The Ulman Foundation
Cancer Changes Lives...So Do WE.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Engagement
Survivors/loved ones network: We connect survivors, parents, and other young adults affected by cancer with one another for peer support and information exchange.
Support groups: We provide free, professionally facilitated support groups throughout the United States.
Survival guide: "No Way! It Can't Be," A Young Adult Faces Cancer was written by Doug and Diana Ulman after many struggles and triumphs by the Ulman family. The information will ease the path of young adults and their families dealing with the issues surrounding a cancer diagnosis.
Education: Our Sunguard Your Skin, Skin Cancer Prevention Curriculum is currently being used by 9th Grade Health Classes in Howard County, MD Public Schools. ?Bearing Witness to Cancer? taught at Brown University approaches the cancer experience from a biopsychosocial perspective, drawing on literature from biological and social sciences, as well as memoirs and fiction. Additionally, we are expanding this curriculum to cover other young adult specific cancers and the psychosocial issues surrounding a cancer diagnosis.
Cancer profiler: The Cancer Profiler at Cancerfacts.com (Operated by NexCura, Inc.) is located on our website at www.ulmanfund.org, is an interactive tool that guides patients in making educated decisions, with their physicians, about treatments.
Patient navigation services: The UCF, partnering with the University of Maryland Cancer Center, has created a Patient Advocate / Navigator Program addressing the needs of young adults with cancer. Patient navigators, drawing from their own personal experience with Cancer, serve an important role in the life of a newly diagnosed patient. Navigators help patients understand diagnosis and treatment, encourage record keeping, promote proactive communication with their medical team and provide psychological support with vast educational resource information.
Clearinghouse, website, toll-free hotline: We encourage you to contact us directly with specific questions or concerns. Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers can act as a clearinghouse and referral service to ensure that you are connected with available services and resources.
Speakers bureau: community educators inform the community about cancers that are associated with young adults using their personal experiences and describe services provided by the UCF.
Patient Navigation
Ulman Patient Navigation: Offered to improve the ability of young adults to manage their own cancer experiences and long-term cancer survival through: access to support resources tailored specifically to young adults; increased knowledge of their disease, treatment options and lifelong implications of treatment choices; and effective communication with their medical care team.
The Ulman Foundation offers types of navigation for young adult cancer patients (18-40 years old) and survivors- remote and on-site. All services are FREE of charge and open to family members and loved ones.
Ulman on-site navigation services are currently being offered at University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center (http://www.umgcc.org/patient_info/ulman_nav.htm) in Baltimore, MD with 2011 expansion to a cancer center in Washington, DC and more cancer centers in Baltimore, MD.
Ulman offers remote navigation out of its headquarters in Baltimore, MD for young adults and families from all across the country. Young adults and families may access our remote navigation services by emailing [email protected]
or calling 410.964.0202 x 106. You will be asked to complete a brief needs assessment and the navigator will give you contact information for local and national resources to help you meet the challenges you are facing. You can request follow-up contact with the navigator.
Ulman has partnered with the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum(http://www.umgcc.org/patient_info/ulman_nav.htm) Cancer Center (UMGCC) to offer comprehensive navigation services to young adult patients receiving care there. The Ulman Navigator works in conjunction with the Center’s multi-disciplinary medical care teams, social work staff and other care providers.
Cancer to 5K
Cancer to 5K: The CANCER to 5K Training Program
is a free 12-week training program designed to introduce and/or
reintroduce cancer survivors to training for and completing a 5K road
race. This is a progressive run/walk program
designed to get you to your first 5K finish line happy, healthy,
injury-free and able to cover the distance.
Since Fall 2007, 47 cancer survivors have successfully
completed the CANCER to 5K program and run local 5K distance races
accompanied by over 30 dedicated volunteers as well as friends and
family. Many of these runners participate in the program while
concurrently being treated for cancer.
The CANCER to 5K Training Program is limited to 15-20 participants per 12-week session.
The CANCER to 5K Training Program is
open to young adult cancer survivors, ages 18 to 40, regardless of the
current treatment status. We welcome survivors who have completed
treatment as well as those survivors who are currently undergoing
treatment. While every
individual's cancer treatment program is different, there are many
patients who can benefit from a weekly exercise routine while in
treatment.
Ulman House
At Ulman House we provide free housing for young adult cancer patients, and their caregivers.
We’re proudly located in East Baltimore steps from our city’s world-renowned hospitals, and uniquely designed with young adults in mind.
Where we work
Awards
Best Places to Work 2011
Baltimore Business Journal
Ranked 5th among all Nonprofits 2015
The NonProfit Times, "50 Best Nonprofits to Work For"
Ranked 5th among all Nonprofits 2016
The NonProfit Times, "50 Best Nonprofits to Work For"
Ranked 5th among all Nonprofits 2017
The NonProfit Times, "50 Best Nonprofits to Work For"
Ranked 5th among all Nonprofits 2018
The NonProfit Times, "50 Best Nonprofits to Work For"
Ranked 5th among all Nonprofits 2019
The NonProfit Times, "50 Best Nonprofits to Work For"
Ranked 5th among all Nonprofits 2020
The NonProfit Times, "50 Best Nonprofits to Work For"
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Young Adults and Families provided with Patient Navigation Services each year
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Patient Navigation
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of cancer survivors who have completed our free Cancer to 5k program
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cancer to 5K
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Scholarships awarded since 1999
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Since 1999, a total of over $1,021,250 has been awarded to young adults impacted by cancer through college scholarships.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We envision a world in which no young adult faces cancer alone. In our strategic 5 year plan leading up to 2020 we outlined 4 goals.
