The V Foundation
The V Foundation for Cancer Research is a public charity based in Cary, North Carolina. Founded in 1993 by ESPN and Jim Valvano, it funds cancer research to accelerate “Victory Over Cancer®” and save lives.
The V Foundation at a glance
In short: The V Foundation gave $56.7M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $1.1M), top state California. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $56,692,000
- +33.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- +17.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,069,660
- +12.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $800,000
- Total assets
- $145,853,123
- +12.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (11 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (14% 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 The V Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Review Cycle
- The website lists estimated upcoming cycles: Translational nominations in November–December 2026 and applications in December 2026–January 2027; Breaking Barriers nominations in February 2027 and applications in March 2027; Pediatric nominations in March 2027 and applications in April 2027; and V Scholar nominations in May 2027 and applications in June 2027. Dates are estimates and subject to change; specific dates are detailed in each request for applications.
- Deadline
- The website lists estimated upcoming cycles: Translational nominations in November–December 2026 and applications in…
- Contact
Mailing address: 14600 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513
Phone: (919) 380-9505
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The V Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center ($3.2M). Together the top 10 received $23.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
256 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 104 grants of 256 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation invites institutions in the United States and a few top-ranked Canadian centers to apply. In filing year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to California (14%), Massachusetts (11%), New York (9%), Texas (8%), and North Carolina (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The V Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 53 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $781K; repeat grants $1.1M. How we count
Medians: $600K first-time, $800K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 $12.5M (2020) to $56.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $56.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center Chicago, IL | Cancer Research | $3,200,000 |
| Fred Hutch University of Washington Seattle Childrens Cancer Consortium Seattle, WA | Cancer Research | $3,100,000 |
| Dana-Farberharvard Cancer Center Boston, MA | Cancer Research | $2,800,000 |
| UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Los Angeles, CA | Cancer Research | $2,600,000 |
| Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center Bronx, NY | Cancer Research | $2,400,000 |
| Duke Cancer Institute Durham, NC | Cancer Research | $2,255,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Cancer Research | $2,000,000 |
| Yale Cancer Center New Haven, CT | Cancer Research | $1,800,000 |
| Abramson Cancer Center Philadelphia, PA | Cancer Research | $1,600,000 |
| Stanford Cancer Institute Stanford, CA | Cancer Research | $1,600,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The V Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation states that an endowment provides long-term stability and supports its operating expenses through earnings. Its website says 100% of direct donations go to research, with an endowment covering administrative expenses.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $145,853,123 | $61,639,637 | $70,594,561 | $56,692,000 | 53 | $4,300,252 |
| 2024 | $129,345,194 | $62,401,014 | $51,901,965 | $42,630,000 | 45 | $6,688,609 |
| 2023 | $99,605,978 | $47,813,363 | $50,407,793 | $42,164,816 | 50 | $2,348,759 |
| 2022 | $79,722,279 | $38,304,202 | $33,070,010 | $26,507,256 | 59 | $1,319,271 |
| 2021 | $77,875,594 | $32,236,754 | $26,594,551 | $21,863,591 | 49 | $2,834,424 |
| 2020 | $66,068,927 | $19,512,235 | $18,863,499 | $12,518,276 | 38 | $1,459,225 |
| 2019 | $76,463,175 | $33,522,505 | $33,129,624 | $27,187,442 | 59 | $1,505,381 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to fund game-changing research and all-star scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives. Its website describes funding research for all types of cancer. The organization says its funding strategy focuses on emerging, high-impact opportunities and critical knowledge gaps in science.
In 2025, recipients included cancer centers and research institutions. The University of Chicago, which received $3.2 million, describes its mission as advancing the communication and creation of knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which received $2 million, says it is dedicated to leadership in cancer prevention, treatment, and cure through patient care, outreach, research, and education.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 53 grants totaling $56,692,000 in filing year 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $84,000 to $3.2 million, with a median of $800,000. The largest awards included $3.2 million to the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, $3.1 million to the Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium, $2.8 million to Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and $2.6 million to UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. The listed purposes for these awards were cancer research.
