The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is a New York, New York-based public charity, formed in 2015. It supports cancer research through grants and venture investments, partnering with individual investigators, multidisciplinary teams, and early-stage companies in the United States and internationally.
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd at a glance
In short: The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd gave $19.5M across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $672K), top state New York. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $19,485,041
- -20.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- -19.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $671,898
- -0.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500,000
- Total assets
- $105,459,714
- +0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (5 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (32% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
- Contact
Mailing address: 1350 Avenue Of The Americas 2902, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (646) 866-5950
Website: https://themarkfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
ASPIRE Award
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
ASPIRE Awards
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Drug Discovery Award
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ($2.8M). Together the top 10 received $13.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 38 grants of 165 (23%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it supports research in the United States and across the globe. Its 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New York (32%), California (27%), Massachusetts (9%), Maryland (7%), and Alabama (5%), among other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 29 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $815K; repeat grants $642K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $535K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $16.4M (2020) to $42.3M (2019). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $19.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Research | $2,750,000 |
| Regents of the University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Research | $2,299,837 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Research | $1,568,007 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Research | $1,384,340 |
| The Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CA | Research | $1,000,000 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL | Research | $1,000,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education Pittsburgh, PA | Research | $1,000,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Redwood City, CA | Research | $948,007 |
| Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, NY | Research | $750,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College Cambridge, MA | Research | $711,352 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $105,459,714 | $44,772,901 | $36,066,750 | $19,485,041 | 29 | $409,872 |
| 2023 | $104,492,388 | $40,937,632 | $35,209,497 | $24,414,174 | 36 | $1,030,138 |
| 2022 | $110,652,350 | $55,345,494 | $38,014,606 | $22,043,847 | 36 | $363,707 |
| 2021 | $107,551,757 | $37,486,883 | $35,686,709 | $25,019,234 | 36 | $5,489,453 |
| 2020 | $109,005,993 | $40,176,299 | $21,645,747 | $16,366,717 | 28 | $176,189 |
| 2019 | $90,919,630 | $80,534,924 | $47,346,929 | $42,269,015 | 27 | $534,064 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to partner with scientists to accelerate research that can transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Its grants support innovative research across cancer types, including basic, translational, and clinical work, as well as collaborative projects and early-stage therapeutic discovery.
Its 2024 grants went to research institutions including universities, cancer centers, and independent research organizations. For example, Johns Hopkins University describes its mission as fostering independent and original research and bringing the benefits of discovery to the world. The Salk Institute says its work includes cancer research alongside other scientific fields. Harvard College describes its mission as education and research across a broad array of academic domains.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $19,485,041. Grant amounts ranged from $11,250 to $2,750,000, with a median grant of $500,000. The largest awards included $2,750,000 to the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, $2,299,837 to the Regents of the University of California San Francisco, $1,568,007 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and $1,384,340 to Johns Hopkins University. Each was listed for research.
The foundation’s programs include ASPIRE Awards for high-impact, high-risk research, including projects with limited preliminary data; Drug Discovery Partnership awards to advance discoveries toward therapeutics; Emerging Leader Awards for early-career investigators; Endeavor Awards for collaborative teams; fellowships; and Mark Foundation Centers. Its website says submissions undergo rigorous peer review. The foundation also says it monitors grant progress, requires progress reports, and conditions further disbursements on acceptance of grant terms and timely reporting.
The Emerging Leader Award is listed as currently open, with a stated award range of $250,000–$1,000,000 and a deadline of April 30, 2026. Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree, have established an independent laboratory during 2018–2023, and demonstrate multi-year independent funding active in 2027. The program is open to applicants worldwide; proposed projects must be based on evidence-based laboratory data and/or medical science and must not be supported by other sources.
The Endeavor Award is listed as currently open and provides up to $3 million over three years. It supports teams of one principal investigator and two to eight co-principal investigators at nonprofit academic or research institutions. Basic, translational, and clinical projects are eligible; investigators may be based anywhere, and projects should address an urgent scientific question with integrated team contributions. Proposed projects must not be supported by other sources.
