About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Since 1947, Dana-Farber's sole focus has been to provide expert cancer care and groundbreaking treatments for adult and pediatric patients.
Focus Areas
Cancer careCancer researchClinical trialsPatient support servicesGlobal healthCommunity healthFundraising (Jimmy Fund)
Who They Fund
people affected by cancer (patients, survivors)local communitiescommunity-based organizations
Funding Style
research fundingdirect service / community grantmaking
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc has paired cancer research with community support through large, recurring grants in Boston and Cambridge. Its biggest recent awards went to the City of Boston for Community Support, with grants of $1,651,544 in 2025, $1,611,263 in 2024, and $1,571,964 in 2023. The institute also made major research grants to Harvard University, including $1,433,691 in 2025 for Cancer Research and Development and similarly sized awards in the prior two years. That mix shows a funder that supports both scientific work and the local systems around patients and families. The grant record also includes steady support for community organizations in Greater Boston, such as Green Roots, Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA, FamilyAid Boston, and Project Bread. Those awards sit alongside grants to health and patient-focused groups like Whittier Street Health Center and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc. The pattern fits the institute’s long-running focus on cancer care, research, clinical trials, patient support services, and community health.
What Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Funds
In cancer research and development, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc gave $1,433,691 in 2025 to Harvard University for Cancer Research and Development, following similarly sized grants in 2024 and 2023. That is one of the clearest signals that research support is a recurring part of its grantmaking. For community support, the institute awarded $200,000 to Green Roots in 2024 for Community Support and another $200,000 to Alternative for Community and Environment with MPHA in 2024 for the same purpose. It also funded FamilyAid Boston, Project Bread, and Whittier Street Health Center, showing attention to food access, housing-related support, and community health. The portfolio also includes grants tied to neighborhood organizations such as Sociedad Latina Inc, Enhance Asian Community on Health, Brookview House Inc, and Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion Inc, all in Massachusetts. These awards suggest a local emphasis on community health and support services.
How Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Gives
Grant sizes cluster at a few common levels: p25 is $10,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $50,000. That sits alongside a small number of much larger awards to major institutional partners. The recent record shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including the City of Boston, Harvard University, Green Roots, and Project Bread, which points to recurring support rather than one-off grants. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc is a Pure DAF Provider, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. The record also shows thematic and restricted support tied to specific purposes.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.2M
Total Assets
$5.3B
Total Revenue
$3.5B
Total Expenses
$3.4B
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
Regional9 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Laurie H Glimcher MD
Trustee, President & CEO
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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