5 Top Breast Cancer Charities

Nonprofit organizations worthy of your support

Breast cancer charities and organizations raise money to research a cure and support people living with breast cancer. But how do you pick a breast cancer charity to support?

There are several options, and it’s always worth learning more about any charity before you donate so that you know your money is going toward what you want it to.

You can do your own research on breast cancer (and other) charities by looking them up on Charity Navigator, a website that tells you how charities allocate funds.

To get your search started, here are five breast cancer organizations with strong missions and transparency about how they use the money they receive.

Close-Up Of Woman With Pink Ribbon Against White Background
Siam Pukkato / EyeEm / Getty Images

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the most well-known breast cancer organizations you might consider donating to.

Evelyn Lauder, a breast cancer survivor and senior corporate vice president of The Estee Lauder Companies, founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to help fund research and raise public awareness. Lauder was also the co-creator of the original pink ribbon launched in 1992 with Alexandra Penney, former editor-in-chief of Self magazine.

BCRF is currently one of the largest private funders for breast cancer research. The money is allocated to research grants to more about researchers worldwide.

In 2019, BCRF celebrated its 25th anniversary with its annual Hot Pink Party, a charity fundraiser that raised over $6 million in one night. The 2022 Hot Pink Party raised $8.5 million.

Donate to BCRF

You can donate online to BCRF here, through the mail, or over the phone. You can also make monthly donations or participate in workplace giving (employer-matched donations).

Susan G. Komen Foundation

Another popular breast cancer organization is the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Formerly known as the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and often referred to as simply “Komen,” Susan G. Komen for the Cure is another highly successful breast cancer-focused charity. Since its inception in 1982, Komen has raised breast cancer awareness, supported research, and paid for community health and education programs around the world.

The Dallas-based charity directs its funds toward breast cancer research, screening, treatment, and education. In 2021, the charity invested almost $22 million in breast cancer research grants.

Annually, Susan G. Komen conducts its multi-city Race for the Cure charity run event, which is considered the most successful breast cancer fundraiser in the world.

Donate to Komen

You can donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation online or donate in a number of other ways such as gifts, memorials, tributes, or participate in workplace giving.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

While patients are often at the forefront of breast cancer charities, some of them were started by medical professionals.

For example, Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) was founded in 1991 by Marisa C. Weiss, MD, a radiation oncologist. Weiss started the charity from her home with the support of local volunteers.

Its initial mission was to provide information and support to women with breast cancer after completing breast cancer treatment. In recent years, LBBC has:

  • Expanded to help women (and men) across the complete spectrum of diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survival
  • Offered programs that support caregivers and healthcare professionals devoted to the care of those living with breast cancer.

In 2020, LBBC raised $5 million in funds to support the programs and services it offers.

LBBC’s centerpiece fundraiser, called Reach & Raise, raises money through community-based yoga events around the country.

Donate to LBBC

You can donate to LBBC online or via mail. There are additional options to set up a charitable trust or bequest, become a corporate partner, or purchase LBBC goods from their online store.

National Breast Cancer Foundation

If you’re looking to support a breast cancer charity with a strong track record of giving money directly to programs that support patients, consider the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

Founded in 1991 by a breast cancer survivor named Janelle Hail, NBCF is driven by the mission to help women affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support.

The Texas-based charity devotes over 80% of its funds to programs. In addition to providing free mammograms to women in need, NBCF also funds breast cancer education programs, awareness campaigns, and research.

Among its various fundraising efforts, NBCF created Game Pink, an innovative, year-round fundraiser in which online gamers can raise funds by putting their gaming skills to the test.

Donate to NBCF

You can donate to NBCF online or through the mail, join as a corporate partner, give stocks, or set up a charitable trust or bequest.

METAvivor

Another breast cancer charity that you can be sure will give your donations directly to the people who need them is METAvivor. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Still considered incurable, metastatic breast cancer is diagnosed in 6% of women on their very first diagnosis with an estimated 27% five-year survival rate. These figures highlight how vital an organization like METAvivor is to women who are often isolated and in need of support in addition to the latest research information.

In terms of governance and delivery, METAvivor ranks among the top charities overall. METAvivor is the only national organization with a grant program that exclusively funds metastatic breast cancer research. Impressively, 100% of their funding is devoted to research.

Among its fundraising efforts, METAvivor holds annual Metsquarade parties in various cities in the United States as well as the annual Metabash Party in New York City.

Donate to METAvivor

You can donate to METAvivor by making a one-time cash donation (which can be made in someone’s name) or setting up a recurring monthly donation with a credit card.

Summary

There are many breast cancer charities you may want to support. This article highlights five breast cancer organizations that are making dramatic impacts in the lives of those diagnosed with breast cancer through research and funding to find a cure, but there are also many others you can explore.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the best breast cancer charity to donate to?

    There isn’t a single “best” breast cancer charity or organization for you to support. That said, you want to make sure that the breast cancer charity you choose is honest and upfront about what it does with the money you give them.

  • What is the largest breast cancer organization?

    The Susan G. Komen Foundation is the largest breast cancer organization in the United States. Globally, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the biggest private funder for breast cancer research (and also one of the highest-rated).

  • What help can I get if I have breast cancer?

    Reaching out to your local community, as well as looking for national or global breast cancer organizations, can help you gain access to information about breast cancer, support, and financial resources.

13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 12 Facts about our founder, Evelyn H. Lauder.

  2. Breast Cancer Research Foundation. FAQs.

  3. Susan G. Komen. Our mission and history.

  4. Susan G. Komen. Komen impact report 2022.

  5. Susan G. Komen. Find a race or walk community near you.

  6. Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Vision, mission and history.

  7. Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Impact report 2018.

  8. National Breast Cancer Foundation. Helping women for over 30 years.

  9. National Breast Cancer Foundation. Our impact.

  10. American Cancer Society. Breast cancer facts & figures 2019-2020.

  11. METAvivor. Metavivor announces additional funding for metastatic breast cancer research.

  12. Susan G. Komen Foundation. About Komen.

  13. Breast Cancer Research Foundation. About BCRF.

By Blyss Splane
Blyss Splane is a certified operating room nurse working as a freelance content writer and former travel nurse. She works as a freelance content writer for healthcare blogs when she's not spending time with her husband and dog.

Originally written by Pam Stephan