About Oliver & Jennie Donaldson Char
The Donaldson Foundation concentrates its giving on high-impact cancer research, backing top-tier national research institutions and programs that advance both basic science and clinical/pediatric oncology. Grants are large and targeted — often designated to specific research projects or recruitment/campaign efforts — and the foundation repeatedly funds a small set of flagship organizations. Its portfolio reflects a clear preference for funding scientific excellence and capacity-building at leading cancer centers.
Focus Areas
Basic cancer biology research (e.g., tumor fibroblast studies at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)Pediatric cancer research and treatment (e.g., St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)Talent recruitment and capacity-building at major cancer centers (e.g., Dana‑Farber’s recruitment/'The Promise' initiative)Major national research institutions and specialist labs
Who They Fund
cancer patients and survivorsbiomedical researchers and clinical teamsK–12 and higher education students (including scholarships)
About Oliver & Jennie Donaldson Char
Oliver & Jennie Donaldson Char gives at a scale that supports large, targeted awards, with recent grants reaching $363,179 to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for cancer immunotherapy and $349,306 to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for recruitment for The Promise. The foundation’s recent record points to a narrow but deep focus on cancer research and oncology capacity-building, especially at major national research institutions. Repeated support for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital shows a preference for organizations already operating at the center of basic science, translational work, and pediatric cancer care. The grants are often tied to a named project or initiative rather than broad institutional support. Examples include research on tumor fibroblasts, cancer immunotherapy, and recruitment for The Promise, alongside direct backing for pediatric cancer research at St. Jude. The foundation also appears to support cancer-related work beyond a single lab or hospital, including projects connected to biomarker research and survivorship. Its portfolio is shaped by a small set of recurring recipients and substantial awards aimed at specific scientific or clinical goals.
What Oliver & Jennie Donaldson Char Funds
Cancer research is the core theme. The foundation gave $296,671 to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for cancer fibroblast research, and another $202,921 to the same institution for Donaldson translational work. It also supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with $119,817 for cancer research and $103,076 for cancer research in a later year. Clinical and translational oncology also appear in the portfolio. The Medical University of South Carolina Foundation received $150,000 for CAR-T-cell therapy and $150,000 for biomarkers of health, while the same institution was also funded for survivorship and cancer work. Early detection is another clear thread: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Inc. received $75,000 for early detection. The foundation’s grantmaking extends to hospital and facility support in cancer-adjacent settings as well, including Putnam Hospital Center’s da Vinci XI upgrade project and Western Health Connect’s Petaluma Valley Hospital support.
How Oliver & Jennie Donaldson Char Gives
Typical grant size centers on a middle range of $20,000, with a lower quartile of $10,000 and an upper quartile of $50,000. That distribution sits alongside much larger project grants, showing a mix of standard support and larger commitments for named initiatives. The recipient list also shows repeat funding across years: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and The Medical University of South Carolina Foundation all appear more than once. The funder is a regular foundation, not a DAF, and it accepts unsolicited requests through semi-annual general grantmaking with a Trustee sponsor required for each request.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.8M
Total Assets
$35.8M
Total Revenue
$4.3M
Total Expenses
$2.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
National13 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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