The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation
The Canary Foundation is a public charity based in Woodside, California, that supports research into early cancer detection. Founded in 2004, it brings researchers together to develop diagnostic tests and imaging technologies aimed at detecting cancer at a curable stage.
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation at a glance
In short: The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation gave $1.7M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $146K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,748,069
- +39.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $145,672
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $84,129
- Total assets
- $2,450,031
- +32.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 620134, Woodside, CA 94062
Phone: (650) 646-3200
Website: https://canaryfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UC San Diego Foundation ($450K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 42 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Woodside, California. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in California (43%), Pennsylvania (20%), Washington (20%), Michigan (12%), and Virginia (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $229K (2019) to $3.5M (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Foundation La Jolla, CA | Cancer Research | $450,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Cancer Research | $353,394 |
| Stanford School Of Medicine Palo Alto, CA | Cancer Research | $209,000 |
| University of Michigan East Lansing, MI | Cancer Research | $203,950 |
| Providence Swedish Cancer Ins Seattle, WA | — | $174,400 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | Cancer Research | $118,258 |
| Seattle Inst Biomedical Clinical Seattle, WA | Cancer Research | $50,000 |
| University of Texas Health Ct San Antonio, CA | Cancer Research | $50,000 |
| Urology of Virginia Virginia Beach, VA | Cancer Research | $50,000 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Boston, MA | Cancer Research | $42,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,450,031 | $2,205,595 | $2,185,417 | $1,748,069 | 12 | $42,376 |
| 2024 | $1,850,228 | $1,792,816 | $1,727,013 | $1,256,597 | 10 | $37,758 |
| 2023 | $1,687,918 | $1,883,312 | $1,352,591 | $854,570 | 9 | $24,569 |
| 2022 | $1,170,913 | $2,494,481 | $1,374,478 | $976,000 | 10 | $70 |
| 2021 | $632,764 | $664,526 | $936,652 | $579,228 | 1 | $-126 |
| 2020 | $2,590,779 | $2,702,998 | $3,809,221 | $3,473,154 | 5 | $4,781 |
| 2019 | $6,529,556 | $5,877,404 | $838,453 | $229,118 | 1 | $21,877 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support research aimed at creating reliable and affordable early detection tests for cancer. Its scientific programs seek to combine blood tests and imaging tests to identify lethal cancers at a curable stage.
Its work includes biomarker discovery and validation, molecular imaging, and clinical research. The foundation’s website describes active programs in lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer, along with research in liquid biopsy and molecular imaging.
The 2025 grants show support for universities, university-affiliated foundations, medical institutions, and cancer research organizations. For example, UC San Diego Foundation says its mission is to raise private support for UC San Diego’s research, teaching, and public service; the University of Pennsylvania describes its mission as including research and patient care; and the University of Washington Foundation says it facilitates private contributions for the benefit of the university. Seattle Institute for Biomedical Research describes its mission as improving veterans’ health through research and education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $1,748,069. Grants ranged from $12,000 to $450,000, with a median of $84,129. The listed grant purposes were primarily cancer research.
Among the largest grants were $450,000 to UC San Diego Foundation for cancer research, $353,394 to the University of Pennsylvania for cancer research, $209,000 to Stanford School of Medicine for cancer research, and $203,950 to the University of Michigan for cancer research. Other listed awards included $174,400 to Providence Swedish Cancer Institute and $118,258 to the University of Washington for cancer research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Don Listwin as Founder and CEO, Heidi Auman as Program Manager, and Kevin Kennedy as Treasurer. It also lists Michael Ball, Dale Jantzen, and Hilary Valentine as directors.
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation is led by Don Listwin, Founder & CEO on every filing since 2019; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Don Listwin
Founder & CEO
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dale Jantzen
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Valentine
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Ball
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Auman
Program Manager
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$126K (2019) → $202K (2025)
Kevin Kennedy
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Therese Quinlan (2019–2020) — Vice President Development
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Heidi Auman (Program Manager).
Frequently asked questions about The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation
How much does The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation give each year?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation gave $1.7M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 10 grants.
What is The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's typical grant size?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $84,129, and its average grant was $145,672, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation give grants?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's top state is California, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (20%) and Washington (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (3 grants).
Does The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cancer Research" (10 grants).
Who are The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's largest grantees?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UC San Diego Foundation ($450,000), University of Pennsylvania ($353,394) and Stanford School Of Medicine ($209,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support research aimed at creating reliable and affordable early detection tests for cancer. Its scientific programs seek to combine blood tests and imaging tests to identify lethal cancers at a curable stage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check canaryfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's EIN?
The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-1230251. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-canary-fund-dba-canary-foundation-morg_3e0be60493fa42648470a64ed900d512
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_651230251_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Canary Fund DBA Canary Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-canary-fund-dba-canary-foundation-morg_3e0be60493fa42648470a64ed900d512},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-11. 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 The Canary Fund DBA Canary 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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