How Your Gift Helps

How We Do It

Research

Accelerate the discovery of new therapies available to patients, including playing a part in the approval of 15 new myeloma drugs in the last decade alone Advance research through innovation  For example, the signature project the Black Swan Research Initiative® (BSRI) has more than 50 ongoing, concurrent projects happening globally.  Heading into its fifth year, the IMF’s BSRI’s iStopMM (https://www.myeloma.org/black-swan-research-initiative/istopmm) is “the largest single-country, randomized trial that has ever been conducted in the cancer field.”  At Year 4, the Principal Investigator Sigurdur Kristinsson said, “No one has ever done anything like this before, ever. So far it has been a success!”  Bring more than 250 leading, global myeloma experts together under one roof  Established in 1995, the IMF’s International Myeloma Working Group (https://www.myeloma.org/international-myeloma-working-group) (IMWG) conducts collaborative research and produces consensus guidelines for the myeloma community So often in research, efforts are duplicated in the attempt to be the first to produce results. The IMWG is a platform for true collaboration – a steadfast way to avoid the duplication of efforts and accelerate research through interactive and collaborative science. This approach will not only lead to faster results, but also offers a more financially sound path to finding a cure. Regarded as the crème de la crème amongst myeloma experts, the IMWG pools resources, databases, and samples, achieving results together rather than in silos

Education

Present the most relevant and latest treatment news to patients, families, and caregivers through in-person and virtual events Cater Patient and Family Seminars (https://www.myeloma.org/resources-support/imf-support-network/patient-family-seminars)to patients and their loved ones to learn how to cope with a new diagnosis, to understand the latest treatment options available at diagnosis or relapse, and to share with others with similar experiences Meet the needs of smaller communities with Regional Community Workshops (https://www.myeloma.org/resources-support/imf-support-network/myeloma-community-workshops) Highlight timely health and wellness issues with Living Well with Myeloma webinars that cover everything from exercise, nutrition, financial well-being, and more  Publish a library of more than free 100 resources and nearly 20 translations of those materials, to truly serve global needs

Support

Help facilitate and maintain a network of more than 150 support groups (https://www.myeloma.org/support-groups) in North America, with the knowledge that patients involved in a support group experience more positive outcomes in the course of their disease Service patients for immediate concerns in a caring and compassionate manner through our InfoLine phone and email lines  (https://www.myeloma.org/infoline)

Advocacy

Amplify the voices of cancer patients worldwide by guiding individuals to advocate (https://www.myeloma.org/take-action/advocacy) for critical issues that affect the myeloma community Lead cancer patient advocacy coalitions at the state, federal, and global levels Collaborate with more than 30 cancer organizations to influence oral chemotherapy parity legislation (https://www.myeloma.org/oral-chemotherapy-access) as well as global access to novel therapies for all cancer patients

Our Standing

As of November 2020, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) received the highest 4-star rating for the 16th time from Charity Navigator, the largest independent charity evaluator in the U.S. The 2020 4-star rating marks a fourth-consecutive year of this highest scoring for the IMF.

Michael Thatcher, Charity Navigator President and CEO, stated, “Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that International Myeloma Foundation exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work. Only 20% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 4 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that International Myeloma Foundation outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets International Myeloma Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

Our Accountability

• Ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility. Visit our Annual Reports and Audit reports (https://www.myeloma.org/financials) to learn more.
• Here is the IMF’s latest revenues and expenditures for the 2022 Fiscal Year: