The Illinois CancerCare Foundation is committed to funding research, education and awareness to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and to support nationally recognized clinical cancer research initiatives so patients have access to the best treatments close to home.
Focus Areas
Cancer research (clinical trials)Patient support and assistancePatient care (lymphedema support, transportation assistance)Genetic screening and counselingTargeted therapies / tumor sequencingCancer education and community awareness
Who They Fund
people with cancer / oncology patientsoncology researchers and research teamscaregivers and family members of cancer patientsfinancially vulnerable cancer patients
About Illinois Cancercare Foundation
Illinois Cancercare Foundation’s recent giving shows a clear pattern: large annual grants to Illnois Cancercare Pc for oncology research and patient assistance. The foundation’s filings show three consecutive awards of $500,000, $400,000, and $282,858, all tied to that same purpose. That concentration aligns with its stated commitment to fund research, education, and awareness that improve the quality of life for cancer patients while supporting nationally recognized clinical cancer research initiatives.
Beyond the headline support to its affiliated cancer care organization, the foundation backs a mix of clinical research and patient-facing services. Its grant programs include support for NCI Community Oncology Research Program activity, patient navigators, research equipment, transportation assistance, lymphedema supplies, genetic screening, targeted therapy sequencing assistance, and pancreatic screening. It also funds direct patient support through holiday assistance for patients and families. The overall picture is of a funder that pairs research infrastructure with practical help for people undergoing cancer treatment.
What Illinois Cancercare Foundation Funds
In clinical research, Illinois Cancercare Foundation funds the infrastructure that keeps trials running locally. Its program for Clinical Research / Research Treatment Trials Support covers shortfall funding for NCI Community Oncology Research Program activities, along with patient navigators, specialized equipment, and support tied to clinical trials. It also backs Clinical Research / NCORP Shortfall Grants for operating costs connected to trial activity.
Patient support is another major theme. Through Patient Care & Assistance Grants, the foundation supports transportation and lymphedema supplies, and its Targeted Assistance Grants include fuel cards for financially disadvantaged patients.
The foundation also funds genetics and early detection work. Under Patient Support & Assistance Grants, it supports hereditary cancer screening initiatives, tumor molecular sequencing assistance, targeted therapy studies, and a pancreatic screening program. Education and Awareness Grants extend that work into cancer screening, genetic testing awareness, and community education.
How Illinois Cancercare Foundation Gives
The foundation’s typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $312,144, the median is $341,429, and the 75th percentile is $370,714. Recent awards also show a much larger top end, including a $500,000 grant in 2025. The pattern suggests project-based support rather than many small awards.
Recipients appear repeatedly across years, with the same Peoria-based cancer care recipient showing up in the top three recent grants for 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation funds through named grant programs and also operates direct support programs such as Trust in Hope. Its active programs all accept unsolicited requests.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$500K
Total Assets
$3.2M
Total Revenue
$1.1M
Total Expenses
$1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $312K and $371K, with a median of $341K.
25th Percentile
$312K
Median
$341K
75th Percentile
$371K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
GREGORY GERSTNER MD
Deep Analysis
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disease-specific research fundingdirect patient assistance / service fundingproject-based / grant-funded support
Topics
oncology research (basic and clinical)financial assistance for cancer treatmentpatient support services (e.g., navigation, transportation, lodging)support for clinical trials participation
Where Illinois Cancercare Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is highly local and stays within Illinois: 100% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state, and Illinois is also the top state by grant count. The recent grants list centers on Peoria, with repeated awards to a Peoria recipient. Active programs point to Central Illinois and the Greater Peoria area, while some patient-support work extends to Western Illinois. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 3 grants in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Cancercare Foundation
What does Illinois Cancercare Foundation focus on funding?
The foundation supports cancer research, patient care, patient support, education, and awareness. Its active programs include clinical research and treatment trial support, transportation assistance, lymphedema supplies, genetic screening, targeted therapy sequencing assistance, pancreatic screening, and holiday patient support.
How large are its typical grants?
Typical grants are sizable. The 25th percentile is $312,144, the median is $341,429, and the 75th percentile is $370,714. The recent grant list also includes a $500,000 award, showing that some grants are larger than the median.
Does the foundation fund work outside Illinois?
Its giving is local, and 100% of grants went to recipients in Illinois. The program geography also points to Illinois, Central Illinois, the Greater Peoria area, and in some cases Western Illinois.
Does it support clinical trials and research infrastructure?
Yes. One active program funds clinical research and treatment trials, including shortfall funding for NCI Community Oncology Research Program activities, patient navigators, specialized equipment, and patient support related to clinical trials. Another program provides shortfall grants for clinical research operating costs.
Can organizations submit unsolicited requests?
Yes. The active programs listed all accept unsolicited requests, including clinical research support, patient care and assistance grants, targeted assistance grants, education and awareness grants, and patient support grants.
Current and upcoming funding from Illinois Cancercare Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Dec 15, 2026
Trust In Hope Fund Grants
Patient supportHoliday mealsComfort items+1 more
Who can apply: Projects must directly support the Foundation's priorities and serve the Foundation's general service area. Support is limited to general cancer-care-related items made generally available to patients, not individual patient financial assistance. Religious, political, fraternal, sectarian, discriminatory, out-of-area, endowment, annual-fund, event, and advertising requests are excluded.
Deadline: Completed grant requests are due by the 15th of the month preceding Board meetings in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Urgent requests may be submitted outside the regular timeline.
Patient supportVolunteer servicesComfort items+1 more
Who can apply: Projects must further the Foundation's priorities, serve cancer patients in the Foundation's general service area, leverage resources where possible, and produce measurable, cost-effective results. Assistance must be generally available to patients and cannot be individual patient financial assistance.
Deadline: Completed grant requests are due by the 15th of the month preceding Board meetings in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Cancer educationCommunity outreachEarly cancer detection+2 more
Who can apply: Projects must be directly related to the Foundation's priorities, serve the general service area, leverage other resources where possible, and produce measurable, cost-effective results. Religious, political, fraternal, sectarian, discriminatory, out-of-area, endowment, annual-fund, event, and advertising requests are not eligible.
Deadline: Completed grant requests are due by the 15th of the month preceding Board meetings in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Urgent requests may be submitted outside the regular timeline.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Recent Grants
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
Recipient
Location
Amount
Year
Purpose
ILLNOIS CANCERCARE PC
PEORIA, IL
$500,000
2025
GRANTS FOR ONCOLOGY RESEARCH & PATIENT ASSISTANCE.
ILLNOIS CANCERCARE PC
PEORIA, IL
$400,000
2024
GRANTS FOR ONCOLOGY RESEARCH & PATIENT ASSISTANCE.
ILLNOIS CANCERCARE PC
PEORIA, IL
$282,858
2023
GRANTS FOR ONCOLOGY RESEARCH & PATIENT ASSISTANCE.
ILLNOIS CANCERCARE PC
$500,000
PEORIA, IL2025
GRANTS FOR ONCOLOGY RESEARCH & PATIENT ASSISTANCE.
ILLNOIS CANCERCARE PC
$400,000
PEORIA, IL2024
GRANTS FOR ONCOLOGY RESEARCH & PATIENT ASSISTANCE.
ILLNOIS CANCERCARE PC
$282,858
PEORIA, IL2023
GRANTS FOR ONCOLOGY RESEARCH & PATIENT ASSISTANCE.
