Sarcoma Foundation of America
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) is a public charity based in Bethesda, Maryland, formed in 2000. It funds sarcoma research and conducts patient education and advocacy focused on improving outcomes for people diagnosed with sarcoma.
Sarcoma Foundation of America at a glance
In short: Sarcoma Foundation of America gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $71K), top state New York. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,067,408
- +102.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +36.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $71,161
- +48.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $10,848,548
- -5.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sarcoma Foundation of America
- How to Apply
-
For the 2027 SFA Research Grants cycle, submit an LOI through the process described on SFA’s grant page; only selected LOIs are invited to submit full applications.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7700 Wisconsin Avenue 310, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 253-8687
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sarcoma Foundation of America
Who Sarcoma Foundation of America funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($150K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $968K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($74,250), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 56 grants of 71 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
SFA’s research grant page encourages applications from U.S. and international applicants. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were an individual recipient (21%), Ohio (16%), California (14%), Massachusetts (14%), and Texas (12%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sarcoma Foundation of America open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $88K; repeat grants $90K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $75K repeat.
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $527K (2024) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Worcester, MA | Matthew Hemming -- Last Mile Research Award | $149,999 |
| The Regents of the University of California Davis Davis, CA | Grant - carr-ascher -- richard and valerie aronsohn memorial research award (1) | $75,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH | Grant - t chan -- chris langbein memorial research award | $75,000 |
| Providence Portland Medical Foundation Portland, OR | Grant - j huang -- marcia brodsky memorial research award | $75,000 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Grant - j toretsky -- scott lively memorial research award | $75,000 |
| The Regents of the University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Grant - t mccaw -- john o'brien memorial research award (2) | $75,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Grant - e. Braverman -- louise duffy memorial research award | $75,000 |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Grant-george li -- jay vernon jackson memorial research award | $75,000 |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Grant - f vanoli -- todd baron memorial research award | $75,000 |
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Grant-dahn truong -- 2024 giving tuesday donors research award | $74,745 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,848,548 | $3,362,208 | $4,303,065 | $1,067,408 | 15 | $576,875 |
| 2024 | $11,423,128 | $3,547,902 | $3,570,622 | $527,035 | 11 | $451,436 |
| 2023 | $11,153,810 | $3,709,252 | $3,222,438 | $824,248 | 15 | $192,208 |
| 2022 | $9,805,602 | $3,674,023 | $2,690,137 | $709,423 | 14 | $182,932 |
| 2021 | $9,642,356 | $3,973,362 | $2,396,561 | $973,792 | 16 | $418,593 |
| 2020 | $7,850,855 | $2,719,131 | $1,993,762 | $598,516 | 12 | $181,915 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
SFA’s mission is to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with sarcoma and increase the number of survivors. Its work includes funding and advancing research, educating and providing resources for patients and families, advocating for the sarcoma community, and raising awareness.
The SFA Research Grants program supports pre-clinical, translational, and clinical research on the etiology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of human sarcomas. SFA encourages applications across all areas of sarcoma research. The organization’s 2025 filing also describes support for research involving novel agents against sarcoma, or work that could potentially lead to their development.
In 2025, SFA grants went to organizations including universities, medical schools, cancer centers, and medical foundations. The grantees’ own descriptions include Georgetown University’s work as an academic and research institution; the University of Pittsburgh’s role as a public research university; Providence Portland Medical Foundation’s service to all, especially people who are poor and vulnerable; and an individual recipient Medical College’s education of health professionals and researchers and conduct of biomedical and population-based research.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, SFA reported 15 grants totaling $1,067,408. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $149,999, with a median of $75,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $149,999 to the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School for the Matthew Hemming Last Mile Research Award; $75,000 to the University of California, Davis, for the Richard and Valerie Aronson Memorial Research Award; $75,000 to Cleveland Clinic Foundation for the Chris Langbein Memorial Research Award; and $75,000 each to Providence Portland Medical Foundation, Georgetown University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Pittsburgh, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for named research awards.