The foundation offers V Scholar, Translational, Game-Changer, Mission, and All-Star grants. Its website describes V Scholar and Translational grants as four-year awards of $200,000 per year, and All-Star grants as $1 million over five years for invited previous recipients of specified awards. Award amounts and durations vary by program.
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It invites selected cancer centers and other institutions to apply; those institutions generally hold internal competitions and nominate one applicant per grant opportunity. Applications are reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Committee and ad hoc reviewers. Funded researchers provide annual scientific progress and financial reports. Eligibility varies by opportunity; for example, V Scholar lead investigators generally must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents, while other grant types generally require U.S. citizenship or a legal permit to work in the United States. These requirements do not apply to invited Canadian institutions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Clark Kinlin as director/interim CEO, Evan Goldberg as chair, Pamela Valvano Strasser as chairwoman, George Bodenheimer as secretary, Constance E. Skidmore as treasurer, and Nicholas P. Valvano as president emeritus. It also lists Robert Bast Jr. MD, Jeff Berry, Jay Bilas, and Steven M. Bornstein as directors.
The V Foundation is led by Shane Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer Thr: since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 12 of 59 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shane Jacobson
Chief Executive Officer Thr:
CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
Chief Executive Officer → Chief Executive Officer Thr:, 2025
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
$422K (2022) → $591K (2025)
Clark Kinlin
Director & Interim CEO Fr:
Director From → Director, 2022
Director → Director & Interim CEO Fr:, 2025
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evan Goldberg
Chair
Director → Chair From, 2021
Chair From → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Valvano Strasser
Chairwoman
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carl C. Liebert III
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David W. Williams
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dereck Whittenburg
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dick Vitale
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Orender
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fj Joe Loughrey
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey S. Mason
Director Thr:
Director → Director Thr:, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George W. Dennis III
Director Thr:
Director → Director Thr:, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry E. Rhoads Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Pitaro
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John W. Thiel
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph O. Moore MD
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Allegro Maples
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Chase
Director
Director From → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Plank
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence C. Probst III
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Kastan MD PhD
Director
Director From → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael C. Macdonald
Director Thr:
Director → Director Thr:, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael W. Krzyzewski
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy E. Davidson MD
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norby Williamson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Bast Jr. MD
Director
Vice Chair to → Vice Chair, 2020
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert C. Nakasone
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Valvano
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven M. Bornstein
Director
Chair → Director & Chair, 2021
Director & Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart A. Taylor II
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas E. Cabaniss
Director
Director From → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Bilas
Director
Director From → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sage Steele
Director Thr:
Director From → Director, 2021
Director → Director Thr:, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Nelson Mdphd
Director Thr:
Director → Director Thr:, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Hong
Director
Director From → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Buster Posey
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Berry
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rita Ferro
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Wilson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ciara Wilson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Mentry
Director
Director From → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Major MD
Director
Director From → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Yaeger
Director
Director From → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Newlands
Director Fr:
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Bousa
Director Fr:
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Devin Gilreath
Chief Financial Officer
Vice President of Finance → CFO, 2022
CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
26 hrs/week
$122K (2020) → $246K (2025)
Philip Pilewski
Vice President & Principal Gifts
Executive Director of Development → Vice President & Principal Gifts, 2025
On filings since 2023
28 hrs/week
$202K (2023) → $210K (2025)
