Head for the Cure Foundation
Head for the Cure Foundation is a public charity based in Kansas City, Missouri, that supports brain cancer research and programs for patients and caregivers. Its work includes fundraising through 5K Run/Walk events, awareness initiatives, community resources, and grants to organizations involved in brain cancer research, awareness, or program support.
Head for the Cure Foundation at a glance
In short: Head for the Cure Foundation gave $808K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), top state Kansas. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $808,100
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,447
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $14,500
- Total assets
- $712,938
- +2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (10 of 35, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Head for the Cure Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1607 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 200-1732
Website: https://headforthecure.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Head for the Cure Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kansas University Endowment Assoc ($180K). Together the top 10 received $492K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($22,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 142 grants of 160 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Kansas received 24% of grant dollars, Texas 13%, Missouri 13%, Michigan 7%, and Pennsylvania 7%. The foundation’s website describes its 5K events as taking place across the country and says each event partners with a local beneficiary.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Head for the Cure Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 35 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $780K (2023) to $942K (2020). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $808K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas University Endowment Assoc Kansas City, KS | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $180,000 |
| Henry Ford Health System (Hermelin Brain Tumor Center) Detroit, MI | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $56,750 |
| Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, MO | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $50,000 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $45,000 |
| Washington University (Alvin J Siteman Cancer Center) St. Louis, MO | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $35,000 |
| Advocate Charitable Foundation Downers Grove, IL | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $25,000 |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $25,000 |
| Northwell Health Foundation New Hyde Park, NY | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $25,000 |
| Seattle Children's Foundation Seattle, WA | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $25,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $712,938 | $2,493,421 | $2,547,708 | $808,100 | 36 | $9,472 |
| 2023 | $698,603 | $2,250,928 | $2,361,811 | $779,500 | 33 | $21,887 |
| 2022 | $806,189 | $2,165,073 | $2,126,835 | $822,450 | 33 | $3,701 |
| 2021 | $767,951 | $1,918,933 | $1,870,162 | $921,000 | 28 | $2,533 |
| 2020 | $719,180 | $1,965,362 | $1,824,887 | $941,850 | 30 | $3,633 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Head for the Cure’s stated mission is to build awareness, raise funding, and inspire hope for the brain cancer community while celebrating its courage, spirit, and energy. Its programs include national awareness campaigns, educational resources, community-building events, and patient and caregiver support. The organization describes its 5K events as a central part of its fundraising and community-building work.
The foundation gives to organizations working in brain cancer research, awareness, or program support. Its 2024 recipients included health systems, hospitals, university-affiliated foundations, and cancer organizations. For example, the Children’s Mercy Hospital describes its own mission as providing children’s care, translational research, innovation, and caregiver education. The University of Nebraska Foundation says it builds relationships and resources to enable the university to change and save lives. Cancer Commons describes its work as providing patients, caregivers, and physicians with treatment information and patient navigation services.
Head for the Cure also offers the Path to Relief Fund, which provides limited financial support to eligible individuals diagnosed with primary CNS tumors. The program page says approved grants range from $100 to $750, depending on available funds and application volume, and that payments go directly to vendors. Eligible expenses include treatment- or clinical-trial-related travel and lodging, as well as certain household and medical bills.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Head for the Cure reported 36 grants totaling $808,100. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $180,000, with a median grant of $14,500. The stated purpose of the largest grants was support for brain cancer research and patients.
The largest 2024 grant was $180,000 to Kansas University Endowment Association in Kansas City, Kansas. Other leading awards included $56,750 to Henry Ford Health System’s Hermelin Brain Tumor Center in Detroit; $50,000 to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri; $45,000 to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas; and $35,000 to Washington University’s Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis.
The foundation says that at each 5K event it partners with a local hospital or organization and directs a portion of event net proceeds to that beneficiary for research and program support. Its filing narrative says it verifies that recipient organizations are eligible to receive charitable contributions and are active in brain cancer awareness, program support, or research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Matt Anthony as president and founder, Danay Fast as treasurer, and Krista Allen as secretary. Directors listed are Dr. Nina Paleologos, Cole Anthony, Tom Sadowski, Natalie Burton, Dr. Elizabeth Maher, Shari Nederhoff, and Jon Cook.
Head for the Cure Foundation is led by Matt Anthony, President & Founder on every filing since 2020; none of the 14 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Matt Anthony
President & Founder
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $0 (2024)
Cole Anthony
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danay Fast
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harry Campbell
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Holt
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Cook
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Fisher
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Krista Allen
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nina Paleologos
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shari Nederhoff
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Sadowski
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tobias Walbert
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Maher
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Burton
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Eric Lichtenstein (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Mario Lichtenstein (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Lichtenstein (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jenna Heilman (2020–2021) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $7K, to Matt Anthony (President/Founder).
Frequently asked questions about Head for the Cure Foundation
How much does Head for the Cure Foundation give each year?
Head for the Cure Foundation gave $808K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $780K across 33 grants.
What is Head for the Cure Foundation's typical grant size?
Head for the Cure Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $14,500, and its average grant was $22,447, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Head for the Cure Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Head for the Cure Foundation give grants?
Head for the Cure Foundation's top state is Kansas, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Texas (13%) and Missouri (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (2 grants), Kansas City, MO (2 grants), Seattle, WA (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does Head for the Cure Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Head for the Cure Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Brain Cancer Research and Patients" (36 grants).
Who are Head for the Cure Foundation's largest grantees?
Head for the Cure Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Kansas University Endowment Assoc ($180,000), Henry Ford Health System (Hermelin Brain Tumor Center) ($56,750) and Children's Mercy Hospital ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($22,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Head for the Cure Foundation?
Head for the Cure Foundation reported $713K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What does Head for the Cure Foundation fund?
Head for the Cure’s stated mission is to build awareness, raise funding, and inspire hope for the brain cancer community while celebrating its courage, spirit, and energy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Head for the Cure Foundation?
Head for the Cure Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check headforthecure.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Head for the Cure Foundation's EIN?
Head for the Cure Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8345719. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Head for the Cure Foundation funds
Medical Research Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Head for the Cure Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Head for the Cure Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/head-for-the-cure-foundation-morg_cd39da36fcba4a66b8a8b95373f60c5f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208345719_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Head for the Cure Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/head-for-the-cure-foundation-morg_cd39da36fcba4a66b8a8b95373f60c5f},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. 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 Head for the Cure 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.
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