Concern Foundation
Concern Foundation is a Los Angeles, California-based public charity that funds cancer research. Founded in 1968, it describes its work as supporting promising cancer researchers, particularly early-career scientists, with funding for research projects.
Concern Foundation at a glance
In short: Concern Foundation gave $1.4M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $60K), top state California. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,382,000
- +18.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +9.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $60,087
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $10,302,865
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (10 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Concern Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation describes a pre-eligibility questionnaire followed, for eligible applicants, by an invitation to submit an LOI. Applicants selected after LOI review are invited to submit a full proposal. The website’s application guidance lists materials including abstracts, a research plan, budgets and justifications, other support, resources and environment, and investigator biosketches. The website states that funded research awards cover salaries and supplies directly related to the research.
- Review Cycle
- The next round is expected to open in Spring 2027. The LOI deadline is July 23, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. applicant local time. The full proposal deadline is listed as early November 2027, approximate.
- Deadline
- The next round is expected to open in Spring 2027.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11111 West Olympic Blvd 214, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (310) 360-6100
Website: https://concernfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Concern Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Hospital Los Angeles ($190K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 120 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it distributes cancer research grants worldwide. In 2024, California received 49% of grant dollars; Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas each received 11%; and New York received 5%. The listed 2024 grants also included recipients in Ohio and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Concern Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 18 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $95K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $38K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $925K (2022) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Novel molecular mechanism(s) of p1d1 function in pediatric brain tumors. | $150,000 |
| USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Los Angeles, CA | Ethnic differences in immune responses among breast cancer patients | $100,000 |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Summer Oncology Research Fellowship Program | $90,000 |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Elucidating the mechanism of chromosome 17q gain-mediated neuroblastoma tumorigenesis | $75,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Early transcriptional, epigenetic, and environmental factors of squamous transformation in lung cancer | $75,000 |
| Ohio State University Columbus, OH | Targeting a new immune checkpoint axis (pilrcd8) to treat glioblastoma | $75,000 |
| Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR | Antigen Sorting by Dendritic Cells Impacts Anti-Tumor Immunity | $75,000 |
| Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR | Reprogramming suppressive regulatory t cells in the tumor microenvironment | $75,000 |
| Temple University Philadelphia, PA | Role of chemotherapy in promoting awakening of dormant tumor cells and metastatic relapse | $75,000 |
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Targeting collagen I homotrimer induced il-18 as a novel therapeutic strategy in pancreatic cancer | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Concern Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,302,865 | $2,431,187 | $2,589,586 | $1,382,000 | 23 | $351,800 |
| 2023 | $10,046,196 | $1,711,550 | $2,185,452 | $1,164,781 | 21 | $-460,860 |
| 2022 | $8,969,682 | $3,012,671 | $1,718,648 | $925,000 | 17 | $15,642 |
| 2021 | $8,993,790 | $2,826,481 | $1,990,023 | $1,145,576 | 24 | $1,102,830 |
| 2020 | $8,297,280 | $2,160,688 | $2,016,337 | $1,132,500 | 35 | $246,172 |
| 2019 | $7,990,867 | $4,097,022 | $1,914,682 | $1,035,000 | 17 | $134,360 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to distribute research grants worldwide to fund cancer research. Its website describes a focus on promising early-career researchers and seed funding for innovative projects, particularly in cancer genetics, cell biology, tumor immunology, and immunotherapy. It says grant funds are for salaries and supplies directly related to the funded research.
