Erasca Foundation focuses primarily on accelerating cancer research, patient support, and life-science sector engagement, with a strong San Diego and West Coast orientation. They fund a mix of translational research consortia and academic centers (including pediatric oncology initiatives) as well as nonprofits that provide direct financial navigation and support to advanced cancer patients and underserved populations. The foundation also channels support through sector intermediaries that mobilize industry resources and high-profile community fundraising events.
Erasca Foundation’s grantmaking is anchored by cancer research and patient support, with a notable emphasis on translational work that moves promising science toward clinical use. In the recent grants list, that shows up in support for the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators' Consortium, which funds the early clinical development of therapies for children and adolescents with cancer, and for Curebound DBA Padres Pedal the Cause, which raises and invests strategic funding in translational cancer research projects. The foundation also backs organizations that help patients navigate treatment and the practical burdens of serious illness. Grants to The Brain Tumor Network Inc support free individualized navigation for people facing a primary brain tumor diagnosis, while support for Cancer Angels of San Diego is directed to continuous help for Stage IV cancer patients. Other awards extend into ovarian cancer, cancer equity for Native communities, and science outreach through research and education institutions. Erasca Foundation was established in May 2021 and is funded by a donation of 1% of Erasca’s capital stock at IPO. Its active grant program is designed to support initiatives that fit the foundation’s mission, including cancer research, patient advocacy and support, patient education, and help for at-risk and underserved populations.
A major thread in Erasca Foundation’s giving is translational cancer research. The foundation awarded $31,200 to Curebound DBA Padres Pedal the Cause to raise and invest strategic funding in research projects aimed at accelerating new discoveries to clinical application, and $50,000 to The POETIC Foundation Inc for the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators' Consortium. Patient navigation and direct support is another clear area. Erasca Foundation gave $25,000 to The Brain Tumor Network Inc for free, individualized navigation for patients and loved ones managing a primary brain tumor diagnosis, and $25,000 to Cancer Angels of San Diego for support to Stage IV cancer patients. The foundation also funds cancer health equity and related community support. It gave $25,000 to American Indian Cancer Foundation for general operating support, and it supported Family Health Centers of San Diego with $15,000 for general operating support tied to caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services.
$95K
$11.6M
-$1.2M
$140K
Most grants fall between $24K and $30K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Concentrated, mission-focused giving: a small number of moderate-to-large gifts concentrated on cancer research and patient services, including repeat grants to sector intermediaries and event-driven funders. The portfolio mixes institutional research/academic support with community nonprofits and occasionally routes funds through donor-advised vehicles; several grantees receive repeat or multi-year support.
Notable grantees: Curebound (Padres Pedal the Cause), Life Science Cares Inc, The POETIC Foundation Inc, Cancer Angels of San Diego, American Indian Cancer Foundation
Typical grant size clusters tightly around $25,000, with p25 at $23,750, median at $25,000, and p75 at $30,300. The recent list also includes a much larger $265,000 donor-advised fund grant to Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, alongside smaller awards down to $1,000. The foundation appears to use both general operating support and purpose-specific grants. A DAF appears in the grant list, but the funder itself is classified as a regular funder. Recipients recur across years: Life Science Cares Inc, Curebound DBA Padres Pedal the Cause, The Brain Tumor Network Inc, Omar's Dream Foundation, and National Brain Tumor Society all appear more than once.
Erasca Foundation gives mostly in California, which accounts for 62% of grants in the data, and its top state by grant count is also CA. Recent recipients include San Diego, La Jolla, Encinitas, Chula Vista, San Jose, Stanford, Half Moon Bay, and Danville. Outside California, grants went to organizations in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and Minnesota, but every recent grant in the dataset went to a U.S. recipient.
Its giving centers on cancer research, patient advocacy and support, patient education, and support for at-risk and underserved populations. The recent grants show a strong tilt toward translational cancer research, brain tumor support, pediatric oncology, and cancer health equity.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent grants: Life Science Cares Inc, Curebound DBA Padres Pedal the Cause, The Brain Tumor Network Inc, Omar's Dream Foundation, and National Brain Tumor Society all received multiple awards across 2023 to 2025.