Susanna Greer
Chief Scientific Officer
Chief Scientifiec Officer Fr → Chief Scientific Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$201K (2023) → $316K (2025)
Jane Diane Baer
Senior Vice President, Market Development & Events
Senior Vice President Market Development & Events → Senior Vice President, Market Development & Events, 2025
On filings since 2024
$201K (2024) → $222K (2025)
Roger Ferguson
Chief Marketing Officer
On filings since 2024
26 hrs/week
$237K (2024) → $310K (2025)
Carrie Thomas
Senior Vice President & Partnership
New on the 2025 filing
26 hrs/week
$251K (2025)
Chanda Jeanine Douglas Ward
Vice President & Human Resources Key Ee Thr:
New on the 2025 filing
20 hrs/week
$166K (2025)
Jackie Aanes
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
26 hrs/week
$168K (2025)
Kara Coleman
Vice President, Research & Grants
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$178K (2025)
Lauren Hall
Chief Development Officer Thr:
New on the 2025 filing
28 hrs/week
$321K (2025)
Max Duley
Senior Vice President, Philanthropy & Auctions
New on the 2025 filing
$206K (2025)
Constance E. Skidmore
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Bodenheimer
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas P. Valvano
President Emeritus
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (31)
- Former: Larry Woodard (2019–2024) — Director to
- Former: Mark King (2019–2024) — Director to
- Former: Chanda Douglas-Ward (2024) — Vice President & Human Resources
- Former: Kraig Max Duley (2024) — Vice President Auctions & Market Development
- Former: Mary Ellen Curran (2024) — Vice President Partner Stewardship to
- Former: David Robinson (2019–2023) — Director to
- Former: Carole Wegner PhD (2021–2023) — Senior Vice President Research & Grants to
- Former: Alesia Husband (2023) — Senior Director & Accounting to
- Former: Jonathan Alhart (2023) — Exe Director Brand Marketing & Storytelling
- Former: Jonathan Karron (2023) — Chief Marketing Officer to
- Former: Rebecca Ritt (2023) — Director of Major Gifts to
- Former: Timothy Minor (2023) — CDO to
- Former: Jefferson Parker (2019–2022) — Former COO
- Former: Norm Bowling (2019–2022) — Former Crmo
- Former: Bumgardner Ritt Rebecca (2022) — Major Gifts Officer
- Former: Ciara Harris (2022) — Director
- Former: Mazur Sherrie (2022) — Senior Vice President of Communications to
- Former: Miller Ryan (2022) — Director of Development
- Former: Pilewski Phil (2022) — Executive Director of Development
- Former: Wegner Carole PhD (2022) — Senior Vice President Research & Grants Ad
- Former: Phil Pilewski (2019–2021) — Major Gifts Officer
- Former: Randy Karsten (2019–2021) — Vice President of Business Alliances
- Former: Rebecca Bumgardner (2019–2021) — Major Gifts Officer
- Former: Robin Roberts (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Susan Braun (2019–2021) — CEO
- Former: Sherrie Mazur (2020–2021) — Senior Vice President of Communications
- Former: Lesley Visser (2019–2020) — Director to
- Former: Darcie Taylor (2019) — Major Gifts Officer
- Former: David Fay (2019) — Director to
- Former: Keith Goralski (2019) — Senior Director Sports & Digital Fundraising
- Former: William Nelson (2019) — Director & Vice Chair From
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 $591K, to Shane Jacobson (Chief Executive Officer THR: 8/25). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The V Foundation
How much does The V Foundation give each year?
The V Foundation gave $56.7M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $42.6M across 45 grants.
What is The V Foundation's typical grant size?
The V Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $800,000, and its average grant was $1,069,660, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The V Foundation that year got $781K on average.
Where does The V Foundation give grants?
The V Foundation's top state is California, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Massachusetts (11%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), Saint Louis, MO (3 grants) and Durham, NC (2 grants).
Does The V Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 53 grants with a stated purpose on The V Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cancer Research" (53 grants).
Who are The V Foundation's largest grantees?
The V Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center ($3,200,000), Fred Hutch University of Washington Seattle Childrens Cancer Consortium ($3,100,000) and Dana-Farberharvard Cancer Center ($2,800,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The V Foundation?
The V Foundation reported $145.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $61.6M.
What does The V Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to fund game-changing research and all-star scientists to accelerate Victory Over Cancer® and save lives. Its website describes funding research for all types of cancer. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The V Foundation?
The V Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is The V Foundation's EIN?
The V Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3705951. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The V Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The V Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The V Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-v-foundation-morg_f25295b0c4c647e5bfd36a816fdfe92f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133705951_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The V Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-v-foundation-morg_f25295b0c4c647e5bfd36a816fdfe92f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 V 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.
The V Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?