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Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network
Wantagh, NY · EIN 201544357 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE G30 · Voluntary Health Associations · Small ($100K-$1M) · netcancerawareness.org
revenue
$405K
expenses
$629K
net assets
$49K
employees
0
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

To increase awareness of Neuroendocrine Cancer in both the medical community and the general public. To assist support groups around the world in providing patients and caregivers with access to information about Neuroendocrine Cancer and to assist in research.

profile · synthesized from sources

Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (NCAN) raises awareness of neuroendocrine cancer, supports patients and caregivers, and funds research. The organization operates a patient-staffed hotline, distributes educational materials, and hosts virtual and in-person conferences featuring NET specialists. It also supports a network of chapter groups across the U.S. and conducts fundraising events to advance its mission.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

NCAN Chapter Support Groups
Nationwide network of support groups offering safe, confidential spaces for patients and caregivers to share experiences and information
NCAN Hotline
365-day-a-year hotline staffed by patients or caregivers, operating from 9 AM to 9 PM ET, providing direct support and information
NET Patient Virtual Conferences
Virtual educational events featuring NET specialists, live Q&A, and networking opportunities for patients and caregivers
NET Research Funding
Commitment to fund neuroendocrine cancer research, with $80,000 allocated to research initiatives
Strides for Stripes Zebra Walk
Annual fundraising walk event promoting awareness and community engagement, held virtually in recent years
Support Group Leadership Seminars
Training and development programs for chapter leaders to enhance support group effectiveness
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Patient and Researcher Conferences 2 activities
    • Co-hosts Continuing Medical Education (CME) events
      Co-hosted a CME event with Stony Brook University to educate medical professionals on the diagnosis, treatment, and emerging therapies for neuroendocrine tumors, enhancing clinical expertise within the medical community.
    • Hosts national and regional patient conferences
      Organizes annual and regional in-person and virtual patient conferences across multiple U.S. locations, featuring expert physicians and specialists, to educate patients and caregivers on neuroendocrine tumor diagnostics, treatments, and self-advocacy. These events have drawn hundreds of attendees, including a three-day national conference in Las Vegas with over 500 participants.
  • Cancer Patient Financial and Practical Support 1 activity
    • Advocates for and supports NET patients
      Provides advocacy, guidance, and support to neuroendocrine tumor patients through direct engagement, educational resources, and community-building initiatives. This includes helping patients connect with specialized care and navigate treatment decisions.
  • Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
    • Builds capacity of volunteer leaders
      Conducts Support Group Leadership Seminars, hosts Chapter Leader Summits, and provides training for volunteer leaders to improve the quality of care and support offered through NCAN chapters and support groups. These events have been held in-person and virtually across multiple years.
  • Cancer Awareness and Education Initiatives 1 activity
    • Conducts public awareness campaigns
      Increases visibility of neuroendocrine tumors through public awareness activities, including distribution of over 450,000 zebra bracelets, ribbons, t-shirts, and tote bags, and organizing outreach events at public locations like train stations. Also successfully advocated for New York State to designate November as ‘Carcinoid/NET Cancer Awareness Month’ in 2006.
  • Medical Professional Education & Training 1 activity
    • Develops future NET specialists through fellowship program
      Runs an ongoing Focused Medical Fellowships program to mentor future neuroendocrine cancer specialists, preparing multiple experts annually in the diagnosis and treatment of NETs through structured training and mentorship.
  • Disease-Specific Clinical & Patient Education 1 activity
    • Distributes educational and advocacy materials
      Provides free informational packets, advocacy resources, and educational content to patients and caregivers upon request, distributed through mail and digital platforms. Over 1,500 packets were mailed in a single year as part of ongoing outreach.
  • Parkinson's Disease Research and Support 1 activity
    • Facilitates virtual and in-person support groups
      Operates 26 self-managed, informal support groups nationwide and hosts monthly virtual support group meetings featuring expert presentations and peer discussions. These groups provide safe, confidential spaces for patients and caregivers to share experiences and receive emotional and practical support.
  • Cancer Research Funding 1 activity
    • Funds research on neuroendocrine carcinoma
      Commits financial support to research on neuroendocrine carcinoma, including a documented commitment of $80,000 to advance scientific understanding and treatment development.
  • 24/7 Crisis and Warmline Support Services 1 activity
    • Operates patient and caregiver-staffed helpline
      Runs a 365-day-a-year helpline from 9 AM to 9 PM EST, staffed by patients or caregivers with firsthand experience, to provide direct support and answer inquiries about neuroendocrine cancer. The helpline receives thousands of calls annually and is a core channel for patient outreach.
  • Charity Event Organization 1 activity
    • Organizes awareness and fundraising events
      Hosts annual family-friendly events including the "Strides for Stripes" Zebra Walks in multiple locations (e.g., East Meadow, NY and Charlotte, NC), virtual walk options, and the "Celebration of Life" Gala to raise awareness and funds for neuroendocrine cancer programs. Events have drawn hundreds of participants and raised tens of thousands of dollars.
  • Biomedical Research and Innovation 1 activity
    • Participates in and supports research initiatives
      Engages in surveys, studies, and research related to neuroendocrine tumors to contribute data and insights that advance medical knowledge and improve patient outcomes.
  • Medical Research & Education Dissemination 1 activity
    • Produces educational content in multiple formats
      Produces and distributes educational content including monthly podcasts, webinars in Spanish, virtual seminars, and an online Inspiration Corner with over 250 quotes. These resources are designed to support neuroendocrine cancer patients and caregivers with accessible, ongoing education and encouragement.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$405K
Contributions & grants$402K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$3K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$629K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$324K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$109K
Cash$109K
Investments$0
Liabilities$60K
Net assets$49K
Liquid reserves2.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Maryann Wahmann Exec Director 40 $128K
Tricia Kantz Vice President 40 $39K
board members · 7
  • Annie Tilton Gamman — Director
  • Donna Hayes — Director
  • Edward Dempsey — Director
  • Patricia Ann Furlong — Secretary
  • Robert Furlong — Director
  • Ronald Rose — Director
  • Ronda Ayala — Director
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • ASCO Partner — Exhibits at ASCO and ASCO GI meetings to reach oncology professionals and share information on neuroendocrine cancer.
  • CURE Magazine Partner — Partnership to expand access to cancer news and expert insights for Neuroendocrine cancer patients.
  • Dakota Ridge High School Partner — Partnered on a volleyball game fundraiser in Colorado to raise awareness and funds for NET cancer.
  • DeMARE DeSIGN Partner — Design agency responsible for custom designing and maintaining the organization's website.
  • Digestive Disease Week Partner — Engages with the medical community by exhibiting at Digestive Disease Week conferences.
  • Facebook Network — Hosts NCAN State and NCAN National Facebook support pages for patient engagement.
  • Great Nonprofits Funder — Awarded NCAN the Top-Rated Nonprofit status annually since 2011.
  • Healing NET Foundation Partner — Exhibits at the Healing NET Foundation Summit to promote neuroendocrine cancer awareness.
  • Maryann Wahmann Partner — Key contact and supporter who provides direct outreach and virtual support to patients through NCAN.
  • NANETS Partner — Collaborates with NANETS by attending its meetings and operating a booth to distribute literature and raise awareness for the NET cancer community.
  • NANETS Partner — Participates in NANETS meetings to engage with medical professionals and advance awareness of neuroendocrine tumors.
  • NETsGetReal Partner — Collaborates on podcast production and media content related to neuroendocrine tumors.
  • National Geographic Society Partner — Referenced as a source for information about zebra coat patterns used in awareness messaging.
  • Novartis Oncology Funder — Established the Warner Advocacy Award, which was awarded to NCAN's founder Maryann Wahmann in 2010.
  • Stony Brook University Partner — Co-hosted a Continuing Medical Education (CME) event focused on diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors.
  • The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Partner — Participates in meetings of The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons to promote awareness among surgical specialists.
  • University of Kentucky Partner — Co-hosted a neuroendocrine cancer patient conference with NCAN on April 22.
  • Vanderbilt University Partner — Collaborated on a virtual event where NET experts from Vanderbilt answered patient and caregiver questions.
  • World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition Coalition — Participates in the annual international gathering focused on advancing patient advocacy and research for pancreatic cancer, including neuroendocrine tumors.
  • YouTube Network — Uses YouTube page to provide patient information and outreach.
strategies · 5

