Cancer Research Foundations & Grantmakers
688 grantmakers in this list reported grants on their latest 990s. The 243 that made at least 5 grants gave $1.3B. The largest by giving are UPMC Group, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Giving at a glance
Active grantmakers
688
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$1.3B
from the 243 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$49K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$244K
per grantmaker
Top 10 funders by annual giving
| # | Funder | Location | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UPMC Group | Pittsburgh, PA | $189.8M | 395 |
| 2 | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center | Seattle, WA | $122.1M | 299 |
| 3 | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | Seatle, WA | $88.2M | 139 |
| 4 | Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | $85.8M | 27 |
| 5 | Gray Foundation | Albany, NY | $64.2M | 132 |
| 6 | The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $61.1M | 76 |
| 7 | The Pentecost Foundation | Bradenton, FL | $36.2M | 19 |
| 8 | Eli Lilly and Company Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | $29.1M | 95 |
| 9 | Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation | Rahway, NJ | $29.1M | 74 |
| 10 | Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | $27.0M | 50 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 11 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines 109 · 43%
- Medical Research 81 · 32%
- Health 45 · 18%
- Education 10 · 4%
- Human Services 6 · 2%
- Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief 1 · 0%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (47% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Where these funders are based
- New York 71 · $249.3M
- California 69 · $147.5M
- Florida 58 · $71.8M
- Pennsylvania 42 · $238.4M
- Illinois 42 · $38.2M
- Texas 40 · $88.0M
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Showing 243 grantmakers with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
UPMC Group
Pittsburgh, PA
Assets
$14.5B
Grants
395
Total Given
$189.8M
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, WA
Assets
—
Grants
299
Total Given
$122.1M
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seatle, WA
Assets
$3.6B
Grants
139
Total Given
$88.2M
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA
Assets
$13.6B
Grants
27
Total Given
$85.8M
Gray Foundation
Albany, NY
Assets
$82.5M
Grants
132
Total Given
$64.2M
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$220.5M
Grants
76
Total Given
$61.1M
The Pentecost Foundation
Bradenton, FL
Assets
$62.9M
Grants
19
Total Given
$36.2M
Eli Lilly and Company Foundation
Indianapolis, IN
Assets
$13.8M
Grants
95
Total Given
$29.1M
Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation
Rahway, NJ
Assets
$337.9M
Grants
74
Total Given
$29.1M
Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
Assets
$95.8M
Grants
50
Total Given
$27.0M
The Macmillan Family Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$554.9M
Grants
151
Total Given
$23.3M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
American Cancer Society Inc
Atlanta, GA
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
509
Total Given
$23.1M
Petco Love
San Antonio, TX
Assets
$25.1M
Grants
784
Total Given
$21.2M
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
New York, NY
Assets
$105.5M
Grants
29
Total Given
$19.5M
Gilead Foundation
Foster City, CA
Assets
$161.9M
Grants
46
Total Given
$19.0M
Renown Health Foundation
Reno, NV
Assets
$60.4M
Grants
6
Total Given
$17.4M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
The Estee Lauder Companies Charitable
New York, NY
Assets
$29.8M
Grants
70
Total Given
$16.6M
The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
Assets
$178.9M
Grants
61
Total Given
$16.1M
The Kenneth T and Eileen L Norris
Torrance, CA
Assets
$127.4M
Grants
159
Total Given
$13.9M
American Lung Association
Chicago, IL
Assets
$225.7M
Grants
51
Total Given
$13.5M
Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation
Bolingbrook, IL
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
20
Total Given
$12.3M
W W Smith Charitable Trust
Saint Louis, MO
Assets
$243.2M
Grants
251
Total Given
$12.1M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Frequently asked questions
Which funders in this list give the most?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are UPMC Group ($189.8M across 395 grants), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center ($122.1M) and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ($88.2M). Together the top 10 account for 56% of the $1.3B given by the 243 grantmakers in this list that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical grant from these funders?
The typical grant is about $49K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $244K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Where are these funders based?
Most are in New York (71), California (69) and Florida (58). Many foundations only fund near where they are based, so check each funder's giving geography before you apply.
How do I find which of these funders accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations like these from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.