Non-Profit Organisation Awards 2025, Acquisition International | 19 the aforementioned series on lung cancer set for release later this year. When it comes to donors, a number of strategic outreach programmes are in place, and the team here are working on diversifying their revenue streams to make up for the lack of government funding now available for them. On the back of these improvements, the SCHEQ Foundation is excited to announce that the second half of 2025 is set to be an ambitious time for the NPO. Everyone is currently in the process of planning the third annual summit, which is to be held in Chicago with the theme “Navigating The Lung Cancer Care Continuum”. More broadly, plans to increase its release of infographics are in place, and these are set to contain diverse representations so that patients can see themselves within the material, hopefully leading to higher engagement. In closing, Dr. Manley told us: “I believe health equity is about intentionality. You have to actively address a problem with a solution that increases or improves the outcomes of an underserved group.” Whether through boosting health equity for underserved populations navigating cancer, increasing STEMM workforce diversity through mentorship and training programmes, or increasing health literacy for marginalised groups, the STEMM & Cancer Health Equity Foundation is doing exactly that – and changing lives in the process. Contact: Eugene Manley, Jr., PhD Company: STEMM & Cancer Health Equity Foundation Web Address: https://www.scheq.org/ Email: info@scheq.org. Best STEM Diversity & Cancer Health Equity NPO 2025 – USA Academia and medical care are just two of the areas in which marginalised populations struggle, and the barriers these groups have to overcome are as unfair as they are unnecessary. It is no secret that these challenges exist, but Dr. Manley knows them better than most, having felt their impact first-hand (as have his family). Dr. Manley and co. are far from the only ones, and there are countless low-income families struggling with the same issues – a lack of diversity in STEMM and uneven access to medical care. The SCHEQ Foundation was founded in 2023 to both increase STEMM workforce diversity and improve health equity for underserved populations navigating cancer. The organisation was created on the back of the constant roadblocks that diverse, first-generation scholars like Dr. Manley face in academic circles, as well as the challenges these same groups encounter as they traverse the US’ complex healthcare industry – especially when it comes to cancer. As for the steps the SCHEQ Foundation is taking to resolve these issues, Dr. Manley explained: “We have to start dismantling the systemic and structural barriers that contribute to a lack of workforce diversity and provide resources to help people advocate for the career and/or care they are entitled to. An educated, empowered public is better able to advocate for the things they deserve, and we provide information and resources to facilitate this.” This can be seen through its services, which include infographics to increase literacy and advocacy around health, an annual lung cancer summit focusing on health equity and offering solutions stakeholders can use to improve health outcomes for underserved patients, and an upcoming series of lung cancer webinars. A number of professional services are also available – including public speaking and career coaching – as well free navigation services for nurses and patients through a partnership with Orchid Healthcare Solutions. Dr. Manley oversees much of this himself and is primarily responsible for everything from setting this NPOs mission and implementing its initiatives to overseeing its partnerships. Dr. Manley is not alone however, as he is able to leverage the services of both the SCHEQ Foundation’s patient advisory board and its medical advisory board, which are responsible for making sure its infographics are clear and medically accurate, respectively. Having such small numbers does bring with it some issues, many of which are currently also being faced by other non-profits. For example, some of the challenges the SCHEQ Foundation is experiencing at present include raising awareness of its work, finding donors, and seeking out ways to overcome the anti-DEI initiatives pioneered by the current US Government – which have removed many funding opportunities. Exploring the ways it is tackling these issues, Dr. Manley points to the NPO’s increased use of social media to improve its reach, as well as Operating out of New York City, the STEMM & Cancer Health Equity (SCHEQ) Foundation is a black-led nonprofit organisation focusing on addressing the structural and systematic issues impacting the entry of underrepresented groups into the field – as well as regarding the disproportionate health outcomes for those same marginalised groups navigating cancer. We caught up with Dr. Eugene Manley, Jr., the founder and CEO of the SCHEQ Foundation, to learn more about its work. STEMM & Cancer Health Equity Foundation
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