The Cure Starts Now Inc
The Cure Starts Now Inc is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based public charity formed in 2007. It funds cancer research, beginning with pediatric brain cancer, and also describes family support and awareness programs related to pediatric cancer.
Key facts about The Cure Starts Now Inc
In short: The Cure Starts Now Inc gave $4.4M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $339K), top state Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 26-0269131
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,404,653
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- Average grant
- $338,819
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $4,317,740
- Primary geography
- Ohio (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The research grant program is listed as open, with applications submitted through an online application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. 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
$4.3M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+261.6% YoY
Grant Count
13
+18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$339K
+205.9% YoY
How The Cure Starts Now Inc 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is “to educate, aid, and fund cures for cancer, starting first with pediatric brain cancer.” Its filing says research grants typically focus on pediatric brain cancers and are evaluated for scientific merit, disease impact, innovation, feasibility, and investigator expertise. Its website identifies DIPG, DMG, medulloblastoma, and other pediatric brain tumors among its research interests.
The 2025 grants went to hospitals, universities, medical schools, research institutes, and a biotechnology company. For example, Emory University describes its own mission as creating, preserving, teaching, and applying knowledge in the service of humanity. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai describes its mission as advancing science, medicine, and health care delivery for the benefit of humanity.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cure Starts Now Inc
Ready to take the next step with The Cure Starts Now Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its research funding as international. Its website reports that funded research has involved hospitals in 29 countries. In the 2025 filing, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states, with 46% going to Ohio, 24% to Washington, 9% to Georgia, 6% to New York, and 6% to Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $550K (2021) to $4.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $4.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 24 grants of 46 (52%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH | Dr. Qing lu and dr. Scott raskin - medical research | $1,590,160 |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle, WA | Dr. Rebecca Ronsley - Medical Research | $1,050,000 |
| Children's Research Institute Mason, OH | Dr. Hwang - Medical Research | $400,000 |
| Emory University Atlanta, GA | Dr. Bilap dasgupta and dr. Timothy gershon - medical research | $390,519 |
| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD | Dr. Karisa schreck, dr. Alan friedman, and dr. Jeff bulte - medical research | $249,000 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Intranasal Delivery of Oncolytic Virus in DMG | $200,000 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY | Dr. Becher - Medical Research | $100,000 |
| Columbia University Sponsored Projects New York, NY | Dr. Caho Lu - Medical Research | $100,000 |
| University of Virginia Medical Center Charlottesville, VA | Dr. James Ross - Medical Research | $100,000 |
| University of Colorado Denver Denver, CO | Dr. Adam Greene - Medical Research | $99,974 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,317,740 | $5,655,854 | $8,438,186 | $4,404,653 |
| 2024 | $4,248,120 | $5,367,380 | $4,381,043 | $1,218,250 |
| 2023 | $4,130,907 | $5,080,693 | $4,760,307 | $1,025,000 |
Grant counts were 13 in 2025, 11 in 2024, and 10 in 2023.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,317,740 | $4,248,120 | $4,130,907 |
| Revenue | $5,655,854 | $5,367,380 | $5,080,693 |
| Expenses | $8,438,186 | $4,381,043 | $4,760,307 |
| Net Investment Income | $16,962 | $16,804 | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Keith Desserich, chairman of the board; Brooke Desserich, CEO and treasurer; Terry Regan, secretary; and board members Gavin Baumgardner, Dan Lee, Alyssa Hawranko, and Tamara Ekis. Mike Weiner is listed as CIO.
The Cure Starts Now Inc is led by Brooke Desserich, CEO & Treasurer since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brooke Desserich
CEO & Treasurer
Executive Director → Executive Director & CEO, 2021
Executive Director & CEO → CEO & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $62K (2025)
Keith Desserich
Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Chairman of the Board, 2025
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$22K (2021) → $112K (2025)
Mike Weiner
CIO
On filings since 2022
60 hrs/week
$107K (2022) → $123K (2025)
Alyssa Hawranko
Board Member
Head of Strategic Advisory Council → Director, 2021
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gavin Baumgardner
Board Member
V.p. & Head of Med Advisory → Director, 2022
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Ekis
Board Member
Member at Large → Director, 2021
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry Regan
Secretary
Secretary → Director, 2022
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Lee
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Doug Desserich (2020–2024) — Director & Treasurer
- Former: Melissa Saladonis (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Dustin Glavin (2020) — Monkey in My Chair Council
- Former: Trent Hummel MD (2020) — Secretary & Head of Dipg Collabor
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 $123K, to Mike Weiner (CIO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 10280 Chester Road, Cincinnati, OH 45215
Phone: (513) 772-4888
Website: https://thecurestartsnow.org
Frequently asked questions about The Cure Starts Now Inc
How much does The Cure Starts Now Inc give each year?
The Cure Starts Now Inc gave $4.4M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 11 grants.
What is The Cure Starts Now Inc's typical grant size?
The Cure Starts Now Inc's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $338,819, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Cure Starts Now Inc give grants?
The Cure Starts Now Inc's top state is Ohio, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Washington (24%) and Georgia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants) and Cincinnati, OH (2 grants).
Does The Cure Starts Now Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Cure Starts Now Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Cure Starts Now Inc's largest grantees?
The Cure Starts Now Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ($1,590,160), Seattle Children's Hospital ($1,050,000) and Children's Research Institute ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Cure Starts Now Inc?
The Cure Starts Now Inc reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.
What does The Cure Starts Now Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is “to educate, aid, and fund cures for cancer, starting first with pediatric brain cancer.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cure Starts Now Inc?
The research grant program is listed as open, with applications submitted through an online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cure Starts Now Inc's EIN?
The Cure Starts Now Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0269131. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Cure Starts Now Inc by hand.
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