Is Nonprofit Always Best? A Cancer Doula on Why Impact Outweighs Tax Status
- Mar 28
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 28
When we talk about supporting people through cancer, the conversation often gravitates towards donating to large, familiar nonprofit organizations. There's an understandable, almost automatic trust placed in the nonprofit label, assuming pure altruism and maximum impact. But what about organizations structured differently, such as social enterprises or other mission-driven businesses (including those operating as for-profits deeply committed to essential cancer support), which aim to blend purpose with a sustainable operational model? Too often, these are met with skepticism, the assumption being that a profit motive automatically undermines the mission of care and much-needed support.
As a cancer thriver myself, and now working as a cancer doula, I've seen the landscape from both sides. I understand the desire to ensure support reaches those who need it most. However, I also believe we need to look beyond the simple nonprofit vs. for-profit dichotomy and focus on what truly matters: transparency, accountability, and tangible impact on the lives of people living with cancer and their families.
Nonprofit vs. For-Profit: Focusing on Impact
While many nonprofits do incredible, life-saving work, the nonprofit label itself isn't an automatic guarantee of efficiency or effectiveness. Concerns are sometimes raised within the sector about high overhead or fundraising costs, a lack of clear transparency about where every dollar goes, or a potential drift from the core mission towards organizational self-preservation. It’s crucial to acknowledge that effectiveness isn't solely determined by tax status.
This brings me to why I believe mission-driven, for-profit entities have a vital role to play. Often, for-profits in this area provide specific, tangible services where clients pay directly for value received. This creates direct accountability. Crucially, for service providers like myself, this means I do not get paid if I do not actively render services. My income is directly tied to the care and support I provide to individuals and families navigating cancer. This model inherently aligns my work with the immediate needs and satisfaction of my clients, ensuring the focus remains on delivering tangible value, unlike some systems where funding might be disconnected from immediate service output. This structure can also foster innovation and sustainability without constant fundraising pressures while offering the ability to provide specialized, dedicated expertise.
The Unique Role of a Cancer Doula
My personal journey fuels my professional mission. When I was going through cancer treatment, the medical care was there, but the holistic, emotional, and navigational support was often missing. I yearned for someone who understood the intricate challenges, and who could help me process, advocate for myself, and navigate the overwhelming logistics. If I had known someone like a cancer doula existed back then, someone dedicated to providing that personalized support, I would have absolutely invested in those services for my own well-being. It's this gap, this personal understanding of what's missing, that drove me to become a cancer doula.
My mission is to provide that hands-on, personalized support, filling gaps often left by traditional systems, doing things differently, and talking about cancer differently. My role in one's journey often involves patient advocacy, helping individuals articulate their needs, understand their options, and communicate effectively with their medical team. Choosing to operate as a service-based business enables me to dedicate myself fully to this intensive work. I only receive payment when I am providing care. This isn't about accumulating passive profit; it's about a direct, transparent, and deeply meaningful exchange for specialized, dedicated support during one of life's most challenging times. This ensures my focus is always on the person in front of me.
Why Representation Matters in Cancer Care
Furthermore, as a Black woman operating in a healthcare and wellness space where representation is often sorely lacking, I feel a profound responsibility and honor in doing this work. Increasing diversity in providers is crucial for building trust and advancing health equity, ensuring all patients feel seen and understood. Visibility matters. Trust matters. Offering culturally sensitive and understanding support from a place of shared or proximate identity can make a significant difference for patients who often feel unseen or unheard. This means their outcomes are often improved. Therefore, inclusive cancer care is essential. I will go even further to say it is a matter of life and death!
Addressing Cost: The Need for Insurance Coverage for Cancer Support
Now, it’s essential to address the elephant in the room: cost. I recognize that the cost of specialized support services can be a barrier for some individuals and families. This reality doesn't negate the value of the service but rather highlights a systemic issue. The intense, personalized nature of doula work requires significant time, emotional labor, and expertise, which needs to be compensated fairly and sustainably. The barrier underscores a critical need for improved insurance coverage that recognizes and reimburses essential cancer support services like doula care, patient navigation, and specialized therapy. These services are not luxuries; they are vital components of comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care and should be accessible.
Conclusion
Ultimately, whether an organization is nonprofit or for-profit, the critical questions should be: Are they transparent? Are they accountable? What tangible impact are they having on the lives of cancer patients and their families? Are they providing real value and meeting unmet needs?
It is important to move beyond simplistic labels and evaluate organizations based on their actions and outcomes. Support comes in many forms, and mission-driven businesses, run by individuals with deep personal commitment and expertise, are a crucial part of a truly comprehensive cancer support ecosystem. Let's champion impact, wherever we find it.
We can move the conversation forward by focusing on transparency, representation, and true impact in cancer care. What's your key takeaway from this discussion? Share it below!
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Blessings!
Talaya
The Cancer Doula💜