Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
To improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by brain tumors. We do this through funding, cutting-edge research, offering meaningful support, and raising awareness.
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation at a glance
In short: Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation gave $460K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $66K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $460,000
- -37.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $65,714
- -46.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $157,210
- +64.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
- Next open deadline
- December 7, 2026 (Quality of Life Grant Application)
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
Quality of Life Grant Application
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
Amount
Up to $18,000
Deadline
Expected ~December
Based on past cycles
Research Grant Application
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~December
Based on past cycles
Who Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gilda's Club Minnesota ($200K). Together the top 7 received $460K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 31 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $280K (2021) to $735K (2024). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $460K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gilda's Club Minnesota Minnetonka, MN | Power in community - assessing specific needs of brain tumor community and expanding support access | $200,000 |
| American Brain Tumor Association Chicago, IL | In collaboration with the brain tumor funders' collaborative (BTFC), seeks to advance liquid biopsy technology for diagnosing and monitoring primary brain tumors. | $100,000 |
| Pinky Swear Foundation Edina, MN | All-Star Fund Program - Alleviates Financial Burdens | $100,000 |
| Angel Foundation Mendota Heights, MN | Emergency Financial Assistance for Brain Cancer Patients | $15,000 |
| Children's Health Care Foundation Edina, MN | Emergency Financial Assistance | $15,000 |
| Mayo Clinics Rochester, MN | In collaboration with the central nervous system/neuro-oncology disease team, is seeking to advance next-generation sequencing (NGS) for brain tumor diagnosis and treatment. Clinical pilot. | $15,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Support a groundbreaking project exploring the use of genetically modified natural killer cells (NKCS), specifically the ft536 line, as an innovative immunotherapy for recurrent who grade 4 astrocytoma/glioblastoma (g4a/gbm). | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $157,210 | $557,849 | $515,682 | $460,000 | 7 |
| 2024 | $95,697 | $760,840 | $749,205 | $735,000 | 6 |
| 2023 | $130,191 | $568,196 | $536,512 | $530,000 | 6 |
| 2022 | $68,002 | $413,501 | $402,365 | $401,000 | 5 |
| 2021 | $58,417 | $235,456 | $283,281 | $280,000 | 7 |
About Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation is a public charity focused on religion, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $157K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $460K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation is led by Christina Saunders, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christina Saunders
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
15 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $37K (2025)
Kristen Thurber
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Lassiter
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Charpentier
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Thurber
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy O'Brian
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Burnett
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Saunders
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Joelle Syverson (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Kristin Gray Hamilton (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Chrisie Weiss (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Eric Gidlow (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Kari Kilbride (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kristin Gabriel (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Lisa Gidlow (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Matthew Thurber (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tracy King Duininck (2022–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Kristen Gray (2021) — Director
- Former: Tracy King (2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $37K, to Christina Saunders (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation
How much does Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation give each year?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation gave $460K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $735K across 6 grants.
What is Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's typical grant size?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $65,714, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation give grants?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Edina, MN (2 grants).
Does Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's largest grantees?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Gilda's Club Minnesota ($200,000), American Brain Tumor Association ($100,000) and Pinky Swear Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation reported $157K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $558K.
What is Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation is a public charity focused on religion, based in Minneapolis, MN. It holds $157K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's EIN?
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3143612. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
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Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?