Vision: The end of breast cancer. BCRF funds world-class researchers to advance prevention, treatment and cure of breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Inc. centers its grantmaking on breast cancer research, with investigator-driven awards aimed at tumor biology, prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and metastatic breast cancer. Its active programs include BCRF Research Grants and the Evelyn H. Lauder Founders' Fund for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research, both built around scientific projects at researchers and research institutions rather than individual patients. Recent awards show support for major academic and cancer centers, including Johns Hopkins University at $12,375,064 in 2025 and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at $3,634,991 in 2024. The foundation also backed Dana Farber Cancer Institute with several awards across 2023–2025, alongside grants to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and the University of California San Francisco. The pattern is project-specific research funding tied to clinical and biomedical questions across the breast cancer field, with an emphasis on translating science into better outcomes.
In breast cancer research, the foundation gave $12,375,064 to Johns Hopkins University for medical research in 2025 and $3,680,596 to Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the same purpose in 2024. It also supported Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with $3,634,991 in 2024, again tagged for medical research. Those awards point to a portfolio anchored in large research institutions. Its topic list includes prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship. The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill received $2,324,720 in 2025 and $2,099,697 in 2024 for medical research, while the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine received $2,078,523 in 2025 and $1,963,051 in 2024. The foundation also funded the University of Michigan at $1,636,188 in 2025, keeping the work centered on research institutions engaged in breast cancer science.
Typical awards are large: the grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $225,000, a median of $449,940, and a p75 of $696,063. The recent-grants list also shows repeated awards to the same institutions across multiple years, including Johns Hopkins University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. The foundation is a regular funder with project-specific research grantmaking, not a fund for individuals. Publicly listed programs describe competitive research grant programs for researchers and research institutions, and the available program pages indicate that unsolicited applications are not accepted.
$59.8M
$199.1M
$117.4M
$89.1M
Most grants fall between $225K and $696K, with a median of $450K.
25th Percentile
$225K
Median
$450K
75th Percentile
$696K
About 16% of grants go to recipients in NY.
DONNA MCKAY
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Grantmaking is national, with every recent grant in the United States. New York is the top state by grant count, and 16% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recipient cities appearing repeatedly include Baltimore, Boston, New York, Chapel Hill, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco. Additional grants in the recent list go to Ann Arbor, Houston, Alexandria, New Haven, and Baltimore, showing a broad spread across major research hubs.
It funds breast cancer research across tumor biology, prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and metastatic breast cancer. The active program descriptions also say it supports improving outcomes and prevention and cure through grants to researchers and research institutions.
The active program information indicates no for unsolicited applications. Both BCRF Research Grants and the Evelyn H. Lauder Founders' Fund for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research are described without a public open-call application process.
The recipients in the recent grants list are research institutions and university-based medical centers, such as Johns Hopkins University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The beneficiary types are listed as medical researchers, research institutions, and patient populations indirectly.
The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $225,000, a median of $449,940, and a p75 of $696,063. Recent awards also include multi-million-dollar grants, such as $12,375,064 to Johns Hopkins University in 2025.
The giving is national, with 100% of the recipient-country distribution in the United States. New York is the top state by grant count, and 16% of grants go to recipients in New York.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $12,375,064 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $3,405,703 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $3,175,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $2,324,720 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PERELMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,078,523 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CONQUER CANCER FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINCIAL ONCOLOGY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $2,061,187 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,881,744 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH CANCER INSTITUTE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $1,828,840 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $1,636,188 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY - WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,142,886 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $1,125,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,124,780 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $1,124,778 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $1,025,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $974,993 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $919,751 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $899,988 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $775,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $775,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $700,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $690,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $690,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER | KANSAS CITY, KS | $675,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | BRONX, NY | $675,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MAYO CLINIC CANCER CENTER | ROCHESTER, MS | $675,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| ALLIANCE FOUNDATIONFOR CINICAL TRIALS IN ONCOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $627,040 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $567,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY | COLD SPRING, NY | $475,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $475,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $475,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $474,994 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | CORAL GABLES, FL | $474,700 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| TRUSTEES FOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $474,424 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $467,021 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | INDIANNAPOLIS, IN | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | AURORA, CO | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $450,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY | PORTLAND, OR | $449,911 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $449,907 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR SHAARE ZEDEK HOSPITAL IN JERUSALEM | NEW YORK, NY | $449,900 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| H LEE MOFFIT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION INC | TAMPA, FL | $249,995 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | ATLANTA, GA | $242,162 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $225,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $225,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH INC | HACKENSACK, NJ | $225,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$12,375,064MEDICAL RESEARCH
DANA FARBER CANCER INSITUTE
$3,405,703MEDICAL RESEARCH
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$3,175,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
$2,324,720MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PERELMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$2,078,523MEDICAL RESEARCH
CONQUER CANCER FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINCIAL ONCOLOGY
$2,061,187MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION
$1,881,744MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH CANCER INSTITUTE
$1,828,840MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$1,636,188MEDICAL RESEARCH
CORNELL UNIVERSITY - WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE
$1,142,886MEDICAL RESEARCH
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$1,125,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
$1,124,780MEDICAL RESEARCH
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$1,124,778MEDICAL RESEARCH
ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
$1,025,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$974,993MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
$919,751MEDICAL RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$899,988MEDICAL RESEARCH
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
$775,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
$775,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$700,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$690,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
$690,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
$675,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
$675,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
MAYO CLINIC CANCER CENTER
$675,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
ALLIANCE FOUNDATIONFOR CINICAL TRIALS IN ONCOLOGY
$627,040MEDICAL RESEARCH
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
$567,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
$475,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
$475,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
$475,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$474,994MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
$474,700MEDICAL RESEARCH
TRUSTEES FOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$474,424MEDICAL RESEARCH
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$467,021MEDICAL RESEARCH
INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
$450,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
$449,911MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$449,907MEDICAL RESEARCH
AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR SHAARE ZEDEK HOSPITAL IN JERUSALEM
$449,900MEDICAL RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$250,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
H LEE MOFFIT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOUNDATION INC
$249,995MEDICAL RESEARCH
MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$242,162MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
$225,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
WHITEHEAD INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
$225,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH INC
$225,000MEDICAL RESEARCH