Frequently Asked Questions

Any Arlington MA, resident with a documented cancer diagnosis is eligible to apply for a grant.

The Sanborn Foundation Board of Directors has the sole authority to approve and deny grant requests and reserves the right to make decisions on a case-by-case basis.

The Sanborn Foundation will only pay for cancer-related expenses. Examples of these include:

• Medical costs, such as co-pays and deductibles
• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications and supplies
• Transportation/parking (ex: parking garage fees, chaircar rides)
• End-of-life care
• Home-care services
• Medical equipment
• Acupuncture and massage

Requests for payment of other items not listed here are also invited and will be reviewed by the Board.

The Sanborn Foundation is able pay a provider or vendor directly on your behalf. We will also reimburse you for approved expenses once you submit proof of payment.

Integrative Therapy Policy:

The Sanborn Foundation will cover up to $5,000 in expenses per lifetime for the following types of Integrative Therapies, during active treatment for your cancer:

• Yoga
• Acupuncture for specific symptoms
• Nutritional consults (must be with a licensed dietician)
• Meditation
• Oncology Massage
• Weight Management
• Fitness programs including tai chi, qi gong, strength/weight work, core strengthening, and bone work

What isn’t covered?

The Sanborn Foundation will not generally cover the following Integrative Therapies:

• Medical marijuana (NCI)
• Homeopathy
• Naturopathy
• Hypnotherapy
• Supplements, unless recommended by a physician
• Botanicals
• Aromatherapy
• Biopuncture
• Body/somatic techniques such as Alexander or Feldenkrais
• Access consciousness
• Reiki
• Therapeutic sauna / Sensory Deprivation Tanks / Sauna blankets

Please note:

The Sanborn Foundation will not cover living expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, lost wages, groceries, or insurance premiums

The Council on Aging has been awarded a grant from the Sanborn Foundation to arrange and pay for rides for Arlington residents of any age at no cost.

Individuals requesting reimbursement for assistance with rides to cancer-related medical appointments do not need to apply to the foundation but should contact the Arlington Council on Aging at 781-316-3400 to request that assistance directly.

Fore more detailed information, please see the Transportation Services section of the Our Services page.

GMA Foundations assists Sanborn with grantmaking administration by processing, tracking, and managing reimbursement and direct bill requests and payments.

You can learn more about our history on the About the Sanborn Foundation page.

You can learn more about George and Elizabeth Sanborn on the About the Sanborn Foundation page.

While we do not actively fundraise, we do accept donations to the Foundation and have been the grateful beneficiary of many donations in honor of Sanborn recipients. Donations must be made by check and mailed to Sanborn Foundation, PO Box #417, Arlington, MA 02476

It may be difficult to know what your expenses may be. We recommend reviewing your current expenses and estimating expenses for the coming 12 months. As Sanborn only pays specific invoices or reimburses payments based on submitted receipts and proof of payment, the amount requested does not need to be exact and can often be adjusted, if needed.

A letter or document from your medical provider verifying your cancer diagnosis is required as part of your application. The document can be:

1. Uploaded to the application (by scanning or uploading a photo)
2. Emailed to admin@sanbornfoundation.org
3. Mailed to:
   Sanborn Foundation
   P.O. Box 417
   Arlington, MA  02476

Yes! A family member, friend, medical professional, social worker or caseworker can submit the application on your behalf, online.

You can also call the Sanborn Foundation at 781-859-6079 and we can apply for you.  We are committed to helping eligible persons apply, regardless of internet availability or other obstacles.

Once the completed application and letter confirming your cancer diagnosis have been submitted, the grant request will be reviewed. Some requests are reviewed quickly; others are presented to the full board for review at the Board meetings held five times a year. Decisions will be announced by email, unless otherwise requested.

If your request is urgent and necessitates a quick decision, please indicate this on the application. Foundation staff will contact you once they have received your application to discuss the urgency. After a decision has been made about your grant request, you will receive an email or a letter about the decision.

Please call the Sanborn Foundation at 781-859-6079 or email admin@sanbornfoundation.org. You will receive a response within 48 hours.

Once you receive notice of grant approval by email, you are now ready to submit invoices or reimbursement requests.

There are two ways to submit receipts and invoices:

1. Scan all documents and upload them through your online account in the application portal. This is the fastest method.

OR

1. Mail all documents to:
   Sanborn Foundation
   PO BOX 417
   Arlington, MA 02476

Remember to include proof of payment—this can be cancelled checks, a credit card statement, or receipts showing a $0.00 balance or marked “Paid”

For pharmacy reimbursements, please request a “Patient Prescription History” from your pharmacy. They will provide a complete record of your cancer-related medications, which you can submit for reimbursement.

For direct payments (to hospitals, doctor’s office, etc.), make sure ALL pages are included. Payments are made by check so the return stub information (often the bottom part of the first page of a hospital bill) is necessary to remit payment.

Please do not use a highlighter to indicate expenses on a receipt as it causes the ink to fade, making the expense illegible.

If you send invoices or receipts to the PO Box, please do not staple pages!

Please contact Sheelah Ward, community outreach liaison to discuss reimbursement for past expenses. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis.

All submissions for reimbursement are subject to three separate reviews, which takes some time. Once processed, you should receive reimbursement within three to five weeks. Checks will be mailed to the address on file in your account.

If you forget your password, visit the login page by clicking “Apply Now” and then “Apply Online” in the menu above and then choose “Forgot Your Password?” The system will send you an email to reset your password.

For any other assistance please call 781-859-6079, or email admin@sanbornfoundation.org.

Yes. Requests for additional funding from current recipients will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Past recipients should contact the Foundation at 617-859-6079 to determine if their account is active or needs to be re-opened.