Humor to Fight the Tumor is dedicated to funding research and patient services that will improve the lives of brain tumor patients. We do this by raising awareness, providing support and encouragement, and offering uplifting events that provide a sense of community and hope to affected individuals and families.
Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation pairs brain tumor research with direct support for people living with the disease. Its recent grants show a clear split between larger medical research awards and smaller quality-of-life and assistance grants, with Minnesota institutions appearing repeatedly alongside a few national research partners. The biggest recent awards went to the University of Minnesota Foundation, including a $220,000 grant in 2025 and a $170,000 grant in 2024, both tied to medical research. Children's Minnesota also received a $175,000 medical research grant in 2025, showing the foundation’s support for pediatric and clinical work in the state. The foundation’s giving also reaches beyond research labs into patient support. Minnesota-based organizations such as Pinky Swear Foundation, Gilda's Club Twin Cities Inc, and Angel Foundation appear in the recent-grants list with grants aimed at helping those dealing with brain tumors or supporting quality-of-life programming. That pattern fits the foundation’s stated purpose of improving the lives of brain tumor patients through research, support, and encouragement. The grant record shows a mix of one-time and repeated support, especially for Minnesota recipients.
Research remains the foundation’s largest funding lane. In 2025, it gave $220,000 to the University of Minnesota Foundation for medical research grants, and it also awarded $150,000 to Mayo Clinics in Rochester for medical research grants. The American Brain Tumor Association in Chicago received $150,000 for medical research grants in 2025 as well. Patient services and quality of life are another consistent theme. Angel Foundation received $20,000 in 2025 for quality of life grants, while Pinky Swear Foundation received $20,000 the same year for quality of life grants. Earlier grants to Pinky Swear Foundation, Gilda's Club Twin Cities Inc, and Angel Foundation were described as assistance for those dealing with brain tumors. The foundation also supports applied brain tumor work through institutional partners. Children's Minnesota received a $175,000 medical research grant, connecting the funder to clinical and translational settings as well as broader patient support.
$460K
$157K
$558K
$516K
Most grants fall between $20K and $150K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$150K
CHRISTINA SAUNDERS CLARK
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The typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. That spread reflects a two-track approach: larger project grants for research and smaller awards for quality-of-life or assistance programs. The recent-grants list also shows recurring support across years, especially for the University of Minnesota Foundation, Mayo Clinics, American Brain Tumor Association, Pinky Swear Foundation, and Angel Foundation. The foundation runs competitive grant programs, including a Research Grant open to U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and a Quality of Life Grant for Minnesota nonprofits. Both programs accept unsolicited applications.
Giving is concentrated in Minnesota, which accounts for 82% of grants, and the top state by grant count is also Minnesota. Minneapolis appears repeatedly through the University of Minnesota Foundation and Children's Minnesota, while Rochester is represented by Mayo Clinics. Other Minnesota recipients include Edina, Wayzata, and Mendota Heights. Outside Minnesota, the foundation has also funded Chicago-based American Brain Tumor Association. All recent grants in the provided list went to U.S. recipients.
It funds nonprofit organizations connected to brain tumor research and to the lives of people affected by brain tumors. The active programs include a Research Grant for U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and a Quality of Life Grant for Minnesota nonprofits serving the brain tumor community.
The grant-size distribution centers at $20,000 for the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record includes both larger research awards and smaller quality-of-life grants.
Yes. The recent grants include medical research awards to the University of Minnesota Foundation, Mayo Clinics, Children's Minnesota, and the American Brain Tumor Association, along with quality-of-life or assistance grants to Angel Foundation, Pinky Swear Foundation, and Gilda's Club Twin Cities Inc.
Minnesota is the main giving state, with 82% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients include organizations in Minneapolis, Rochester, Edina, Wayzata, and Mendota Heights.
Yes. Both active grant programs accept unsolicited applications: the Research Grant and the Quality of Life Grant. The Quality of Life Grant is limited to Minnesota and has a stated grant size range of $0–$18,000.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is consistent with the Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation. Funds may not be used for ongoing operational costs, personal grants to individuals, or individual salaries.
Deadline: Applications must be received by December 7th, 2026.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GILDA'S CLUB MINNESOTA | MINNETONKA, MN | $200,000 | 2026 | POWER IN COMMUNITY - ASSESSING SPECIFIC NEEDS OF BRAIN TUMOR COMMUNITY AND EXPANDING SUPPORT ACCESS |
| AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BRAIN TUMOR FUNDERS' COLLABORATIVE (BTFC), SEEKS TO ADVANCE LIQUID BIOPSY TECHNOLOGY FOR DIAGNOSING AND MONITORING PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS. |
| PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION | EDINA, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | ALL-STAR FUND PROGRAM - ALLEVIATES FINANCIAL BURDENS |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BRAIN CANCER PATIENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT A GROUNDBREAKING PROJECT EXPLORING THE USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED NATURAL KILLER CELLS (NKCS), SPECIFICALLY THE FT536 LINE, AS AN INNOVATIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR RECURRENT WHO GRADE 4 ASTROCYTOMA/GLIOBLASTOMA (G4A/GBM). |
| MAYO CLINICS | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM/NEURO-ONCOLOGY DISEASE TEAM, IS SEEKING TO ADVANCE NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING (NGS) FOR BRAIN TUMOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. CLINICAL PILOT. |
| CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION | EDINA, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $220,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANTS |
| CHILDREN'S MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $175,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANTS |
| MAYO CLINICS | ROCHESTER, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANTS |
| AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANTS |
| PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION | EDINA, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | QUALITY OF LIFE GRANTS |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | QUALITY OF LIFE GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $170,000 | 2024 | $150K RESEARCH GRANT/$20K ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
| AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MAYO CLINICS | ROCHESTER, MN | $150,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION | EDINA, MN | $20,000 | 2024 | ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
| GILDA'S CLUB TWIN CITIES INC | WAYZATA, MN | $20,000 | 2024 | ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $20,000 | 2024 | ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $167,000 | 2023 | $150K RESEARCH GRANT/$17K ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
| AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| MAYO CLINICS | ROCHESTER, MN | $100,000 | 2023 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $17,000 | 2023 | ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
| PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION | EDINA, MN | $17,000 | 2023 | ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS |
GILDA'S CLUB MINNESOTA
$200,000POWER IN COMMUNITY - ASSESSING SPECIFIC NEEDS OF BRAIN TUMOR COMMUNITY AND EXPANDING SUPPORT ACCESS
AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION
$100,000IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BRAIN TUMOR FUNDERS' COLLABORATIVE (BTFC), SEEKS TO ADVANCE LIQUID BIOPSY TECHNOLOGY FOR DIAGNOSING AND MONITORING PRIMARY BRAIN TUMORS.
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BRAIN CANCER PATIENTS
SUPPORT A GROUNDBREAKING PROJECT EXPLORING THE USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED NATURAL KILLER CELLS (NKCS), SPECIFICALLY THE FT536 LINE, AS AN INNOVATIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR RECURRENT WHO GRADE 4 ASTROCYTOMA/GLIOBLASTOMA (G4A/GBM).
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM/NEURO-ONCOLOGY DISEASE TEAM, IS SEEKING TO ADVANCE NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING (NGS) FOR BRAIN TUMOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. CLINICAL PILOT.
$150K RESEARCH GRANT/$20K ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS
GILDA'S CLUB TWIN CITIES INC
$20,000ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS
$150K RESEARCH GRANT/$17K ASSIST THOSE DEALING WITH BRAIN TUMORS