For the SFA Research Grants cycle covering July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028, the website lists a total award of $75,000 for one year. Applicants must submit a letter of intent; full applications are by invitation to the most highly ranked LOIs. The website sets the LOI deadline for November 6, 2026, and the full-application deadline for March 5, 2027. Permitted costs include equipment, supplies, and other research expenses. Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of the award, PI salaries are not permitted, and salaries for non-faculty postdoctoral researchers, fellows, and technicians may not exceed 50% of the total award. SFA’s filing states that grantees must submit final scientific and financial reports after the one-year grant period.
The Last Mile Sarcoma Research Award is a separate program. Its published 2026 application deadline of February 2, 2026, has passed. The award information describes a one-year award and review by SFA’s Medical Advisory Board.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mark Thornton as president, John Brooks as vice president, Patricia Thornton as treasurer, and Jennifer Goodwin as secretary. Directors listed are Chris Connery, Michael Lewis, Justin Green, Bruce March, Jennifer Nellany, and Michael Barron.
Sarcoma Foundation of America is led by Brandi Felser, CEO on the 2025 filing; 5 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brandi Felser
CEO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$239K (2025)
Mark Thornton
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annie Blake
National Director & Rtcs
Rtcs National Director → National Director & Rtcs, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$100K (2023) → $109K (2025)
Dean Frohlich
Director of Scientific Affairs
Director & Scientific Affairs → Director of Scientific Affairs, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$149K (2023) → $147K (2025)
Cheryl Mayes
Director of Operations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Claire Wang
Finance Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$132K (2025)
Justin Green
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Lewis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce March
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Nellany
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Connery
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Barron
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Goodwin
Secretary
Director & Secretary → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Sj Brooks MD
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Thornton
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Brandi Cleary-Felser (2020–2024) — CEO
- Former: Christopher Connery (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sandy Lombardo (2023) — Finance Director
- Former: Thomas Peroulas (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Amira Yunis (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nina Roket (2020) — Director
- Former: Robert Goldberg PhD (2020) — Director
- Former: Stacey Breidinger (2020) — Secretary
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 $239K, to Brandi Felser (CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sarcoma Foundation of America
How much does Sarcoma Foundation of America give each year?
Sarcoma Foundation of America gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $527K across 11 grants.
What is Sarcoma Foundation of America's typical grant size?
Sarcoma Foundation of America's median grant in 2025 was $75,000, and its average grant was $71,161, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sarcoma Foundation of America that year got $88K on average.
Where does Sarcoma Foundation of America give grants?
Sarcoma Foundation of America's top state is New York, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Ohio (16%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Houston, TX (2 grants).
Does Sarcoma Foundation of America give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Sarcoma Foundation of America's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sarcoma Foundation of America's largest grantees?
Sarcoma Foundation of America's largest 2025 grantees include Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($150,000 across 2 grants), University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School ($149,999) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ($126,164 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($74,250), which are not listed by name. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sarcoma Foundation of America?
Sarcoma Foundation of America reported $10.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What does Sarcoma Foundation of America fund?
SFA’s mission is to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with sarcoma and increase the number of survivors. Its work includes funding and advancing research, educating and providing resources for patients and families, advocating for the sarcoma community, and raising awareness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sarcoma Foundation of America?
For the 2027 SFA Research Grants cycle, submit an LOI through the process described on SFA’s grant page; only selected LOIs are invited to submit full applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sarcoma Foundation of America's EIN?
Sarcoma Foundation of America's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2275294. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sarcoma Foundation of America funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sarcoma Foundation of America funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sarcoma-foundation-of-america-morg_84cef9b543584ab18cd39e7ee8ede2e9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522275294_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sarcoma Foundation of America funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sarcoma-foundation-of-america-morg_84cef9b543584ab18cd39e7ee8ede2e9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Sarcoma Foundation of America'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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