The grant-size distribution is tightly grouped around $25,000: p25 is $23,750, median is $25,000, and p75 is $30,300. The recent list also shows one much larger $265,000 grant and several smaller awards.
The foundation gives primarily in California, which represents 62% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Recent California recipients are spread across San Diego, La Jolla, Encinitas, Chula Vista, San Jose, Stanford, Half Moon Bay, and Danville.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Science Cares Inc | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | "General operating support". This organization activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty in our communities. The organization envisions all of their neighbors having access to basic needs, access to education, and access to opportunities. |
| Family Health Centers of San Diego | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization is dedicated to providing caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons. |
| Mama's Kitchen | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization provides nutritional support to San Diego residents at risk of malnutrition due to critical illnesses such as HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Mama's Kitchen strives to help its clients stay healthy, preserve their dignity, and keep their families together by providing, medically tailored home-delivered meals and nutrition education - all at no cost. |
| Best Buddies International Inc | San Diego, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). |
| Omar's Dream Foundation | San Jose, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization enables hospitalized and medically-supervised children to remotely attend school. |
| Every Cure Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization applies AI to biomedical data to identify the most promising opportunities across all 22K diseases and 3K drugs - their AI platform can complete this work within days. They work with medical experts, physicians, drug companies, academics and patient advocacy groups to quantify the strength of evidence for every drug-disease match and prioritize those with highest potential to relieve suffering. |
| San Diego Coastkeeper | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | "General operating support". The San Diego Coastkeeper protects and restores swimmable, drinkable, fishable waters in San Diego County. It is a major force in transforming the San Diego region into a leader in sustainable water management, supporting high biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and thriving neighborhoods. |
| Foundation for the Children of the Californias | San Diego, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | "General operating support." The Foundation for the Children of the Californias is a tri-national collaboration with Canada, the United States, and Mexico, endeavoring to improve the health and nutrition of underserved children in the border region through support for the Hospital Infantil de las Californias, a model pediatric specialty medical and education complex, located in Baja. Hospital Infantil offers outpatient services in 25 specialties and services (including day surgeries, dental, ophthalmology, orthopedics, physical therapy, etc.) in a 56,000-square-foot facility. Many of the staff are volunteers and no child is turned away for inability to pay. Hospital Infantil treats over 4000 patients every month from both sides of the border. |
| Lazarex Cancer Foundation | Danville, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization strives to improve cancer health outcomes, FDA cancer clinical trial diversity and enrollment, and patient access to care by providing assistance with clinical trial navigation, reimbursing trial related travel costs, and partnering with at-risk communities to mobilize resources. Their vision is that everyone affected by cancer will have hope, dignity, support and the most advanced treatments made available to them at all stages of their journey. |
| National Brain Tumor Society | Newton, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | "General operating support." The organization invests in, mobilizes, and unites the brain tumor community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for patients and caregivers. |
| Salk Institute for Biological Studies | La Jolla, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization's philosophy is to drive both scientific breakthroughs and inspire the next generation of elite scientists. Out of that, the Education Outreach department was launched with its mission to teach students/teachers/the community, inspire enthusiasm and interest in science, and promote public awareness of Salk and the values of basic research as it relates to the development of an informed citizenry. |
| Life Science Cares Inc | Half Moon Bay, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities. The organization envisions all of their neighbors having access to basic needs, access to education, and access to opportunities. The grants are used for the general support of Bay Area programs. |
| Leland Stanford Junior University | Stanford, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization is a hub of innovation that brings the power of diversity to improve human health: diversity of disciplines - life, physical and clinical sciences - and most importantly, diversity of people. The grant goes toward supporting Stanford's Sarafan ChEM-H organization. |
| Curebound DBA Padres Pedal the Cause | San Diego, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization raises and invests strategic funding in translational cancer research projects aimed at accelerating new discoveries to clinical application. Padres Pedal the Cause is Curebound's largest signature event, bringing together thousands of participants each year to raise money for collaborative cancer research. Hosted in partnership with the Padres, "Pedal" is San Diego's most impactful fundraising experience to fund 80+ innovative research grants in all types of cancer. Curebound raises and invests strategic funding into lifesaving cancer research among Southern California's best research institutions. This will be the second year sponsoring Padres Pedal the Cause held April 7, 2024. 2024. |
