects its trademarks as a matter of financial stewardship to prevent confusion among donors; others have questioned the scope of trademark enforcement.

Komen stated that enforcement is necessary to prevent brand dilution and donor confusion. The organization holds over 130 registered trademarks and generally seeks out-of-court resolutions through cease-and-desist letters and coexistence agreements.

Relationship with Planned Parenthood

Komen funded breast health programs for underserved women through third-party organizations, including some services at Planned Parenthood.

Beginning in 2007, Komen granted money to pay for 170,000 clinical breast exams and 6,400 mammogram referrals through the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and affiliates. Komen had said its affiliates provide funds for breast cancer screening, education, and treatment programs in dozens of communities where Planned Parenthood is the only place poor, uninsured or under-insured women can receive these services. Planned Parenthood clinics do not perform mammograms, instead making referrals for their patients to sites that do them.

On January 31, 2012, Komen stopped funding exams provided by Planned Parenthood, citing a congressional investigation by Representative Cliff Stearns and a newly created internal rule about not funding organizations under federal, state, or local investigation. While conservative religious and anti-abortion groups applauded the move, it was denounced by several editorials, women's health advocacy groups, and politicians.

In the 24 hours after the news broke, Planned Parenthood received more than $400,000 from 6,000 donors, followed by pledges of a $250,000 matching grant from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a $250,000 gift from a foundation run by the CEO of Bonanza Oil Co. in Dallas to replace the lost funding.

Four days later, Komen's board of directors reversed the decision and announced that it would amend the policy to "make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political.". Several top-level staff members resigned from Komen during the controversy. In August, Brinker announced she would leave her CEO role. The number of participants at various Komen fundraising events dropped 15–30% in 2012. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure fundraising walks were scaled back to seven US cities in 2013 from 14, due to a 37% drop in participation over the preceding four years. In January 2014 it was reported that the foundation saw a decline of 22% in contributions in the year following their decision to cease (and then resume) funding for Planned Parenthood.

Karen Handel, the Brinker protégée whose opposition to abortion was at the center of the Planned Parenthood controversy, resigned and has published a book on the controversy titled Planned Bullyhood.

Embryonic stem cell research

In 2006, Komen wrote in its newsletter that embryonic stem cell research had promise for curing breast cancer. One such grant recipient was Robert A. Weinberg, Ph.D., through Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT.

In 2011, the anti-abortion Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer said that Komen gave $12 million to institutions such as Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the U.S. National Cancer Institute that funded stem cell research, which the Coalition considered to be abortion. In 2012, Komen said that it had never funded stem cell research. According to Science magazine, Christopher Umbricht got nearly $600,000 from Komen for molecular marker research at Johns Hopkins that includes stem cells.

CEO salary

According to Komen's 2011–12 IRS Form 990 declarations, Brinker made $684,717 that fiscal year, a 64% raise. Komen said the last CEO salary hike had taken place in November 2010. Charity Navigator continued to give Komen favorable overall ratings based on figures Komen had declared to the IRS, but Charity Navigator president and CEO Ken Berger called this compensation "extremely high".

After the release of this information, Judith A. Salerno was named CEO, with Brinker named Founder and Chair of Global Strategy.

References

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