Nonprofit · EIN 26-0269131
CURE STARTS NOW INC
Tax-exempt · CINCINNATI, OH 45215
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,655,854 | $8,438,186 | -$2,782,332 | $4,317,740 | $3,686,759 | $630,981 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $5,367,380 | $4,381,043 | $986,337 | $4,248,120 | $834,807 | $3,413,313 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,080,693 | $4,760,307 | $320,386 | $4,130,907 | $1,703,931 | $2,426,976 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,510,392
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $16,962
- Net income from fundraising events
- $1,128,500
- Other revenue
- $1,128,500
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $5,036,883
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $174,042
- Other salaries and wages
- $912,457
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,496,442
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $249,619
- Travel
- $174,778
- Depreciation
- $7,793
- Program services (functional)
- $7,506,784
- Management and general (functional)
- $111,546
- Fundraising (functional)
- $819,856
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $4,248,120
- Total assets, end of year
- $4,317,740
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $3,686,759
- Net assets, end of year
- $630,981
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $138,224
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,695
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- -$132,359
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $763,340
- Gross receipts
- $5,977,900
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 1,500
- Year formed
- 2007
- State of legal domicile
- OH
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE WEINER | CIO Highest-paid employee | 60 | $123,099 | $19,181 |
| KEITH DESSERICH | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $111,793 | $29,038 |
| BROOKE DESSERICH | CEO & TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $62,249 | $16,394 |
| TERRY REGAN | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GAVIN BAUMGARDNER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN LEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALYSSA HAWRANKO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMARA EKIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE WEINER | CIO Highest-paid employee | 60 | $118,170 | $32,652 |
| BROOKE DESSERICH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 60 | $91,252 | $16,066 |
| KEITH DESSERICH | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $62,145 | $22,803 |
| DOUG DESSERICH | DIRECTOR/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GAVIN BAUMGARDNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMARA EKIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN LEE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALYSSA HAWRANKO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY REGAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE WEINER | CIO Highest-paid employee | 60 | $115,561 | $10,400 |
| BROOKE DESSERICH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO Officer | 60 | $109,575 | $13,962 |
| KEITH DESSERICH | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $33,166 | $2,985 |
| DOUG DESSERICH | DIRECTOR/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GAVIN BAUMGARDNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMARA EKIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN LEE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALYSSA HAWRANKO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY REGAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 10280 CHESTER RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45215-1200
- In care of
- % KEITH DESSERICH
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- BROOKE DESSERICH, 10280 CHESTER ROAD, CINCINNATI, OH 45215
- Signed the 990
- BROOKE DESSERICH, CEO
- Phone
- (513) 772-4888
- Website
- WWW.THECURESTARTSNOW.ORG
- Return prepared by
- DEAN DORTON ALLEN FORD PLLC
Mission
TO EDUCATE, AID, AND FUND CURES FOR CANCER, STARTING FIRST WITH PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER.
Program accomplishments
- IN ITS EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON THOSE CANCERS THAT PRESENT THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN ENCOMPASSING CANCER CURE, THE FOUNDATION ANNUALLY AWARDS RESEARCH GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. TYPICALLY, GRANTS AWARDED HAVE A FOCUS ON PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCERS, AS THIS WAS THE ORIGIN OF THE FOUNDATION'S PHILOSOPHY. GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL BE JUDGED ON A PEER-REVIEWED BASIS WITH THE FOUNDATION'S MEDICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF TOP ONCOLOGISTS AND RESEARCHERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS PARENT ADVOCATES. GRANTS ARE JUDGED BASED ON MULTIPLE CRITERIA INCLUDING SCIENTIFIC MERIT, DISEASE IMPACT, INNOVATION, FEASIBILITY, AND EXPERTISE OF THE INVESTIGATOR.Expenses $5,076,088 · grants $5,036,883
- FAMILY SUPPORT AND AWARENESS FUNDS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, MECHANISMS TO HONOR THEIR CHILD'S LEGACY AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES BATTLING PEDIATRIC CANCER. THIS INCLUDES INFORMATION WEBSITES, TRIAL DISCOVERY TOOLS, PATIENT ASSISTANCE AND PROGRAMS TO FEATURE PATIENTS WITH THE INTENTION OF BUILING LOCAL SUPPORT AND AWARENESS.Expenses $1,551,816
- THE BRAIN CANCER SYMPOSIUM (FORMERLY DIPG/DMG/MEDULLOBLASTOMA SYMPOSIUM) IS THE WORLD'S FOREMOST AND LARGEST INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE FOCUSING ON DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG), DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMA (DMG) AND MEDULLOBLASTOMA. RESEARCHERS, DOCTORS, FAMILIES AND FOUNDATIONS COME FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS INNOVATIVE EVENT. THE BIENNIAL SYMPOSIUM ORIGINATED IN 2011 AND HAS CONTINUED TO GROW OVER THE YEARS. IN 2025 IN BANFF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, MORE THAN 200 OF THE LEADING EXPERTS, RESEARCHERS AND DOCTORS IN DIPG, DMG, AND MEDULLOBLASTOMA ATTENDED. THE BRAIN CANCER SYMPOSIUM BRINGS THE RESEARCHERS, DOCTORS, FOUNDATIONS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER IN THIS COLLABORATIVE EVENT IS A UNIQUE APPROACH TO CREATING AND FUNDING NEW AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH.Expenses $878,880
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 26-0269131
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2007
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Voluntary health associations and medical disciplines (G48)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $4,317,740
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,977,900
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $5,655,854 | $8,438,186 | $4,317,740 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $5,367,380 | $4,381,043 | $4,248,120 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,080,693 | $4,760,307 | $4,130,907 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $5,231,630 | $6,057,974 | $2,625,696 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 26-0269131).
Questions about CURE STARTS NOW INC
- What is the EIN of CURE STARTS NOW INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of CURE STARTS NOW INC is 26-0269131.
- Is CURE STARTS NOW INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2007.
- Are donations to CURE STARTS NOW INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does CURE STARTS NOW INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of CURE STARTS NOW INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did CURE STARTS NOW INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of CURE STARTS NOW INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names BROOKE DESSERICH.
- Who are the officers and directors of CURE STARTS NOW INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 8 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $123,099 (MIKE WEINER, CIO).
- How much revenue does CURE STARTS NOW INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,655,854, expenses of $8,438,186 and total assets of $4,317,740 at year end.
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All nonprofits in CINCINNATI · Ohio · Voluntary health associations and medical disciplines