Affiliate Spotlight

Why Komen?

The reason behind the running ribbon...

This webpage was created to educate volunteers, donors, grantees and the general public by providing in-depth, honest and useful information regarding how your donation of time, talents and dollars are a worthwhile investment into our community and the promise to end breast cancer forever.
Much of the public believes that all pink ribbons are the same, but this is not true.  Please read below to learn how the Central Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is different and how your donation, no matter how large or small can be a part of big change.

• Transparency
• Local Grant Programs
• Grassroots Volunteerism
• Four-Star Rated Charity
• Dedicated to Breast Cancer Only

Transparency
Our goal is to protect our good name (reputation) by which you have come to know us.  When working with community partners in third party events in which proceeds from the event benefits the Central Valley Affiliate, we follow the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance guidelines, our national organization’s branding guidelines, Internal Revenue requirements and risk management insurance requirements. Events or promotions  must clearly state a specific percentage of net revenue or a specific dollar amount that will be contributed to the Central Valley Affiliate.

Local Grant Programs
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the only breast cancer organization where 75% of funds raised stays in our community and goes directly to local services and resources for Fresno County residents through our community grants. The remaining 25% of the funds raised goes directly to Komen National Breast Cancer Research and Awards Program.  Visit our grants page
Komen Central Valley grant funds are restricted to breast cancer programs to non-profit organizations.  Every two years, In order to ensure that local funding addresses the unmet breast health needs in Fresno County, the Komen Central Valley Affiliate conducts a community needs assessment to determine where gaps in breast cancer services exist to guide the selection of local grant recipients and the design of special projects for collaboration.  These awards help bridge these gaps for hospitals, clinics, support groups and other organizations supporting breast cancer education, screening, diagnostic procedures, treatment and support services throughout Fresno County.  For additional information, please review our complete Komen Central Valley Community Profile

Grassroots Volunteerism
• Our Affiliate operates daily through grassroots volunteers with a limited paid staff of 1.5.
• 12 board members, who create and follow a strategic plan based on our mission.
• 40+ Race for the Cure committee members, the Central Valley Race for the Cure, a largest annual fundraiser, is entirely volunteer-run.
• 350+ grassroots volunteers who assist on-site at events, secure donations of goods or services, and help do whatever is needed!
• Interested in general volunteering or being a leader, volunteer TODAY!

Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating-Four Years In a Row
Charity Navigator is the premier independent charity evaluator who rates charities by evaluating two broad areas of financial health, their organizational efficiency and their organizational capacity. Charity Navigator ratings show givers how efficiently they believe a charity will use a donor’s support today, and to what extent the charities are growing their programs and services over time. They provide these ratings so that givers can make intelligent giving decisions, and so the philanthropic community can monitor itself effectively.  For more info on Susan G. Komen’s Charity Navigator Rating, please visit here.

Dedicated to Breast Cancer Only
• As a predominately grassroots volunteer organization, we know we can’t be all things to all people. Our organizational success is based on volunteers giving their time and talent to be leaders. Thus, we address one cancer...breast cancer. We take one cause and fight it to the best of our ability. Our volunteers are united and passionate because breast cancer has touched their lives at some point to someone they care about.
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest private funder of breast cancer research and community health programs. With more than $1.3 billion invested to date, Komen for the Cure is moving ahead with its commitment to invest $2 billion by the year 2017.
• Every major advance in the fight against breast cancer has been touched by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
• Susan G. Komen has helped train more than 400 breast cancer researchers and funded more than 1,800 research projects over the past 26 years.
• The promise of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is to energize science to find the cures.

 Banking on a Promise

Haven’t you always wanted to show the Central Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® ribbon wherever you go?  Well, now is your chance. 
Learn how Bank of America is supporting our promise with uniquely designed credit cards, debit cards and checks.