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.

  • Education for Early Diagnosis
    methodology: education-for-early-diagnosis
    By disseminating factual information to patients, caregivers, and medical professionals, the organization improves recognition of neuroendocrine tumors, leading to earlier diagnosis and better treatment outcomes because increased awareness directly addresses underdiagnosis and delays in care.
  • Integrated Awareness, Support, and Research Model
    methodology: integrated_support_and_research
    By combining awareness campaigns, patient and caregiver support, and research funding, the organization creates a holistic ecosystem for neuroendocrine tumor care because addressing clinical, emotional, and systemic gaps simultaneously amplifies impact beyond what any single approach could achieve.
  • Needs-Driven, Community-Led Support
    methodology: needs-driven_support_model
    By consulting directly with patients and caregivers to identify unmet needs and co-create support structures like self-managed groups, the organization ensures responsiveness and relevance because solutions emerge from within the community, increasing engagement and sustainability.
  • Peer-Led Support Model
    methodology: peer_support
    By staffing hotlines and support groups with patients and caregivers who have lived experience, the organization increases empathy, trust, and relevance of support, leading to more effective emotional and informational assistance because shared experience fosters deeper connection and reduces isolation.
  • Symptom and Identity Awareness Using the Zebra Metaphor
    methodology: medical_education_awareness
    By using the zebra as a symbolic and educational tool, the organization challenges medical assumptions and increases recognition of rare diseases, improving diagnosis and care for neuroendocrine cancer patients because the metaphor conveys the idea that "when you hear hoofbeats, think of zebras"—encouraging clinicians to consider rare conditions.