1) Best Practice Provider: Become the best practice provider in the young adult cancer community by offering innovative and impactful programs.
2) Brand Positioning: Acquire recognition as the national leader in the Young Adult Cancer Support Community.
3) Business Model: Invest in non-Peer to Peer (P2P) fundraising (grants, events, corporate partnerships, annual/major giving programs) and improve return on investment (ROI) around existing revenue sources (retention, cultivation, alumni engagement).
4) Infrastructure and Culture: Strengthen organizational infrastructure to support sustainability
and better serve our community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1) Best Practice Provider
We will continue conducting ongoing mission audit/evaluation of programs to ensure that programs produce measurable outcomes and impact. We will work to strengthen program operating protocols to create a uniform standard of excellence for all programs. Additionally, we plan to utilize program operating protocols to assist with geographic expansion. We also hope to develop and implement a non-sport program/experience to reach a broader audience within existing geographic locales.
2) Brand Positioning
We seek to execute an internal/external marketing, communication and outreach plan to increase visibility, partnerships and engagement in the young adult cancer support market. We hope to integrate all of UCF's programs into one brand with one logo. We will utilize documentation of logo variances, enact strategies to incorporate new brand into all future acquisitions, and develop an unified website and social media platforms.
3) Business Model
We plan to bolster existing non-Peer to Peer fundraising efforts, such as grant
writing, building strategic corporate partnerships, enhancing annual and major giving, and increasing ROI of UCF and partnered events. Meanwhile we hope to improve return on investment around existing revenue sources, including P2P participants and donors, general donors, program alumni or beneficiaries of services. We also hope to research, identify and implement new revenue generating opportunities including but not limited to: crowdsourcing;
franchising models; donation at retailer check outs.
4) Infrastructure and Culture
We will continue to assess the current and future human capital needs of the
organization to maintain a skilled, sustainable and diverse staff and board. We will take measures including utilizing market-competitive benefits and compensation models; employee performance measures; leadership development plan for staff; succession plan; baseline employee satisfaction and board self assessment data; remote personnel satisfaction survey.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With an unwavering mission to enhance lives by supporting, education, and connecting young adults, their families, and friends who are affected by cancer, The Ulman Foundation has accomplished a great deal in the way of providing crucial support to thousands of young adults with cancer — through education, scholarship programs, a network of human and health care resources, and fundraising for program and support services provided free of charge.
Ulman's foundation of community, collaboration, and advocating for change on behalf of young adults has remained the cornerstone of the organization and is evident throughout its strategic plans for the future. Our dedication and commitment to our mission has always been the driving force behind our growth and expansion.
Through increasing our attention to the fundraising opportunities of grants, events, corporate partnerships, and annual/major giving programs we hope to diversify our main sources of support. With the financial stability gained through these efforts and through further developing our strong foundation in peer to peer donations we will continue to grow as a leader in the young adult cancer community.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Each year we provide over 1,000 young adults and families with patient navigation services. Over 1,000 cancer survivors have completed our free Cancer to 5K program. Additionally, since 1999, we have awarded over $1,000,000 in college scholarships to young adults impacted by cancer.
In early 2016 we announced the official launch of a $4 Million Capital Campaign and our organization's biggest project to date – building The Ulman House. This project was completed in 2019 and the building of the Ulman House allows the Ulman Foundation to serve an unmet need of patients in the community, providing free housing for young adult cancer patients and their families while receiving treatment in Baltimore. The Ulman House has created a community that fosters peer and social support, decreases financial and other burdens, and encourages hope and healing.
More can be learned about the project and how to make an impact here: https://ulmanfoundation.org/ulman-house/
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Ulman Foundation
Board of directorsas of 10/17/2022
Trevor Garner
IdeaCrew
Diana Ulman
Diana Ulman Designs
Douglas Ulman
Pelotonia
Trevor Garner
IdeaCrew
Shelley Wojcik
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA
Pat Seitz
Ernst & Young LLP
Christi Clark-Bieberich
BeiGene
Neri Cohen, MD
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Daniel Condon
Baltimore Ravens
James Ingram
ABET
Mike Jenkins
Cutting Edge Lazer Technologies
Brian McCagh
Retired - Former Oncology Services Vice President
Pranshu Mohindra, MD
University of Maryland Medical Center Departmart of Radiation Oncology Maryland Proton Treatment Center
Eleni Monios
M&T Bank
Anastasia Thomas Nardangeli
Thomas & Libowitz, P.A.
Leslie Nissenberg
SECU
Liz O’Connor
Baltimore Gas & Electric
Greg Poulis
Redsteel HVAC
Meghan Rodgers
Jack Welch Management Institute
Michael Tirone
Weber Shandwick
Patrick Wynn
Atlanta Data Forensics
Jesse Summers
AstraZeneca
Matthew Archibald
Raytheon Technologies
Charlene Ashby
Boeing
Justin Bass
Like Minded Strategy Group
Heather Matthews
Michael S. Matthews
Cirrus Aircraft Corporation
Mack McGee
Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/17/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.