I don't really think the Susan G Komen org accomplishes much besides raising money. In 2011, only 15 percent of their donations went towards research. Over 40 percent went towards "education."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8171KW20120208
I'm always wary of disease-related charities that spend the majority of their money on "raising awareness" or "education." It can easily become a cover for expensive trip and events that don't actually get any money to actual brick-and-mortar research facilities or health care clinics.
You're right that it's important to investigate charities before giving! As some of the articles that came out in the wake of the Susan G Komen thing said, people would be better off donating directly to a research facility or health care clinic itself; not to an intermediary.