The 2024 grants also included support for community organizations. Beauty Bus Foundation describes its mission as providing beauty and grooming services to seriously ill patients and caregivers; Hope for Henry Foundation says it develops programs to help hospitalized children and families manage serious illness; and City of Hope describes its mission as making hope a reality for people affected by cancer and diabetes. These are the grantees’ stated missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave 23 grants totaling $1,382,000. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $150,000, with a median of $75,000. Among the largest awards were $150,000 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for research on P1D1 function in pediatric brain tumors; $100,000 to USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center for research on immune responses among breast cancer patients; and $90,000 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for its Summer Oncology Research Fellowship Program. Other $75,000 awards included grants to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Temple University, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The foundation describes its grant process as beginning with a pre-eligibility questionnaire. Eligible applicants may be invited to submit a letter of intent (LOI); selected LOIs proceed to full proposals, which are peer-reviewed. The foundation says it monitors grants through payment verifications and yearly progress or completion reports. Its website describes the Conquer Cancer Now Awards as a biennial program and says the scientific review process considers nearly 200 applications.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Derek Alpert as president; Lorene Goldman as board chairperson; Lisi Teller as vice chairperson; and Michael Firestein as secretary/legal counsel. Listed board members are Brian Anastasio, Eden Anastasio, Bill Barnett, Anne Barnett, Harvey Beesen, and Nancy Blecker.
Concern Foundation is led by Derek Alpert, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 51 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Derek Alpert
President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$211K (2019) → $260K (2024)
Lorene Goldman
Board Chairperson
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Ullman
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Aliza Goldsmith
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allie Lehrman
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Barnett
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Brucker
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bettina Tendler O'Mara
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Barnett
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Hanasab
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Teller
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Entin
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Powell
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Massi
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Farhad Hanasab
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Mottek
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harvey Beesen
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian Metrose
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ivan Kallick
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Gottlieb
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Nicastro
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Freedman
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Carroll
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauri Metrose
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lexy Carroll
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Max Liszt
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Firestein
Secretary & Legal Counsel
Secretary & Legel Counsel → Secretary & Legal Council, 2020
Secretary & Legal Council → Secretary & Legal Counsel, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Massi
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Myrna Zimmerman
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Blecker
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Eisenstadt
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Powell
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelby Blecker
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Fortner
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Freed
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Teller
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Brucker
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Goldman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Anastasio
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eden Anastasio
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jaclyn Rosenson Clifford
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Otelsberg
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Latimer Lorenz
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Rubin
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marni Glick
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Hirsch Wohl
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Shames
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Estes
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jabari Brown
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisi Teller
Vice Chairperson
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zach Zalben
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Dana Schwartz (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ilyse Teller (2019–2023) — Vice Chairperson
- Former: Laurie Resch (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Wendy Nogradi (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Hirsch (2021–2023) — Board Member · Filing note: From jan 2021
- Former: Briana Vickers (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Joyce Powell (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lynne Fox (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Marc Lauter (2019–2022) — Chief Financial Officer · Filing note: Through feb 2022
- Former: Scott Vickers (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Weiner (2021–2022) — Board Member · Filing note: From sep 2021
- Former: Noah Goldsmith (2019–2020) — Board Member · Filing note: Until June 2020
- Former: Robert Goldman (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Stanley Zimmerman (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $260K, to Derek Alpert (President).
Frequently asked questions about Concern Foundation
How much does Concern Foundation give each year?
Concern Foundation gave $1.4M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 21 grants.
What is Concern Foundation's typical grant size?
Concern Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $60,087, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Concern Foundation that year got $63K on average.
Where does Concern Foundation give grants?
Concern Foundation's top state is California, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Oregon (11%) and Pennsylvania (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (11 grants), Portland, OR (2 grants), Philadelphia, PA (2 grants) and Houston, TX (2 grants).
Does Concern Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Concern Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Concern Foundation's largest grantees?
Concern Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Hospital Los Angeles ($190,000 across 3 grants), Childrens Hospital Los Angeles ($150,000) and Oregon Health & Science University ($150,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Concern Foundation?
Concern Foundation reported $10.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.
What does Concern Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to distribute research grants worldwide to fund cancer research. Its website describes a focus on promising early-career researchers and seed funding for innovative projects, particularly in cancer genetics, cell biology, tumor immunology, and immunotherapy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Concern Foundation?
The foundation describes a pre-eligibility questionnaire followed, for eligible applicants, by an invitation to submit an LOI. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Concern Foundation's EIN?
Concern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7002878. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Concern Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Concern Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/concern-foundation-morg_c5d3c919a0e849b2a4537226c6ec40bd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237002878_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Concern Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/concern-foundation-morg_c5d3c919a0e849b2a4537226c6ec40bd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Concern Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Concern Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?