Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) is a public charity based in Irvine, California, that funds pediatric cancer research. Founded in 1982, it supports research intended to advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood cancer.
Key facts about Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
In short: Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation gave $1.5M across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $103K), top state New York. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 95-3772528
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,546,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- Average grant
- $103,067
- Median grant
- $45,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (6 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $3,683,169
- Primary geography
- New York (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Submit a Letter of Intent for consideration; applicants must be invited to submit a full application. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The 2026 cycle deadline has passed.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 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
$3.7M
+25.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+87.5% YoY
Grant Count
15
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$103K
+75.0% YoY
Is Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 14 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $84K; repeat grants $130K. How we count
Medians: $85K first-time, $73K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−20%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
PCRF’s mission is to fund research to power cures that reduce the percentage of children who perish from cancer until that number reaches zero. Its grant programs have included Emerging Investigator Fellowship Grants, Translational Research Grants, Legacy Researcher Grants, and designated grant programs. The 2026 solicitation focused on Emerging Investigator Grants, while the foundation plans to reopen its full cycle in 2027.
PCRF’s 2026 grant materials identify three institutional priorities: Powering Research, Equitable Care, and Survivorship & Mental Health. Its research investments include work on therapies with fewer side effects, clinical trials, and research addressing disparities in care. The foundation says it does not fund infrastructure or support services.
Its 2025 grants included a laboratory grant to an individual recipient Medical College, whose stated purpose includes educating health professionals and researchers and conducting biomedical and population-based research. Other recipients included cancer research organizations and medical centers. For example, the V Foundation says it funds cancer research to accelerate victory over cancer; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center describes its mission as cancer prevention, treatment, and cure; and Hope for Henry Foundation says it develops programs to help hospitalized children and families manage serious illness.
Grantmaking
In 2025, PCRF reported 15 grants totaling $1,546,000. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $550,000, with a median of $45,000. The largest awards included $550,000 to an individual recipient Medical College for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation Laboratory; $204,000 to the V Foundation for cancer research; and $150,000 to Memorial Sloan-Kettering for work on curative epigenetic therapies for refractory pediatric sarcomas. PCRF also awarded $100,000 each to City of Hope, Dana-Farber, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins for pediatric cancer research projects.
PCRF requires a Letter of Intent, and applicants whose LOIs are approved are invited to submit full applications. Applications are reviewed for scientific merit, including potential for near-term advances in prevention, diagnosis, or treatment; novelty; investigator qualifications; and the plan for translating findings into clinical application. Awards are subject to the foundation’s budget and board approval. No indirect costs are funded, and grant funds must be used for the purposes and budget specified in the application. The 2026 cycle was focused exclusively on Emerging Investigator Grants, and the stated deadline for that cycle has passed. The foundation plans to reopen its full grant cycle in 2027.
Review Cycle
The 2026 cycle deadline has passed. PCRF identifies 2027 as the next full grant cycle but does not provide its dates here.
How to Apply
Submit a Letter of Intent for consideration; applicants must be invited to submit a full application. Applications are submitted electronically, and the foundation’s website directs applicants to consult the guidelines for the relevant cycle.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
PCRF Basic Science Grants
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
Amount
Up to US $450,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
PCRF: Donor Designated Grant Programs
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
PCRF: Emerging Investigator Fellowship Grant
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
Amount
Up to US $75,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
PCRF’s website describes funding researchers across the country. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to an individual recipient (46%), California (22%), and North Carolina (13%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $825K (2024) to $1.9M (2020). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was V Foundation ($204K). Together the top 10 received $936K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($550,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 30 grants of 73 (41%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $550,000 |
| V Foundation Cary, NC | Cancer Research | $204,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering New York, NY | Towards Curative Epigenetic Therapies of Refractory Pediatric Sarcomas | $150,000 |
| City of Hope Duarte, CA | Single-Cell Dissecting of High-Risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | $100,000 |
| Dana Farber Boston, MA | Advancing liquid biopsies to the clinic for patients with ewing sarcoma | $100,000 |
| Stanford Palo Alto, CA | Targeting Mitochondrial Pathways in Pediatric AML | $100,000 |
| Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD | Targeting shp2 as a therapeutic strategy in fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma | $100,000 |
| University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA | A risk stratified clinical trial for patients with newly diagnosed juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia | $45,000 |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Preclinial study to translate therapy using dna hypomethylating agents for pediatric high grade gliomas | $37,500 |
| Case Western Clevenland, OH | Use of mr fingerprinting for determining response to immunotherapy in pediatric brain tumors | $37,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,683,169 | $4,224,824 | $3,730,243 | $1,546,000 (15) |
| 2024 | $2,928,993 | $1,384,349 | $1,912,526 | $824,563 (14) |
| 2023 | $3,305,936 | $3,984,492 | $3,727,170 | $1,645,724 (15) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,683,169 | $2,928,993 | $3,305,936 |
| Revenue | $4,224,824 | $1,384,349 | $3,984,492 |
| Expenses | $3,730,243 | $1,912,526 | $3,727,170 |
| Net Investment Income | $64,553 | $38,609 | $49,338 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Steve Giusto as president, John Coon as vice president, and Scott Ecker as treasurer. Directors listed include Beth Abrams, Susie Buchan, Tim Cromwell, Cherie Daly, Keith Koeller, Elizabeth McNulty, and Jason O’Donnell.
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation is led by Danielle Fragalla, CEO on every filing since 2024; 5 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Danielle Fragalla
CEO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$202K (2025)
Jeri Willson
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $189K (2025)
Steve Giusto
President
Chairman → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Morgan March
Senior Director of Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
Cherie Daly
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth McNulty
Director
Past President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John S. Vallely
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Weiner
Director
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Koeller
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susie Buchan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Cromwell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Abrams
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Len Shulman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Saratsis MD
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darth Vaughn
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason O'Donnell
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Wilkins
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Lattimore
Vice President of Development & Strat. Ptnrshp
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2025)
Savannah Schmier
Special Events Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
John Coon
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott A. Ecker
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Thomas Brennan (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Cameron Munson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Janet Mitchell (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Troy A. Varenchik (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Tom Brennan (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Brad Neglia (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Cornel Sneekes (2020) — Director
- Former: Daniel E. Mitchell (2020) — Director
- Former: David Goldwasser (2020) — Director
- Former: Ed Rosenblum (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $202K, to Danielle Fragalla (CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 2151 Michelson Drive 180, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone: (949) 859-6312
Frequently asked questions about Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
How much does Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation give each year?
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation gave $1.5M across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $825K across 14 grants.
What is Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's typical grant size?
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $45,000, and its average grant was $103,067, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation that year got $84K on average.
Where does Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation give grants?
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's top state is New York, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (22%) and North Carolina (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants).
Does Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's largest grantees?
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include V Foundation ($204,000), Memorial Sloan Kettering ($150,000) and City of Hope ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($550,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation?
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What does Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation fund?
PCRF’s mission is to fund research to power cures that reduce the percentage of children who perish from cancer until that number reaches zero. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation?
Submit a Letter of Intent for consideration; applicants must be invited to submit a full application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's EIN?
Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3772528. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
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Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?