THE CURE STARTS NOW INC

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2007

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

BROOKE DESSERICH

Phone

5137724888

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

THE CURE STARTS NOW INC, founded in 2007, is a community nonprofit in the Diseases & Disorders sector that reported $5.4M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. The organization ran a surplus of $986K, a strong 18% operating margin.

Mission

TO EDUCATE, AID, AND FUND CURES FOR CANCER, STARTING FIRST WITH PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $2,011,460

IN ITS EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON THOSE CANCERS THAT PRESENT THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN ENCOMPASSING CANCER CURE, THE FOUNDATION ANNUALLY AWARDS RESEARCH GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS AND MEDICAL...

IN ITS EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON THOSE CANCERS THAT PRESENT THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN ENCOMPASSING CANCER CURE, THE FOUNDATION ANNUALLY AWARDS RESEARCH GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. TYPICALLY, GRANTS AWARDED HAVE A FOCUS ON PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCERS, AS THIS WAS THE ORIGIN OF THE FOUNDATION'S PHILOSOPHY. GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL BE JUDGED ON A PEER-REVIEWED BASIS WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MEDICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF TOP ONCOLOGISTS AND RESEARCHERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS PARENT ADVOCATES. GRANTS ARE JUDGED BASED ON MULTIPLE CRITERIA INCLUDING SCIENTIFIC MERIT, DISEASE IMPACT, INNOVATION, FEASIBILITY, AND EXPERTISE OF THE INVESTIGATOR.

Program 2

Expenses: $1,470,112

FAMILY SUPPORT AND AWARENESS FUNDS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, MECHANISMS TO HONOR THEIR CHILD'S LEGACY AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES BATTLING PEDIATRIC CANCER. THIS INCLUDES INFORMATION WEBSITES, TRIAL DISCOVERY TOOLS, PATIENT ASSISTANCE AND PROGRAMS TO FEATURE PATIENTS WITH THE INTENTION OF BUILING LOCAL SUPPORT AND AWARENESS.

Program 3

Expenses: $112,979

THE DIPG/DMG SYMPOSIUM, ORIGINALLY HELD IN CINCINNATI IN 2011, IS A BIENNIAL CONFERENCE THAT FEATURES CANCER EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLDIN COLLABORATION WITH FAMILIES AND FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING...

THE DIPG/DMG SYMPOSIUM, ORIGINALLY HELD IN CINCINNATI IN 2011, IS A BIENNIAL CONFERENCE THAT FEATURES CANCER EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLDIN COLLABORATION WITH FAMILIES AND FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING THEIR WORK.ATTENDED BY FOUNDATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE. THE DIPG/DMGCOLLABORATIVE SYMPOSIUM QUICKLY BECAME A DYNAMIC COOPERATIVE, EXPLORINGREVOLUTIONARY DIPG AND DMG RESEARCH, CLINICAL PROTOCOLS, AND UNIVERSALAPPLICATIONS OF DIPG RESEARCH IN THE SEARCH FOR A CURE FOR ALL FORMS OFCANCER.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $4,252,213

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $16,804

Other Revenue $1,098,363

TOTAL REVENUE $5,367,380

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $1,990,415

Salaries & Benefits $1,382,173

Fundraising Expenses $683,457

Program Expenses $3,594,551

Other Expenses $1,008,455

TOTAL EXPENSES $4,381,043

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$5,367,380	$5,080,693	+0.1%
Expenses	$4,381,043	$4,760,307	-0.1%
Net Income	$986,337	$320,386	+2.1%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✓ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

1100

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

⚠ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✓ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$192,266

Total Directors

$84,948

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
KEITH DESSERICH	CHAIRMAN	60.00	Officer Director	$62,145	$22,803	$84,948
DOUG DESSERICH	DIRECTOR/TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
GAVIN BAUMGARDNER	DIRECTOR	5.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
TAMARA EKIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DAN LEE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ALYSSA HAWRANKO	DIRECTOR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
TERRY REGAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
BROOKE DESSERICH	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO	60.00	Officer	$91,252	$16,066	$107,318
MIKE WEINER	CIO	60.00	Highest	$118,170	$32,652	$150,822

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	No data	No data	No data	No data
2024	$5,367,380	$4,381,043	$4,248,120	$986,337
2023	$5,080,693	$4,760,307	$4,130,907	$320,386
2022	$5,231,630	$6,057,974	$2,625,696	$-826,344
2021	$4,232,596	$3,293,327	$2,875,483	$939,269
2020	$3,410,017	$3,822,197	$2,054,739	$-412,180
2019	$3,396,189	$2,308,786	$2,438,771	$1,087,403
2018	$4,368,462	$1,679,640	$1,382,821	$2,688,822