| American Indian Cancer Foundation | Saint Paul, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization is a Native-governed foundation that addresses the tremendous cancer inequities faced by Native communities. It aims to eliminate cancer burdens of Indigenous people through improved access to prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivor support. |
| SBCS Corporation | Chula Vista, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization is a community-based non-profit established in 1971 that provides a comprehensive range of services for children, youth, and families in San Diego county including housing assistance, independent living skills, employment readiness, mental health counseling, domestic violence and child abuse intervention, financial literacy services, juvenile crimes prevention, therapeutic educational programming, and meals/nutritional support. |
| Cancer Angels of San Diego | Encinitas, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization is the only non-profit that helps all types of Stage IV cancer patients on a continuous basis, providing consistent help for as long as patients are ill or unable to work and are facing severe financial distress. |
| The Clearity Foundation | San Diego, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization strives to improve the survival and quality of life of women with ovarian cancer. THe Clearity Foundation believes that all women deserve the best possible therapies for their unique disease and the best possible emotional support for the life challenges. All services are provided free of charge as patients should have access to the most advanced care, personalized for them regardless of their ability to pay. |
| The Brain Tumor Network Inc | Pointe Vedra Beach, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | "General operating support". This organization provides free, individualized navigation to help patients and loved ones manage a primary brain tumor diagnosis, overcome treatment obstacles, and facilitate access to quality healthcare. |
| BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | BOSTON, MA | $265,000 | 2023 | Donor Advised Fund to support and fund cancer research, education and other initiatives. |
| The POETIC Foundation Inc | Staten Island, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | To support the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators' Consortium (POETIC) and promote the early clinical development of promising therapies for the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and related disorders. |
| Life Science Cares Inc | San Diego, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | To activate the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partner with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities. |
| Curebound DBA Padres Pedal the Cause | San Diego, CA | $31,200 | 2023 | To raise and invest strategic funding in translational cancer research projects aimed at accelerating new discoveries to clinical application. |
| The Brain Tumor Network Inc | Pointe Vedra Beach, FL | $25,000 | 2023 | To provide free, individualized navigation to help patients and loved ones manage a primary brain tumor diagnosis, overcome treatment obstacles, and facilitate access to quality healthcare. |
| Omar's Dream Foundation | San Jose, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | To enable hospitalized and medically-supervised children to remotely attend school. |
| National Brain Tumor Society | Newton, MA | $2,500 | 2023 | To invest in, mobilize, and unite the brain tumor community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for patients and caregivers. |
"General operating support". This organization activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty in our communities. The organization envisions all of their neighbors having access to basic needs, access to education, and access to opportunities.
Family Health Centers of San Diego
$15,000"General operating support." The organization is dedicated to providing caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.
"General operating support." The organization provides nutritional support to San Diego residents at risk of malnutrition due to critical illnesses such as HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Mama's Kitchen strives to help its clients stay healthy, preserve their dignity, and keep their families together by providing, medically tailored home-delivered meals and nutrition education - all at no cost.
Best Buddies International Inc
$10,000"General operating support." The organization is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Omar's Dream Foundation
$10,000"General operating support." The organization enables hospitalized and medically-supervised children to remotely attend school.
Every Cure Inc
$10,000"General operating support." The organization applies AI to biomedical data to identify the most promising opportunities across all 22K diseases and 3K drugs - their AI platform can complete this work within days. They work with medical experts, physicians, drug companies, academics and patient advocacy groups to quantify the strength of evidence for every drug-disease match and prioritize those with highest potential to relieve suffering.
"General operating support". The San Diego Coastkeeper protects and restores swimmable, drinkable, fishable waters in San Diego County. It is a major force in transforming the San Diego region into a leader in sustainable water management, supporting high biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and thriving neighborhoods.
Foundation for the Children of the Californias
$2,500"General operating support." The Foundation for the Children of the Californias is a tri-national collaboration with Canada, the United States, and Mexico, endeavoring to improve the health and nutrition of underserved children in the border region through support for the Hospital Infantil de las Californias, a model pediatric specialty medical and education complex, located in Baja. Hospital Infantil offers outpatient services in 25 specialties and services (including day surgeries, dental, ophthalmology, orthopedics, physical therapy, etc.) in a 56,000-square-foot facility. Many of the staff are volunteers and no child is turned away for inability to pay. Hospital Infantil treats over 4000 patients every month from both sides of the border.