ASPIRE supports independent researchers worldwide, with collaborations within scope. Proposals may be solicited through focused requests for proposals, or individual applications may be considered by invitation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Raymond DuBois as executive chairman of the board and Ryan Schoenfeld as chief executive officer. It also lists Alex Knaster, Ross Levine, Nicola Mendehlson, Paul Pospisil, and Otmar D. Wiestler as directors; Ian Lesser as director of finance and administration; Anna Turetsky as principal, venture investments; and Rebecca Bish-Cornelissen as head of discovery/pre-clinical research.
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd is led by Ryan Schoenfeld, Chief Executive Officer since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 10 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ryan Schoenfeld
Chief Executive Officer
Vice President & Scientific Research → Chief Scientific Officer & Interim CEO, 2021
Chief Scientific Officer & Interim CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$305K (2019) → $507K (2024)
Raymond Dubois
Executive Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2022
24 hrs/week
$513K (2022) → $560K (2024)
Rebecca Liu
Director & Grants Administration
Director of Grants Adminstration → Director of Grants Administration, 2022
Director of Grants Administration → Director & Grants Administration, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$127K (2019) → $197K (2024)
Ross Levine
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$10K (2019) → $10K (2024)
Michael Carleton
Senior Scientific Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$212K (2020) → $176K (2024)
Ian Lesser
Director Finance & Administration
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$67K (2023) → $173K (2024)
Paul Pospisil
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Knaster
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicola Mendehlson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Otmar D. Wiestler
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Bish-Cornelissen
Head Discovery & Pre-Clinical Research
Head of Pre-Clinical Research → Head Discovery & Preclinical Research, 2023
Head Discovery & Preclinical Research → Head Discovery & Pre-Clinical Research, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$261K (2020) → $311K (2024)
Robert Magin
Associate Scientific Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$127K (2022) → $169K (2024)
Amy Fehir
Head of Development
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $216K (2024)
Anna Turetsky To
Principal & Venture Investments
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$327K (2024)
Former officers (16)
- Former: Anna Turetsky (2020–2023) — Principal & Venture Investments
- Former: Janice Lin (2022–2023) — Portfolio Manager, Research & Investments
- Former: Kevin O'Flaherty To (2023) — Director
- Former: S. Patrick Lewis To (2023) — Head of Finance & Operations
- Former: Stuart Thomson To (2023) — Director
- Former: William Shapard To (2023) — Director
- Former: Kevin O' Flaherty (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: S. Patrick Lewis (2019–2022) — Head of Finance & Operations
- Former: Stuart Thomson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: William Allen Shapard (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Irena Ivanovska (2021–2022) — Senior Scientific Research
- Former: Michele Cleary Ph D. To (2021) — Chairman of the Board & CEO
- Former: Kasandra Davis (2019–2020) — Project Manager
- Former: Michele Cleary PhD (2019–2020) — Chairman of the Board & CEO
- Former: Elisa Venturini (2020) — Scientific Program Lead
- Former: Rebecca Bish PhD (2019) — Senior Scientific Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $560K, to Raymond Dubois (Executive Chairman of the Board). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd
How much does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd give each year?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd gave $19.5M across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $24.4M across 36 grants.
What is The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's typical grant size?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's median grant in 2024 was $500,000, and its average grant was $671,898, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd that year got $815K on average.
Where does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd give grants?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (27%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research" (29 grants).
Who are The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's largest grantees?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's largest 2024 grantees 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) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($1,568,007), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd reported $105.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $44.8M.
What does The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd fund?
The foundation’s mission is to partner with scientists to accelerate research that can transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check themarkfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's EIN?
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4825921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 28, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd funds
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mark-foundation-for-cancer-research-us-ltd-morg_4a0f66892b09461bba51b6d3ea1303f2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364825921_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mark-foundation-for-cancer-research-us-ltd-morg_4a0f66892b09461bba51b6d3ea1303f2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (US) Ltd'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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