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Curebound

Public charity · Grantmaker San Diego, CA EIN: 46-0552414 Website

Curebound is a San Diego-based public charity that raises and invests funding in adult and pediatric cancer research. Its grantmaking emphasizes collaboration across institutions and advancing research toward clinical application.

Key facts about Curebound

In short: Curebound gave $10.2M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $931K), mostly in California. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
46-0552414
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$10,238,599
Grants made (2025)
11
Average grant
$930,782
Median grant
$337,270
New grantees (estimate)
27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025)
Total assets
$11,857,815
Primary geography
California (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The website says proposals undergo peer review. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$11.9M

-27.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$10.2M

+44.5% YoY

Grant Count

11

+10.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$931K

+31.4% YoY

Is Curebound open to new grantees?

27%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $229K; repeat grants $1.2M. How we count

Medians: $250K first-time, $461K repeat.

  • 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 241% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Curebound states its mission is to accelerate cancer research and save lives. It funds oncology research for adult and pediatric cancers across five stated research pillars: Cancer Detection; Novel Approaches, Targets, and Therapeutics; Personalized Immunotherapy; Cancer Equity; and Childhood Cancers.

The organization’s website says its grants require collaboration among specialized teams led by San Diego-based research institutions. Eligible team-leader institutions include UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys, Rady Children’s Hospital, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, and Scripps Research. The 2025 filing also lists grants to research institutions, universities, and companies.

Among its 2025 grantees, the Salk Institute describes its work as spanning cancer research and other fields, while the La Jolla Institute for Immunology says its scientists study the immune system to promote health and prevent disease, including cancer. These are descriptions of the grantees, not Curebound.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, Curebound reported 11 grants totaling **$10,238,599**. Grant amounts ranged from **$6,650 to $5,743,423**, with a median of **$337,270**.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Curebound’s website describes its grant platform as led by San Diego-based research institutions. In filing year 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 1% to recipients in Arizona.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

La JollaSan DiegoEncinitasTucson

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M4 grants2019 0 grants2020 4 grants2021 6 grants2022 5 grants2023 10 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2021) to $10.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $10.2M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

The Regents of University of California Uc San Diego: $5.7MThe Regents of University ofCalifornia Uc San Diego$5.7MSanford Burnham Prebys: $1.5MSanford Burnham Prebys$1.5MThe Salk Institute for Biological Studies: $849KThe Salk Institute forBiological Studies$849KScripps Research: $537KScripps Research$537KLa Jolla Institute for Immunology: $385KLa Jolla Institute forImmunology$385KSan Diego State University Research Foundation: $337KSan Diego State UniversityResearch Foundation$337KBeken Bio Inc: $250KBeken Bio Inc$250KResolute Science Inc: $250KResolute Science Inc$250KIlludent Inc: $250KIlludent Inc$250KUniversity of Arizona: $100KUniversity of Arizona$100K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Regents of University of California Uc San Diego ($5.7M). Together the top 10 received $10.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

36 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K10$100–250K13$250–500K5$500K–1M4$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 13 grants of 36 (36%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Regents of University of California Uc San Diego La Jolla, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$5,743,423
Sanford Burnham Prebys La Jolla, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$1,529,548
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$849,414
Scripps Research La Jolla, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$537,267
La Jolla Institute for Immunology La Jolla, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$385,027
San Diego State University Research Foundation San Diego, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$337,270
Beken Bio Inc San Diego, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$250,000
Resolute Science Inc San Diego, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$250,000
Illudent Inc San Diego, CASee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$250,000
University of Arizona Tucson, AZSee detail in part ivcurebound awards grant funding in early-discovery cancer research and applies scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to help promising research translate into meaningful near-term clinical impact. Funding is directed toward five traditionally under-resourced research pillars: cancer detection, novel approaches, targets, and therapeutics. Personalized immunotherapy, cancer equity, childhood cancers.$100,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2025 $11,857,815 $10,968,237 $14,851,654 $10,238,599 (11 grants)
2024 $16,440,883 $5,488,901 $10,744,443 $7,083,484 (10 grants)
2023 $24,388,123 $10,395,528 $12,500,342 $4,404,869 (5 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$11,857,815$16,440,883$24,388,123
Revenue$10,968,237$5,488,901$10,395,528
Expenses$14,851,654$10,744,443$12,500,342
Net Investment Income$343,112$522,299$246,733

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 1, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 17, 2020)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 10, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 4, 2024)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 24, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists the following directors: Donald B Kearns MD MMM, John Hood PhD, Rob Singh, Haeyoung Tang PhD, Fe Whitworth, Dan Ryan, Court Turner JD, Mark Cafferty, Catriona Jamieson MD PhD, and Rich Heyman PhD.