Lazarex Cancer Foundation
$1,500"General operating support." The organization strives to improve cancer health outcomes, FDA cancer clinical trial diversity and enrollment, and patient access to care by providing assistance with clinical trial navigation, reimbursing trial related travel costs, and partnering with at-risk communities to mobilize resources. Their vision is that everyone affected by cancer will have hope, dignity, support and the most advanced treatments made available to them at all stages of their journey.
"General operating support." The organization invests in, mobilizes, and unites the brain tumor community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for patients and caregivers.
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
$30,000"General operating support". This organization's philosophy is to drive both scientific breakthroughs and inspire the next generation of elite scientists. Out of that, the Education Outreach department was launched with its mission to teach students/teachers/the community, inspire enthusiasm and interest in science, and promote public awareness of Salk and the values of basic research as it relates to the development of an informed citizenry.
Life Science Cares Inc
$25,000"General operating support". This organization activates the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partners with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities. The organization envisions all of their neighbors having access to basic needs, access to education, and access to opportunities. The grants are used for the general support of Bay Area programs.
Leland Stanford Junior University
$25,000"General operating support". This organization is a hub of innovation that brings the power of diversity to improve human health: diversity of disciplines - life, physical and clinical sciences - and most importantly, diversity of people. The grant goes toward supporting Stanford's Sarafan ChEM-H organization.
"General operating support". This organization raises and invests strategic funding in translational cancer research projects aimed at accelerating new discoveries to clinical application. Padres Pedal the Cause is Curebound's largest signature event, bringing together thousands of participants each year to raise money for collaborative cancer research. Hosted in partnership with the Padres, "Pedal" is San Diego's most impactful fundraising experience to fund 80+ innovative research grants in all types of cancer. Curebound raises and invests strategic funding into lifesaving cancer research among Southern California's best research institutions. This will be the second year sponsoring Padres Pedal the Cause held April 7, 2024. 2024.
American Indian Cancer Foundation
$25,000"General operating support". This organization is a Native-governed foundation that addresses the tremendous cancer inequities faced by Native communities. It aims to eliminate cancer burdens of Indigenous people through improved access to prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivor support.
"General operating support". This organization is a community-based non-profit established in 1971 that provides a comprehensive range of services for children, youth, and families in San Diego county including housing assistance, independent living skills, employment readiness, mental health counseling, domestic violence and child abuse intervention, financial literacy services, juvenile crimes prevention, therapeutic educational programming, and meals/nutritional support.
"General operating support". This organization is the only non-profit that helps all types of Stage IV cancer patients on a continuous basis, providing consistent help for as long as patients are ill or unable to work and are facing severe financial distress.
The Clearity Foundation
$20,000"General operating support". This organization strives to improve the survival and quality of life of women with ovarian cancer. THe Clearity Foundation believes that all women deserve the best possible therapies for their unique disease and the best possible emotional support for the life challenges. All services are provided free of charge as patients should have access to the most advanced care, personalized for them regardless of their ability to pay.
"General operating support". This organization provides free, individualized navigation to help patients and loved ones manage a primary brain tumor diagnosis, overcome treatment obstacles, and facilitate access to quality healthcare.
Donor Advised Fund to support and fund cancer research, education and other initiatives.
The POETIC Foundation Inc
$50,000To support the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators' Consortium (POETIC) and promote the early clinical development of promising therapies for the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and related disorders.
To activate the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry and partner with nonprofits to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in our communities.
To raise and invest strategic funding in translational cancer research projects aimed at accelerating new discoveries to clinical application.
To provide free, individualized navigation to help patients and loved ones manage a primary brain tumor diagnosis, overcome treatment obstacles, and facilitate access to quality healthcare.
Omar's Dream Foundation
$10,000To enable hospitalized and medically-supervised children to remotely attend school.
To invest in, mobilize, and unite the brain tumor community to discover a cure, deliver effective treatments, and advocate for patients and caregivers.