The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 36-4825921 Website

Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is a nonprofit philanthropic organization headquartered in New York City dedicated to accelerating cures for cancer through research funding and venture investments. Founded in 2015 and launched in 2017, the organization was established by Alex Knaster in memory of his father, Mark, who died of cancer in 2014. The foundation actively partners with scientists globally to support groundbreaking research that transforms the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$105.5M

+0.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$19.5M

-20.2% YoY

Grant Count

-19.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$672K

-0.9% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research supports cutting-edge, innovative scientific ideas that answer complex questions about cancer biology and lead to new and better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease. The organization pursues its mission by funding a global portfolio of groundbreaking research carried out by individual investigators, multi-investigator teams, and inter-institutional collaborations.

The foundation maintains a nimble, high-impact approach to funding research that encompasses:

Basic and translational cancer research grants
Clinical cancer research grants
Venture philanthropy investments in early-stage companies that bridge the gap between bench and bedside

The foundation's grants reward innovative thinking that advances understanding of cancer biology and improves oncology treatment paradigms. Grant submissions undergo rigorous peer review by the foundation's scientific advisory committee or recommended subject matter experts and are held to the strictest standards of scientific excellence.

Grantmaking

The Mark Foundation offers multiple grant programs across cancer research:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Mark Foundation funds research globally, supporting scientists and research teams across the United States and internationally.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $25.3M (28%)

California $17.0M (19%)

Massachusetts $12.8M (14%)

Pennsylvania $6.9M (8%)

Maryland $4.0M (4%)

Texas $3.9M (4%)

Alabama $3.0M (3%)

Maine $2.8M (3%)

+18 more states

Cities

ANN ARBORATLANTAAUSTINBALTIMOREBAR HARBORBASALTBERKELEYBIRMINGHAMBLOOMINGTONBOSTONBRONXBROOKLYNCAMBRIDGECHAPEL HILLCHARLOTTESVILLECOLD SPRING HARBORCOLUMBUSDALLASDAVISEVANSTON

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total revenues: $40,937,632
Total expenses: $35,209,497
Total assets: $104,492,388
Employees: 11

Tax Status:

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
EIN: 36-4825921
IRS ruling year: 2016

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$105,459,714	$104,492,388	$110,652,350
Revenue	$44,772,901	$40,937,632	$55,345,494
Expenses	$36,066,750	$35,209,497	$38,014,606
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	$409,872	$1,030,138	$363,707
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

137 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

11 open opportunities from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

Show all 11 →

Foundation

ASPIRE Award

THE MARK FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

ASPIRE Awards

THE MARK FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Drug Discovery Award

THE MARK FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Annual

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ($2,750,000), Regents of the University of California San Francisco ($2,299,837), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($1,568,007).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ASPEN CANCER CONFERENCE INC BASALT, CO	RESEARCH	$25,000
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PASADENA, CA	RESEARCH	$250,000
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WASHINGTON DC, DC	RESEARCH	$90,000
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY	RESEARCH	$750,000
DAMON RUNYON WALTER WINCHELL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY	RESEARCH	$413,436
DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE INC BOSTON, MA	RESEARCH	$355,000
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE, MD	RESEARCH	$1,384,340
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA	RESEARCH	$698,007
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER NEW YORK, NY	RESEARCH	$1,568,007
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEW YORK, NY	RESEARCH	$570,775

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
ALEX KNASTER	DIRECTOR	1	—
ROSS LEVINE	DIRECTOR	1	$10,000
NICOLA MENDEHLSON	DIRECTOR	1	—
PAUL POSPISIL	DIRECTOR	1	—
OTMAR D WIESTLER	DIRECTOR	1	—
RAYMOND DUBOIS	EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD	24	$560,000
RYAN SCHOENFELD	CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER	40	$506,697
IAN LESSER	DIRECTOR FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION	40	$172,733
ANNA TURETSKY TO 724	PRINCIPAL, VENTURE INVESTMENTS	40	$327,122
REBECCA BISH-CORNELISSEN	HEAD DISCOVERY/PRE-CLINICAL RESEARCH	40	$310,646
AMY FEHIR	HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT	40	$215,995
REBECCA LIU	DIRECTOR, GRANTS ADMINISTRATION	40	$197,094
MICHAEL CARLETON	SENIOR SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR	40	$175,776
ROBERT MAGIN	ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR	40	$169,179

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2026

The Mark Foundation announced in 2026 a global expansion initiative coupled with increased funding support for its programs. The organization announced $4 million in Drug Discovery Awards for 2026 and a $1 million funding boost for its flagship Emerging Leader Award program, reflecting the foundation's commitment to supporting the next generation of talented investigators and innovative research approaches.

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research fund?

How do I apply for a grant from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research?

The Mark Foundation offers multiple grant programs across cancer research: **Grant Programs:** • ASPIRE Award • Centers • Drug Discovery Award • Emerging Leader Award • Endeavor Award • Early Detection Award • Fellowships • In the Clinic **Recent Activity:** • Announced $4 million in 2026 Drug Discovery Awards • Announced global expansion and $1 million funding boost for the flagship Emerging Leader Award in 2026 Grant submissions are subject to stringent peer review and uphold the highest stan…

Where does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research make grants?

The Mark Foundation funds research globally, supporting scientists and research teams across the United States and internationally.

What size grants does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research award?

In 2024, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research awarded 29 grants totaling $19.5M — an average of about $672K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research's EIN?

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4825921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.