PLATINUM2024

Circle of Care for Families with Cancer

Until no family has to hear the words, "your child has cancer," we will be here.

aka Circle of Care   |   Wilton, CT   |  www.thecircleofcare.org

Mission

Circle of Care for Families of Children with Cancer is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, volunteer-driven organization that supports children with cancer and their families during treatment. Our mission is to provide practical, emotional and financial assistance to Connecticut families of children in treatment for cancer through programs and services that meet the unique and challenging needs of pediatric cancer treatment.   Until no parent has to hear the words"your child has cancer," we''ll be here no matter where the journey leads.

Ruling year info

2008

President

Liz Salguero

Co Principal Officer

Liz Vega

Main address

144 Danbury Road

Wilton, CT 06897 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

26-2224475

NTEE code info

Nonmonetary Support N.E.C. (P19)

Health Support Services (E60)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2023, 2022 and 2020.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Of the billions of dollars spent on the war on cancer, only a tiny fraction - less than half of one percent - goes to families in treatment for childhood cancer. While progress is being made for a future without cancer, those in treatment need help today. Circle of Care is working to close that gap in Connecticut, and ensure those families touched by cancer get the support they need today, on the ground, where the battle hits closest to home. Major cancer non-profits focus on issue awareness, advocacy, research and cures. 260 non-profits are dedicated to curing cancer, more than the number established for every other disease combined, with annual budgets totaling over $4 billion. Of that, only 0.5% of funds are directed to providing support services for children in treatment for cancer. This dynamic creates a significant “gap” in the support market, which Circle of Care fills.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Bags of Love

Our Bags of Love provide each newly diagnosed family with a canvas bag filled with essentials for patient and caregiver during their first hospitalization. These include toiletries, a thermometer, a resource guide, a comfy fleece blanket, distraction and fidget items, and more.

Population(s) Served
Families
Children and youth

This emergency fund is a financial assistance program aimed at alleviating financial difficulties experienced by families when their child has cancer.

With 70% of families facing a financial crisis during treatment, Circle of Care ensures that no parent has to choose between caring for a sick child and providing for their family. With other resources exhausted, families seek funds for basic essentials such as food, gas, and housing (mortgage, rent, and utility payments).

Our program is valued, carefully prescribed, and ready to scale. We work closely with the hospitals to assess where the need is greatest. Working through the social worker, families submit a comprehensive application; following its review and acceptance, Circle of Care makes direct payments to creditors and tracks the distribution of funds. The maximum annual allotment is $5,000 per family.

Population(s) Served
Families

Art from the Heart transforms a cancer patient’s bedroom at home into a personal wonderland. The Dream Room is offered by a lottery and all the work is done by volunteers. Our goal is to makeover a sick child’s room into the room of his or her dreams through paint, fabric, creativity, and boundless imagination.

Population(s) Served
Families
Children and youth

All pediatric oncology clinic hospital volunteers at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital undergo additional sensitivity training through Circle of Care. We know families need more than medicine to heal, and it's important that volunteers interacting with families are privy to the emotional and financial ramifications these families face to be able to provide them with sensitive care.

Hospital Volunteers provide respite care in the pediatric oncology units. They are available to play/read with the children giving caretakers a needed break or make coffee/snack runs for those who can’t leave the floor.

Population(s) Served
Families
Caregivers

Lifeline is a support network that pairs survivor families with newly diagnosed ones - because no one should have to face their child's cancer journey alone.

Population(s) Served

Often treated in pediatric hospitals, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are too mature for building blocks and finger painting, yet too youthful for the alternative of adult clinics. It's difficult enough being a healthy teen today - let alone being one facing a childhood cancer diagnosis. Our AYA program provides patients ages 15-26 with free unique social and educational opportunities, allowing them to connect with each other and ease the isolation felt from being diagnosed with cancer at a very unique time in their lives.

Population(s) Served
Caregivers
Families
Caregivers
Families

Where we work

Awards

Affiliations & memberships

Affiliate/Chapter of National Organization 2018

Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance 2018

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Median grant amount

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Families, Multiracial people, People of Latin American descent, People of African descent, Parents

Related Program

Emergency Financial Assistance

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Dollars donated to support advocacy efforts

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

We do not do engage in advocacy work due to our 501 c 3 status and by-laws

Number of customers reporting satisfaction with program

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Ethnic and racial groups, Women and girls, Heterosexuals, Men and boys, Economically disadvantaged people

Related Program

Emergency Financial Assistance

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Circle of Care provides the critical non-medical support to children with cancer and their families in Connecticut. We are a guide, a source of inspiration and support - on a direct, personal level, from the first day of diagnosis throughout their challenging journey and beyond.

Circle of Care is working to close that gap in Connecticut, and ensure those families touched by cancer get the support they need today, on the ground, where the battle hits closest to home.

After nearly 19 years of providing services to families of children with cancer, our board of directors took the steps to re-evaluate our business plan and strategic planning for the next 10 years. In the fall of 2013, we conducted an Impact and Value Study to better understand the effectiveness of our program services and how we are perceived by our clients, hospital staff, volunteers, and donors. We simultaneously did a review of all the other "like" organizations in our area to better understand how we complement each other and to ensure there was no duplication of services.

In 2018, we finalized our updated 5-year strategic plan, outlining the goals and strategies for our growth. We are currently reviewing proposals from consultants to engage in a comprehensive 3-5 year strategic growth plan with a a long term view of 10 years.

We have a very strong and committed board of directors, engaged donors, and a small staff with an endowment to fund new initiatives.

There is tremendous need in the market for emergency financial relief and support on the local level while a child is undergoing cancer treatment. While we have had enormous success, we still have to raise another $1 million to meet the need in the market.

Since the onset of the pandemic in spring of 2020 we have provided nearly $700,000 in direct financial relief to this very vulnerable population. We cover their most basic needs: housing, transportation to and from treatment and food.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • 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 inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • 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 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

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, Parents of children with cancer are overwhelmed by their child's treatment and don't have the time

Financials

Circle of Care for Families with Cancer
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

Circle of Care for Families with Cancer

Board of directors
as of 01/18/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Ray Eckert

Wilton RE

Term: 2021 - 2023

Dawn Ladenheim

No Affiliation

Susan Kobylinski

Liz Vega

Jeffrey Salguero

Zelie Pforzheimer

Missy Dorsey

Stacey Savas

Ray Eckert

Wilton RE

Liz Salguero

Katarina Tchakarov

April Book

Alex Ramos

George Whang

Amy Gonch

MBIA

Christina Hanna

Fred Podolsky

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/21/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.