Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Our mission is to eliminate pediatric cancer while providing hope and support to those who are touched by it. Our vision is a world without pediatric cancer.Forty-three children are diagnosed with cancer daily, and pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children. Even so, less than 4% of the total federal funding spent on cancer research is directed toward the treatment of children. These statistics are staggering. At Bear Necessities, we are dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer research to ultimately discover a cure, while continuing to help patients and their families today, bringing hope and joy to those in need. We couldn't continue this critical work without the unwavering support of our donors. Thank you for all you do.
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $2,378,698
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $1,484,979
- +14.4% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $52,447
- +58174.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $1,512,406
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 3 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2023) to $200K (2022). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alex's Lemonade Stand Wynnewood, PA | Research | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,378,698 | $1,484,979 | $1,512,406 | — | — | $52,447 |
| 2024 | $2,401,640 | $1,297,950 | $1,459,087 | $20,000 | 1 | $90 |
| 2023 | $2,550,663 | $1,735,462 | $1,413,781 | $10,000 | 1 | $30 |
| 2022 | $2,315,118 | $1,700,490 | $1,491,073 | $200,000 | 1 | $22,252 |
| 2021 | $2,288,465 | $1,301,560 | $1,134,321 | — | — | $24,780 |
| 2020 | $2,123,822 | $1,470,033 | $1,717,512 | $110,000 | 2 | $-1,651 |
About Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. Net investment income was $52K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is led by Kate Tillotson, CEO on every filing since 2023; 4 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kate Tillotson
CEO
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$128K (2023) → $140K (2025)
Kathleen Casey
President & Founder
CEO & President → President & Founder, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $148K (2025)
Andrea Caputo
Director
Board Secretary → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Jelinek
Director
Board Member → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Mikulec
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ajani Nimmagadda
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Conrad
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenra Castelloni
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Pellicano
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steph Sorensen
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Hitch-Zint
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Grace
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Moore
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Shirley
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Delnaz Vazifdar
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Krupa
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$81K (2020) → $100K (2025)
Michelle Hanfling
Vice President of Programs & Operations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$100K (2025)
Barbara Hartman
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joy Larisey
Co-Chair
Board Member → Co-Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Herbison
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chairperson, 2022
Vice Chairperson → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Jolcover
Co-Chair
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Hamric
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brianna Elsass
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Susan Mura (2020–2024) — Director of Finance
- Former: Chris Armstrong (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Anthony Marino (2020–2022) — Director - Term
- Former: David Ventura (2020–2022) — Director - Term
- Former: Dennis Culloton (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Hillary Fash (2020–2022) — Director - Term
- Former: Tim Mauery (2020–2022) — Director - Term
- Former: Jennifer Goodwin (2021–2022) — President & Young Professional Board
- Former: Susan Hitch (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Katharine Tillotson (2022) — CEO
- Former: Richard Gray (2022) — Director
- Former: Jeff Shea (2020–2021) — Board Member - Term
- Former: Justyna Della Valle (2020–2021) — Board Member - Term
- Former: Ken Moll (2020–2021) — Board Member - Term
- Former: Pam Mikulec (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Herbison (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Iacono (2020) — Board Vice President
- Former: Peter Ponniah (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Jarnac (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $148K, to Kathleen Casey (President and Founder). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
How large is Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation?
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What is Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation?
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a public charity focused on Medical Research, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation operate?
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation has awarded grants in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania.
What is Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation's EIN?
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3874655. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation funds
Medical Research Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) $32,000 annually plus $12,000 cost of education allowance · Due October 27, 2026
- Social, Political and Economic Inequality Grants Due October 28, 2026
- Special Initiative: Implications of the 2023 Supreme Court Decision on Race-Conscious Admissions (SCD23) Due October 28, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?