CIRCLE OF HOPE
The Breast Cancer Patients Needs First
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We have worked hard on raising revenue and writing small grants to help all the patients that need our help. There is a great need for breast cancer patients in rural areas.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Breast Cancer Treatment Payments To Those in Poverty or Financial Distress
We pay breast cancer patients treatment bills for those in poverty or financial distress. The client fills out the necessary paper work. We pay the provider.This may include lymphedma expenses, prescription expenses, and dental work before chemo.
Paying Daily Living Expenses for Breast Cancer Patients
We pay daily living expenses This includes rent, a house payment, utilities (paid directly to the providers). It can include a gas or grocery card to the patient. These are breast cancer patients in financial distress who have had to stop working to receive treatment. It is short term, emergency help.
Circle of Support Activities
We are an activities based organization. We participate in golf, bowling, walking, and running events. There are other activities that clients participate in such as health fairs, volunteering, fundraisers, arts, crafts, private pink parties, writing activities, health conferences
Men are also included in some activities.
Cancer Education
Information is available at health fairs about our organization, breast cancer, gynecological cancers, health in general. Members will speak at events. They will meet with clients one on one. The coordinator will help clients who do not qualify for their program get help elsewhere through a variety of resources regionally, state wide, and nationally. Men are also welcome to participate.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Research
Gathering money for metastatic breast cancer research at the UMD Medical School.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Help
We have several programs. They involve a Compudyne Photography program whereas local patients can have their pictures taken of themselves. They receive a framed picture and copies of pictures. This is another local program. Feeling Joy Project is when a small wish can be granted to local patients. It could be a restaurant certificate, going to the Edgewater Water Park with their family, having a massage, etc. Another program is a Feel Good Program is anywhere in Minnesota or Wisconsin that we serve. Stage IV breast cancer patients receive a quilt. We also help local breast cancer patients by donating a few items to their benefit. All patients receive educational materials related to their disease. Local breast cancer patients are invited to a once a year private party along with other survivors. (Depending on the year.) Patients can connect with Circle of Hope over coffee, on the internet, through social media, and by seeing if they want to be involved in. All cancer patients receive a feel good box. Workshops vary on numerous topics.
Where we work
Accreditations
Charities Review Council 2019
Awards
Stay Classy Nominee 2012
Stay Class
Nominee for MN Businesses 2012
MN Business
Membership 2018
Chamber of Commerce
Membership 2019
Chamber of Commerce
Membership 2020
Chamber of Commerce
Affiliations & memberships
Better Business Bureau 2016
Better Business Bureau 2017
Better Business Bureau 2018
Better Business Bureau 2019
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of new clients within the past 12 months
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys
Related Program
Paying Daily Living Expenses for Breast Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Half of the patients we serve are Stage IV breast cancer patients. Some are Stage III.
Number of clients referred to other services as part of their support strategy
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys
Related Program
Breast Cancer Treatment Payments To Those in Poverty or Financial Distress
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
There are many patients that are on Medicaid and Medicare. Many are having trouble financially when they are sent out of town for treatment from rural Minnesota and rural Wisconsin as well as locally.
Number of eligible clients who report having access to an adequate array of services and supports
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys
Related Program
Breast Cancer Treatment Payments To Those in Poverty or Financial Distress
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We have never seen so many needy patients as this past year. Every week we are getting calls.
Number of personal development plans in place
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys
Related Program
Paying Daily Living Expenses for Breast Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We work hard at getting a list of other resources available the patients, so they can help themselves as needed.
Number of women counseled about mammograms
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cancer Education
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
Circle of Hope is committed to helping breast cancer patients with their breast cancer medical bills and short term daily living expenses as they stop working during treatment.
The organization provides supportive services for the breast cancer patient through 1 on 1 meetings, in small group settings, over coffee, or on the phone. The organization also helps with benefits when they are able.
Circle of Hope promotes breast cancer awareness, education, and treatment in the community. They also serve gynecological cancer patients with education and feel good boxes. Circle of Hope gives chemo caps to cancer centers in the covered areas.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Strategies include advertising, giving cancer centers, financial workers, nurse navigators applications and information about the organization.
Circle of Hope does many health fairs in the area and region that it serves.
The organization does fundraisers, other do fundraisers for COH, and the coordinator writes grants.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The organization is located out of Duluth, MN. It serves a lot of LOCAL breast cancer patients. It also serves northern MN and northern WI. We have served all of MN and WI at times.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The patient is not stuck on breast cancer as a life long mission. They can accept how they look, feel, and seeks to enjoy life more. They can promote awareness, thankfulness, and still want to enjoy their family, friends, activities, and job.
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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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
We serve breast cancer patients. Also some gynecological patients as well. Past patients and volunteers are also served.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Suggestion box/email,
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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,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
We listen to the concerns that patients have in accessing care and help.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our board, Our funders, our website, information given out at presentations,
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How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?
We try to get the providers of serves to help their patients as we do.
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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?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting 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
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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.
CIRCLE OF HOPE
Board of directorsas of 2/9/2022
Ms. Rebecca Bullard
No
Term: 2014 -
Mr. Tom Porter
Circle of Hope
Term: 2015 -
Jim Anderson
Circle of Hope
Peggy Anderson
Circle of Hope
Tom Porter
Circle of Hope
Sam Rathe
Circle of Hope
Rebecca Bullard
Circle of Hope
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? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/07/2020GuideStar 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 use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- 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.