Curebound is led by Anne Marbarger, Chief Executive Officer since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 7 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Anne Marbarger

    Chief Executive Officer

    CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $159K (2019) → $477K (2025)

  • Bill Koman

    Chairperson

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Heather Ashley Dean-Presnall

    Senior Director & Stewardship

    Strategic Philanthropy Officer → Senior Director, Stewardship & Revenue Strategy, 2024

    Senior Director, Stewardship & Revenue Strategy → Senior Director & Stewardship, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $121K (2023) → $149K (2025)

  • Amy Myers

    Senior Director & Philanthropy

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $147K (2025)

  • Erik Hans Gordon

    Director & Marketing

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $134K (2025)

  • Judith Polha

    Director, Research & Impact

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $137K (2025)

  • Chris Tresse

    Director

    Padres Pedal Advisory Board Chair → Secretary, 2023

    Secretary → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Aaron Davis

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Hood PhD

    Director

    Director → Scientific Advisory Board Chair, 2022

    Scientific Advisory Board Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Larry Bloch

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Cafferty

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rich Heyman PhD

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Court Turner JD

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Magda Marquet PhD

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rob Singh

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Catriona Jamieson MD PhD

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Ryan

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Fe Whitworth

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Haeyoung Tang PhD

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julie Tafel Klaus

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cheryl Am Anderson Phd Mph Ms

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Donald B. Kearns Md Mmm

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Karen Hooper

    Chief Operating Officer

    Chief Strategy & Implementation Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $138K (2022) → $306K (2025)

  • Megan Ambrose

    Chief of Staff

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $114K (2024) → $142K (2025)

  • Don Ankeny

    Treasurer

    Finance Committee Chair → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rick Valencia

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robin Toft

    Secretary

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (38)
  • Former: Cheryl Am Anderson (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Donald B. Kearns (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Danielle Dawson (2024) — Philanthropy Officer
  • Former: William Koman (2019–2023) — Chairman
  • Former: Cat Jamieson (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Fernanda Whitworth (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Malin Burnham (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Daniel Ryan (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Megan Lee Waddell (2023) — Director & Padres Pedal the Cause
  • Former: Jay Levitt (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Kellie Sullivan (2022) — Senior Manager & Development
  • Former: Brett Chodorow (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Franci Free (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: James Herbst (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Jean Wickersham (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Lauren M Diaz (2019–2021) — COO
  • Former: Molly Cartmill (2019–2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Shelley Zimmerman (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Suzanne Hatcher (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Tom Seidler (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Tony Steigler (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Dale McIntosh (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Robert Murtfeldt (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Ashley van Zeeland (2021) — Director
  • Former: Bill Hearne (2021) — Director
  • Former: Ezra Cohen (2021) — Director
  • Former: Jeffrey Kelly (2021) — Director
  • Former: Jon Edwards (2021) — Director
  • Former: Mitch Kronenberg (2021) — Director
  • Former: Nancy Hong (2021) — Director
  • Former: Paula Aristizibal (2021) — Director
  • Former: Reuben Shaw (2021) — Director
  • Former: Ryan Thorvaldsen (2021) — Director
  • Former: Scott Lippman (2021) — Director
  • Former: Ze'ev Ronai (2021) — Director
  • Former: Jay Indovino (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Michael Militello (2019) — Director
  • Former: Peter Mossy (2019) — Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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

Anne Marbarger — Chief Executive Officer: $477KAnne MarbargerChief Executive Officer$477KKaren Hooper — Chief Operating Officer: $306KKaren HooperChief Operating Officer$306KHeather Dean-Presnall — Sr. Director, Stewardship: $149KHeather Dean-PresnallSr. Director, Stewardship$149KAmy Myers — Sr. Director, Philanthropy: $147KAmy MyersSr. Director, Philanthropy$147KMegan Ambrose — Chief of Staff: $142KMegan AmbroseChief of Staff$142KJudith Polha — Director, Research & Impact: $137KJudith PolhaDirector, Research & Impact$137KErik Hans Gordon — Director, Marketing: $134KErik Hans GordonDirector, Marketing$134K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $477K, to Anne Marbarger (Chief Executive Officer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 9605 Scranton Road Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: (619) 314-5878
Website: https://curebound.org

Frequently asked questions about Curebound

How much does Curebound give each year?

Curebound gave $10.2M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.1M across 10 grants.

What is Curebound's typical grant size?

Curebound's median grant in 2025 was $337,270, and its average grant was $930,782, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Curebound that year got $229K on average.

Where does Curebound give grants?

Curebound gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were La Jolla, CA (5 grants) and San Diego, CA (5 grants).

Does Curebound give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Curebound's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are Curebound's largest grantees?

Curebound's largest 2025 grantees include The Regents of University of California Uc San Diego ($5,743,423), Sanford Burnham Prebys ($1,529,548) and The Salk Institute for Biological Studies ($849,414), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Curebound?

Curebound reported $11.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.0M.

What does Curebound fund?

Curebound states its mission is to accelerate cancer research and save lives. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Curebound?

The website says proposals undergo peer review. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Curebound's EIN?

Curebound's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0552414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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