named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
AYA Bill of Rights
Advocacy framework outlining essential rights and needs for adolescents and young adults with cancer, used to guide policy and care improvements.
CancerCon
Annual national conference bringing together hundreds of adolescents and young adults affected by cancer for education, community building, and peer support.
Stupid Cancer Stories
Storytelling initiative featuring personal narratives from AYA cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to reduce isolation and amplify community voices.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Cancer Awareness and Education Initiatives 3 activities
- Advocates for improved care and systemic change for AYA cancer patientsEngages in advocacy efforts to improve healthcare access and close treatment gaps for adolescent and young adult cancer patients, while supporting healthcare professionals and promoting patient self-advocacy in clinical settings.
- Conducts research to understand AYA survivorship experiencesConducted the 2024 State of Survivorship Survey in partnership with Cancer Nation to collect data on the survivorship experiences of younger cancer patients, informing program development and advocacy initiatives.
- Operates interactive education gallery for AYA cancer research outreachRuns an interactive Education Gallery where researchers and healthcare professionals present poster sessions to educate AYAs about cancer treatment and survivorship research, increasing scientific literacy and engagement within the community.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Facilitates regular in-person and virtual community meetupsOrganizes over 100 annual in-person and virtual gatherings—including themed social events at breweries, parks, thrift stores, and bowling alleys—as well as monthly Digital Meetups (DMUs) for AYA cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and professionals to build peer connections and reduce isolation.
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Patient and Researcher Conferences 1 activity
- Hosts annual national conference for AYA cancer communityOrganizes an annual in-person conference, such as CancerCon, that convenes hundreds of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and professionals for educational programming, peer connection, and social activities. Provides full travel scholarships covering airfare, shared hotel stays, and registration to increase access.
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Cancer Peer Support & Wellness Programs 1 activity
- Produces structured peer discussion and educational sessionsConducts monthly 90-minute virtual discussion sessions featuring expert presentations followed by peer dialogue on topics such as nutrition, functional fitness, cancer-related fatigue, psychiatric care, and wellness. Offers specialized series including LGBTQ+ discussions on cancer, sex, and intimacy, and provides tools to manage toxic positivity and emotional challenges.
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24/7 Crisis and Warmline Support Services 1 activity
- Provides on-demand digital resources and targeted support contentOffers 24/7 access to curated, on-demand resources and targeted discussions addressing life-stage-specific needs of AYA cancer patients, including evidence-based tools for managing anxiety, emotional looping, and isolation during treatment and survivorship.
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Creative Arts Therapy Programs 1 activity
- Supports creative expression and storytelling through open mics and healing artsHosts storytelling open mic events—both in-person during AYA Week and at CancerCon—and Healing Arts Digital Meetups that use creative expression, poetry, narrative, and crafts to promote self-care, reframe personal identity, and support emotional processing for AYA cancer patients and survivors.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.63M
Contributions & grants$1.48M91%
Program service revenue$54K3%
Investment income$88K5%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$1.57M
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$749K
Grants paid out$22K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.65M
Cash$1.46M
Investments$751K
Liabilities$334K
Net assets$2.31M
Liquid reserves16.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +14.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALISON SILBERMAN | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $192K |
| CHELSEA DONAHUE | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MISSION AND STRATEGY | 40 | $108K |
board members · 10
- ALIQUE TOPALIAN — BOARD MEMBER
- ANA KLIAMBI THRU FEBRUARY — BOARD MEMBER
- BARRY KLEIN — CHAIRMAN
- CASSIE BEISEL — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID RICHMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSHUA RIVERA — TREASURER
- LISA ROMANO — BOARD MEMBER
- LIZETTE FIGUEROA — BOARD MEMBER
- SUSAN MOSER — BOARD MEMBER
- VERA FIGUEROA — SECRETARY
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- AYA Cancer Collaborative Coalition — Stupid Cancer collaborates with other nonprofit organizations in the AYA Cancer Collaborative to support the adolescent and young adult cancer community.
- American Cancer Society Partner — Sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Amgen Partner — Sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Bristol Myers Squibb Partner — Sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Cancer Nation Partner — Partnered with Stupid Cancer on the 2024 State of Survivorship Survey to gather insights on younger cancer patients' survivorship experiences.
- CancerCon Partner — Collaborates on storytelling open mic events for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
- CancerCon Partner — Hosts and operates CancerCon as a major annual community-building event for AYA cancer patients and survivors.
- Cook Children's Partner — Karen Albritton, affiliated with Cook Children's, serves on Stupid Cancer's Scientific Medical Advisory Board
- Daiichi Sankyo Partner — Digital sponsor of CancerCon.
- EBA Collective LLC Partner — Soumi Saha, affiliated with EBA Collective LLC, serves on Stupid Cancer's Board
- EO Care Partner — Get Busy Living sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Grow Into Greatness Partner — Sue Moser, affiliated with Grow Into Greatness, serves on Stupid Cancer's Board
- Improv On and Off the Stage Partner — Co-facilitates creative coping discussion sessions for AYA cancer survivors using improvisational and drama therapy techniques.
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Partner — Lizette Figueroa, affiliated with Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, serves on Stupid Cancer's Board
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Partner — Sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Matthew Zachary Partner — Founded the organization in 2004 as Steps for Living, which evolved into Stupid Cancer.
- Mayo Clinic Arizona Partner — C. Robert Bennett, affiliated with Mayo Clinic Arizona, serves on Stupid Cancer's Scientific Medical Advisory Board
- Merck Partner — Gold-level sponsor of CancerCon 2025 and 2026.
- NCI SEER Government — Source of AYA cancer statistics cited on the website.
- PAN Foundation Partner — Cassie Beisel, affiliated with PAN Foundation, serves on Stupid Cancer's Board
- Pfizer Partner — Bronze-level sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Project Rx Partner — Collaborates with Project Rx by featuring expert content from its founder in educational discussion sessions.
- Sanofi Partner — Sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Spencer's Partner — Gold-level sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- Stupid Cancer Network — Implied self-reference as part of its branding and mission identity
- Trivision Partner — In-kind sponsor of CancerCon 2025.
- University of Cincinnati Cancer Center Partner — Alique Topalian, affiliated with University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, serves on Stupid Cancer's Board
- corporate partners Partner — Collaborates with corporate partners to support programs and services for young adults affected by cancer.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Creative Expression as Emotional Coping Mechanismmethodology: creative_expression_therapyBy using creative modalities such as storytelling, poetry, improvisation, and drama, the organization supports psychological healing and self-care among AYA cancer survivors, because creative expression enables processing of trauma and reframing of identity beyond illness.
- Life-Stage-Specific Holistic Supportmethodology: life_stage_specific_careBy addressing cancer as a holistic life challenge — not just a medical condition — and delivering developmentally appropriate programming and resources, the organization meets the unique psychosocial and practical needs of AYAs, because interventions aligned with their life stage improve engagement and well-being.
- Peer-Driven Community Building to Reduce Isolationmethodology: peer_powered_communityBy creating peer-connected, inclusive communities through in-person and digital spaces, the organization reduces social isolation and improves quality of life for adolescents and young adults affected by cancer, because shared lived experiences foster trust, belonging, and emotional resilience.
- Systemic Change Through Equity Partnershipsmethodology: systemic_change_through_partnershipsBy partnering with providers and advancing equity initiatives, the organization reduces systemic barriers in AYA cancer care and drives structural improvements, because collaborative action with healthcare systems amplifies impact beyond individual support.