irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $50KGRANT PAID TO NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY ON OCTOBER 28, 2020 TO FUND BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH. NO RELATIONSHIP TO GRANTEE
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
#BTAM (Brain Tumor Awareness Month)
Monthly storytelling campaign during May to share experiences of individuals and families impacted by brain tumors.
#BrewStacheStrong
Partnership program with breweries to create branded beer cans and promote GBM awareness through beverage sales.
#GrowStacheStrong
Annual November campaign encouraging people to grow mustaches to raise awareness for glioblastoma and brain cancer.
GBM Docuseries
Documentary project sharing personal stories of families affected by GBM to foster connection and hope.
StacheStrong Invitational
Annual golf tournament that raises awareness and funds for brain cancer research, including a pre-party, silent auction, and after-party.
TCS New York City Marathon Participation
Organized team participation in the NYC Marathon to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Cancer Awareness and Education Initiatives 2 activities
- Leading the #BrewStacheStrong mustache-growing campaignOrganizes an annual mustache-growing campaign in November to raise awareness for glioblastoma (GBM), supported by a media kit with promotional materials and label design instructions for participants.
- Running awareness campaigns during Brain Tumor Awareness MonthShares daily personal stories from individuals and families affected by brain tumors on Instagram and Facebook during May to raise awareness for brain tumor issues.
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Cancer Research Funding 1 activity
- Funding brain cancer research through grantsFunds brain cancer research via grants, including a $1 million five-year grant with the V Foundation and a $50,000 grant to the National Brain Tumor Society. To date, has funded over $7 million toward brain cancer research, supporting more than 75 clinical trials and research grants.
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Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser 1 activity
- Hosting annual fundraising and awareness eventsHosts annual events such as a golf invitational and a New York City fundraising event to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research.
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Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Organizing and promoting athletic fundraising eventsOrganizes and promotes athletic events including a flagship 5K run/walk, marathon participation, and the Boston Marathon to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research. Includes sponsor recognition through logo placement and promotional benefits.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Producing documentary content about the GBM experienceProduces a docuseries featuring families at different stages of the glioblastoma (GBM) journey, filmed in their homes, to raise awareness and share personal stories.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.19M
Contributions & grants$1.24M104%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$43K4%
Other revenue$-96K
expenses
Total expenses$1.32M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$88K
Grants paid out$1.20M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.77M
Cash$258K
Investments$1.33M
Liabilities$1.42M
Net assets$357K
Liquid reserves14.4 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLIN GERNER | PRESIDENT & CEO | 25 | $80K |
board members · 13
- BENNY SORBER — BOARD MEMBER
- BETSY GERNER — TREASURER
- CONSTANTINOS HADJIPANAYIS — BOARD MEMBER
- DYLAN CROTTY — BOARD MEMBER
- ELIZABETH BUCK — BOARD MEMBER
- ERIN MCEACHREN — BOARD MEMBER
- GEORGE GERNER — BOARD MEMBER
- GREG ROSE — CFO
- JEFF GORTON — BOARD MEMBER
- KELLY GERNER — SECRETARY
- LOU MCKERCHER — BOARD MEMBER
- NORMAN SNYDER — BOARD MEMBER
- STACEY STACK — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Foundation Partner — Featured on the AACR podcast, highlighting collaboration in advancing brain cancer research.
- BrewStacheStrong Partner — Collaborative event partner for #BrewStacheStrong, involving co-branded promotional activities and label design.
- Dolphins Cancer Challenge Partner — Four-year, $1 million partnership to fight glioblastoma.
- Evo Italian Partner — Host venue for the preparty of the StacheStrong Invitational.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to share personal stories during Brain Tumor Awareness Month.
- GJ Partner — Founder and central figure of the organization whose story drives mission and awareness.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used to share personal stories during Brain Tumor Awareness Month.
- Legends Partner — Venue host for the annual NYC fundraising event.
- NBC Boston Partner — Featured in a Morning Boost segment ahead of the 2026 Boston Marathon.
- National Brain Tumor Society Partner — Recipient of a grant from STACHESTRONG INC for brain tumor research.
- TCS New York City Marathon Partner — Collaborates with the TCS New York City Marathon to engage runners and honor GJ.
- V Foundation for Cancer Research Partner — Jointly announced a $1 million, five-year grant for glioblastoma research.
- WCVB Boston Partner — Covered Colin Gerner’s Boston Marathon story and fundraising impact.
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.
- Awareness Through Symbolic Engagementmethodology: awareness_through_engagementBy using mustache-growing as a visible, symbolic act, the organization sparks public conversations about brain cancer and glioblastoma, because shared participation in a distinctive behavior lowers barriers to dialogue and transforms personal action into collective awareness.
- Event-Based Fundraising with Sponsor-Enabled Participationmethodology: event_based_fundraisingBy organizing endurance and celebratory events like 5K runs and marathons — and covering participant costs through sponsorships — the organization increases accessibility and broadens engagement, because removing financial barriers enables wider participation while aligning sponsors with mission impact.
- Research Investment as Pathway to Improved Outcomesmethodology: research_investment_for_impactBy directing raised funds toward brain cancer research, the organization aims to improve survival rates and quality of life, because targeted investment in scientific advancement is believed to produce long-term clinical and patient-level impact.
- Storytelling as Resilience-Building and Awareness Toolmethodology: storytelling_for_resilienceBy sharing personal stories of diagnosis, treatment, and perseverance — particularly the founder's journey — the organization fosters emotional connection, builds community resilience, and drives public awareness, because lived experience creates relatable narratives that inspire action and reduce stigma.