• Who We Are
• Governance

The American Cancer Society takes its mission to save lives seriously and therefore works to protect the resources entrusted to it by the public. An appropriately structured system of organizational governance ensures the input of appropriate experts on decision-making and strategic oversight of comprehensive nationwide operations.

The American Cancer Society, Inc., (referred to here as the "Society") is governed by the American Cancer Society Board of Directors, which is made up of volunteers from the medical and lay communities. The roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors are set forth in the Society’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

Board of Directors

The American Cancer Society Board of Directors consists of 11 officers, 24 directors (12 medical professionals and 12 lay persons), and eight directors-at-large (four medical and four lay). Directors are elected for a two-year term and can serve a maximum of three two-year terms. The Board sets policy, establishes long-term goals, monitors general operations, develops and approves the strategic plan, approves Division charter agreements and charter requirements, and approves corporate bylaw changes and the division of funds policy.

The Board meets regularly throughout the year. A typical agenda includes discussion and voting on the Society's goals and strategies; reports from the Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer; and the receipt of Monitoring Reports on matters such as CEO adherence to Society financial policies. View a list of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors.

Officer Roles

The relationship of the President, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer reflects the relationship among the Board and professional staff. The President, as the medical and scientific spokesperson for the Society, ensures public trust in the Society's positions. The Chair coordinates the stewardship and energy embodied in the Society's volunteers. The Chief Executive Officer applies the expertise of the professional staff to achieve the goals set by the organization.

Ethics and Financial Practices

To preserve the public's trust and protect the Society's strong reputation, the Society has adopted many of the governance practices used by publicly traded for-profit companies. The Society's written Code of Ethics contains a mechanism for managing and disclosing conflicts of interest, as well as a Confidentiality Agreement for staff and certain volunteers.

In addition, the Society has established charters for the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance Committee, and Governance Committee. The Audit Committee assists the Board in overseeing accounting and internal control processes. The Compensation Committee oversees executive compensation. The Compensation Committee's charter provides a roadmap for compliance with IRS procedural requirements on compensation and transactions with insiders. The charter also follows the new for-profit practices that require the Committee to consist of only independent directors. The Finance Committee assists the Board in overseeing the financial performance and strategy of the Society. The Governance Committee supports the Board by enriching the capacity of Board members to govern and lead the Society toward achieving the 2015 goals and beyond. The Governance Committee also ensures that the governance process models best practices outlined for nonprofit organizations and regularly evaluates the effectiveness of the Board and its committees.

These governance practices reflect the American Cancer Society's commitment to the highest standards of organizational integrity. For more information, please feel free to contact the Office of Corporate Communications or the Office of Strategic Governance and Corporate Affairs at the American Cancer Society National Home Office in Atlanta, Georgia.