Last July, GreatNonprofits, in partnership with GuideStar and Planet Cancer, invited the public to submit reviews and rate nonprofits serving the cancer community. More than 46,000 people submitted 1,864 reviews for more than 120 nonprofits. The reviews can be seen in the organizations' reports on both GreatNonprofits and GuideStar.

An impressive variety of cancer support, education, and advocacy organizations were reviewed. "Through this first-ever list of top-rated cancer nonprofits, you can see how some of these nonprofits literally have saved lives," stated GreatNonprofits founder and CEO Perli Ni. "Donors and volunteers who are interested in fighting cancer can now see which nonprofits are really making a difference."

The following nonprofits had the most positive reviews in their budget ranges or categories and were named the winners of the 2009 GreatNonprofits Cancer Fighters Awards:

• Annual budget less than $250,000—Oral Cancer Foundation, Newport Beach, Calif.
• Annual budget between $250,000 and $1 million—weSpark Cancer Support Center, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
• Annual budget more than $1 million—Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, Irvine, Calif.
• Best of Northeast—I’m Too Young For This! New York, N.Y.
• Best of South—Spirit Jump, Boynton Beach, Fla.
• Best of Midwest—Mission4Maureen, South Euclid, Ohio
• Best of Northwest—Breast Cancer Prevention Fund, Everett, Wash.
• Best of Mountain—First Descents, Vail, Colo.
• Best of West—Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Read more about the 2009 GreatNonprofit Cancer Fighters Awards >
Read more about GreatNonprofit reviews on GuideStar >

Suzanne E. Coffman, September 2009
© 2009, GuideStar USA, Inc.

Suzanne Coffman is GuideStar's director of communications and editor of the Newsletter.

Don't Forget the Youth Thrive Awards

The Youth Thrive Awards campaign continues through the end of the month. Kick off the new school year by writing a review about your favorite nonprofit that serves youth. You'll let the world know about a worthy organization, and you might even win a Birkenstock certificate, treats from Greyston Bakery, or another prize. Reviews must be submitted by September 30, 2009.

If you are with an organization that serves youth, there's still time to ask your donors, volunteers, board members, clients, and other stakeholders to submit reviews. The nonprofits that receive the most positive reviews in their respective categories will be named Youth Thrive Award winners.

Learn more about writing reviews >
Learn more about the benefits to nonprofits of stakeholder reviews >