Melanoma Research Foundation Awarded 4-Star Rating for Second Consecutive Year

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J.— For the second consecutive year, the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) was awarded a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management.  Only 21% of the charities rated by Charity Navigator have received at least two consecutive 4-star ratings. 

This rating recognizes the MRF’s accomplishments as a leading national organization that is able to efficiently use its resources to get to the heart of its mission – funding melanoma research to save lives and patient support. 

“Melanoma patients have few options.  We feel a real imperative to make the most of our resources so that we can have a real impact for people struggling with this disease,” said Tim Turnham, executive director of the MRF.  “Charity Navigator’s ranking really validates that we’re managing and growing our resources in the most transparent and responsible manner possible to achieve our goals.”

Charity Navigator rates nonprofit organizations based on their organizational efficiency and capacity.  This includes the current use of funds and the growth of programs and services.  It provides reliable information to donors and is an unbiased rating system of charities across the country.

A key donor-supported initiative of the MRF is the MRF Breakthrough Consortium, a special project dedicated to accelerating medical research by bringing together the leaders in drug development, laboratory and clinical research for finding effective combination treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma. 

The Consortium’s focus is on testing combination therapies, which experts agree is the key to meaningfully extending the lives of patients with melanoma.  The melanoma community has not seen a research breakthrough in more than a decade, and as incidence of melanoma grows, the urgency the community feels has intensified. 

 “We see the Consortium as a way to speed the research process and cut years off of a critical process that will generate treatments that save lives,” said Turnham.   

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About Melanoma

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States and can strike men and women of all ages, all races and skin types.  In fact, with a one in 50 lifetime risk of developing melanoma, nearly 69,000 Americans were diagnosed with the disease in 2009, resulting in 8,650 deaths or one person every hour.  Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25- to 29-years-old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15- to 29-years-old. 

About Melanoma Research Foundation

The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest independent, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States.  Committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma, the MRF also educates patients and physicians about prevention, diagnosis and the treatment of melanoma.  The MRF is an active advocate for the melanoma community, helping to raise awareness of this disease and the need for a cure.  The MRF’s Web site is the premier source for melanoma information seekers.  More information is available at www.melanoma.org.