Stephen Ryan: Five Years of Solid Financial Guidance

Stephen D. Ryan is a senior vice president with Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group in Pittsford, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has more than 30 years of financial industry experience as a senior executive of a private wealth management team specializing in investment management, legacy planning, and investment advisory services. He also has served on the AACR Foundation Board of Trustees for the past five years, lending the group his financial acumen.

As a wealth management expert, nonprofits often ask Stephen to weigh in on the financial side of things. He says, “My experience is that many times these nonprofit organizations need some additional help, finance-wise. They need to make sure the money is managed properly, to better aid in fundraising.” In fact, in science-focused nonprofits, and in health care generally, discussing money can be a sensitive subject.

Stephen is keen on seeing that AACR’s donations are used in the best way possible. He explains, “When we receive those dollars, I ask, ‘Are we being good stewards of that money? Is what we’re doing fulfilling the objective of the AACR?’”

He notes that a scientific organization like the AACR isn’t going to have a lot of financial people “on-hand,” which makes his advice all the more valuable. He says, “We have an abundance of incredibly bright people involved at the AACR, but you need someone to tend to the funds. Having a realistic and honest view of things is beneficial to the organization as a whole and for growth.”

To accomplish its mission, the AACR relies upon its many Foundation Board of Trustee volunteers who serve as officers, directors, and committee members. In addition to providing leadership and financial guidance, AACR Foundation Board of Trustee members are involved in a myriad of AACR programs such as the Annual Meeting, and scholarly publications including the AACR journals. The board also helps the AACR Foundation operate effectively and continuously in an ever-changing environment, which is especially important now. While working hard to keep expenses low, the foundation raised a total of more than $31 million in 2019. Eighty-eight cents of every dollar donated goes directly to cancer research.