About Us

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Vision: A world without breast cancer

The Komen Promise: To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cures. 

The Salt Lake City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is dedicated to combating breast cancer on every front. Up to 75 percent of the Affiliate’s net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals, clinics and community organizations that provide breast health education as well as breast cancer screening and treatment programs for medically underserved women. The remaining net income (a minimum of 25 percent) supports the national Komen Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational programs around the world.

The Komen Salt Lake City Affiliate’s service area covers Salt Lake, Weber, Utah, Davis, Summit, Wasatch and Tooele Counties.  Thanks to the thousands of people who participant in the Susan G. Komen Salt Lake City Race for the Cure® and other Affiliate events each year. Along with our dedicated corporate partners and generous donors you are helping Komen Salt Lake City play a vital role in fighting breast cancer within our community. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Race
Q: When is the Race held?
A: The Salt Lake City Race for the Cure® is held the Saturday before Mother’s Day each year. For 2012, the race date is May 12th.

Q: Where is the Race held?
A: In 2012, the Race will be held at a NEW location – Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

Q: How many people participate in the Race?
A: We anticipate over 16,000 participants for 2012, including 1,000 survivors.

Q: What does a 5K race have to do with breast cancer?
A: The series of 5K runs and walks raises significant funds for the breast cancer movement, celebrates breast cancer survivors and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. 

Affiliate
Q: What does the Affiliate do?
A: Most people have heard about the Race for the Cure®, but the Salt Lake City Affiliate does much more!  In addition to the Race and other fundraising events, we collaborate and advocate for women’s health, we celebrate breast cancer Survivors each year with a luncheon, and we manage a local grants program (see Mission section below).

Q: Where does the money go?
A: Up to 75% of net proceeds raised by the Salt Lake City Affiliate stay in Utah to fund screening, treatment and education programs that assist women in our local communities.  The remaining 25% goes to Komen National, not for overhead, but directly into research projects. Community and research grants are discussed in more detail in the Mission section.

Q: What are your operating costs?
A: Each Affiliate is required to spend no more than 25% of its income on overhead (rent, salaries, computers, mail, Race expenses, etc.)  

Q: How many staff members do you have?
A: The Salt Lake City Affiliate employs two full-time employees and one part-time employee.  We accomplish so much through countless hours and effort from an amazing group of core volunteers and many, many more on Race day.

Q: What parts of Utah do you serve?
A: Our current service area includes Salt Lake, Utah, Weber, Davis, Summit, Wasatch and Tooele counties.   Our hope is to expand to offer services in the rest of the state in the near future.

Mission
Q: What is your Mission?
A: The Mission of the Salt Lake City Affiliate is the same as the national organization.  “To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.” 
To accomplish our part of this mission, we manage a local community grants program that provides funding for organizations that aim to fill the gaps in care for women as it relates to breast cancer.  These grants are for screening, treatment and education. 

Q: How do you know what gaps exist?
A: In 2011, the Salt Lake City Affiliate published a Community Profile.   This was a months-long project that assessed the needs of women in Utah related to breast cancer.   This document allowed us to develop granting priorities to direct funding.

Q: What are granting priorities?
A: Granting priorities are areas discovered through the Community Profile that we feel will make the greatest impact in our community.  The funding priorities for the 2012-2013 grant cycle are listed here.

Q: Who decides what organizations/projects are funded?
A: The affiliate appoints an independent review committee with diverse backgrounds.   Members are recruited from the medical community, other nonprofits, finance, education, business, as well as breast cancer survivors.   These individuals score and rank applications based on our granting priorities and where the biggest impact can be made.

Q: How much money have you granted overall?
A:  Since 1997, the Salt Lake City Affiliate has granted over $4.1 million.

Q: How much money did you grant last year?
A: In 2011-2012, the Salt Lake City Affiliate granted $735,000 to local non-profit organizations.   This year, our requests are even higher and we hope, with your help, to be able to meet the increasing need for services for women in Utah.

Q: Who are your grantees?
A: A list of our current grantees is located here.

Q: Where can I find information on research grants?
A: All research grants are managed by our national office in conjunction with a large group of scholars and leaders in the field of breast cancer research.   This is done to avoid duplication and ensure impact.   Information on research grants, including the process for application, management and a list or projects is on the national website.
 
In the News
Q: What happened in regard to Planned Parenthood grants?
A: The national board of Susan G.  Komen for the Cure® instituted new granting rules that essentially disallowed Planned Parenthood from applying for future funding.   After hearing from supporters, sponsors and affiliates, the guidelines were reviewed and clarified, and Planned Parenthood will still be allowed to compete for community grant funds along with other nonprofits.

Q: How much money was granted to Planned Parenthood?
A: Last year, 19 out of the network of 122 affiliates provided funding to Planned Parenthood in the amount of $680,000.   Overall, the affiliate network funded $93 million in support of screening, treatment and education across the nation.   This is in addition to the $65 million given to fund potentially life-saving research.

Q: Has the Salt Lake City Affiliate funded Planned Parenthood in the past?
A: Yes.  We have funded several grants beginning in 2001 for breast health educational materials.

Q: Will you fund Planned Parenthood in the future?
A: Yes, if their request is related to breast health, and if our independent panel of reviewers decide that their proposal is a granting priority, given other requests and funds available.

Q. Do your funds pay for abortions?
A. No. our funds simply pay for breast health programs.