Basics

Founded

1999

Headquarters

Tampa, Florida, USA

Status

Active

Type

Nonprofit

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Overview

About Summary↗

Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered supports individuals and families affected by hereditary cancer. It runs peer navigation matched on genetic mutation, a helpline in English and Spanish with a separate genetic counselor line, message boards, a research advocacy program that trains patients to advise on studies, a featured research listing of studies enrolling people with or at high risk for hereditary cancer, public policy advocacy, and education for health care providers. Its services are free, remote and need no referral or diagnosis.

FORCE is funded by individuals, foundations and corporations, and publishes its supporters and industry sponsors on its own site.

“Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families facing hereditary cancer.”

FORCE Quoted↗

BRCA profile

BRCA activity Patient Navigation and Advocacy Reaches BRCA↗Summary

FORCE states that its Peer Navigation Matching Program connects a person with a Peer Navigator volunteer for confidential one-to-one support by phone or email, with a free expert-reviewed resource guide tailored to them, and that the match is made on genetic mutation, cancer type, risk management, surgery type, fertility options, geography and age. Those seven variables are the decisions a carrier faces, and matching on them means the person on the other end of the call has already faced the same one. Alongside the matching program FORCE runs a helpline that returns calls within 48 hours in English and Spanish, a separate genetic counselor helpline, message boards open around the clock, and a private group.

Names BRCA1 and BRCA2 on its own site.

Also on the map Guidelines and Policy Names BRCA↗Summary

FORCE states that it has played a key role in driving the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act for the past five years, and describes exactly what the Act would change: Medicare covers genetic testing only for beneficiaries already diagnosed with cancer, regardless of family history or known mutation, and many medically necessary cancer screenings or risk-reducing surgeries are not covered for previvors. The Act would modify the Medicare statutes to enable coverage of genetic counseling, testing, screening and risk-reducing interventions. Medicare holds its own tile on this map in row 21, and the rule FORCE is trying to change is the rule recorded there.

Names BRCA1 and BRCA2 on its own site.

Also on the map Trial Matching Names BRCA↗Summary

FORCE states that its Featured Research tool lets a person search for cancer prevention, treatment and quality of life studies enrolling people with or at high risk for hereditary cancers, and that its tools will help match a person to hereditary cancer detection, prevention and treatment studies. Listings are grouped by study type, including prevention, quality of life, and surveys, registries and interviews, and are marked where the study is virtual. Individual listings name the gene, including a study for people with a positive BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Most trial registries are organized around treating a diagnosed cancer, so a listing that carries prevention studies for people who do not have cancer is doing something the registries do not.

Also on the map Patient Communities Reaches BRCA↗Summary

FORCE states that its message boards are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are the easiest way to reach out and connect with others who are facing the challenges of hereditary cancer, that its private group lets people connect with others who are affected by hereditary cancer, and that its calendar carries support meetings and partner events. The distinction from row 25 is that navigation is a match FORCE makes and a community is a place FORCE keeps open, and this organization does both.

Names BRCA1 and BRCA2 on its own site.

Map position

Gatekeepers and Payers · Guidelines and PolicyCare Access · Patient Navigation and AdvocacyCare Access · Trial MatchingCare Access · Patient Communities

Profile

Focus areas Summary↗

Hereditary cancer education Risk management guidance Research and advocacy Peer support and navigation Public policy

Taken from the organization's own wording and shortened. Not derived.

Notable Summary↗

Runs a page for each hereditary cancer gene. The BRCA1 page states that people born with mutations in the BRCA1 gene have an increased risk for certain types of cancer, and that a person who tests positive has options for screening, prevention and treatment. Peer Navigation matches on genetic mutation, cancer type, risk management, surgery type, fertility options, geography and age.

Leadership As published↗

Barbara Pfeiffer, Chief Executive Officer. Sue Friedman, Executive Director and Founder. Diane Rose, Vice President of Research. Kelsey Calhoun, Corporate Engagement Manager. Verinda Hobbs, Partnerships Strategy Manager. Rebekah Wells, Senior Vice President of Development. Lisa Schlager, Vice President of Public Policy.

Financials Summary↗

FY2025	Expenses	$3 million
FY2025	Net Assets	$1.8 million
FY2025	Revenue	$2.6 million
FY2024	Expenses	$3.4 million
FY2024	Revenue	$3 million
FY2023	Revenue	$2.8 million

Engagement

Route in Summary↗

Industry sponsorship runs through Kelsey Calhoun, Corporate Engagement Manager, KelseyC@FacingOurRisk.org, and Verinda Hobbs is Partnerships Strategy Manager. Researchers ask for a research advocate, input on study design or help with recruitment through the Research Collaboration Request form, and FORCE states that fees may apply; study listings for its Featured Research page go to Diane Rose, Vice President of Research, dianer@facingourrisk.org. Organizations join as partners through a partner sign-up form. Research inquiries also go to Sue Friedman, DVM, Executive Director and Founder, suefriedman@facingourrisk.org; public policy to Lisa Schlager, Vice President of Public Policy, lisas@facingourrisk.org; educational content to Piri Welcsh, PhD, Vice President of Education, piriw@facingourrisk.org; media to Karen Kramer, Senior Vice President of Marketing, karenk@facingourrisk.org; and donations to Ruth Kucharz, Vice President of Development, ruthk@facingourrisk.org. Rebekah Wells is Senior Vice President of Development and Barbara Pfeiffer is Chief Executive Officer. General inquiries go to info@facingourrisk.org.

Research collaboration
Organization partners
General inquiries: info@facingourrisk.org

Industry sponsorship As published↗

Kelsey Calhoun, Corporate Engagement Manager, serves Americas, KelseyC@FacingOurRisk.org

Application portal

Featured Research study listings As published↗

Diane Rose, Vice President of Research, serves Americas, dianer@facingourrisk.org

Application portal

Research As published↗

Sue Friedman, DVM, Executive Director and Founder, serves Americas, suefriedman@facingourrisk.org

Public policy As published↗

Lisa Schlager, Vice President of Public Policy, serves Americas, lisas@facingourrisk.org

Educational content As published↗

Piri Welcsh, PhD, Vice President of Education, serves Americas, piriw@facingourrisk.org

Media As published↗

Karen Kramer, Senior Vice President of Marketing, serves Americas, karenk@facingourrisk.org

Donations As published↗

Ruth Kucharz, Vice President of Development, serves Americas, ruthk@facingourrisk.org

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Legend

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