About University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation
A not-for-profit organization founded to support basic and clinical research programs related to the treatment and prevention of cancer at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center; to enhance cancer care, develop more effective and safer therapies, and promote prevention and screening research through fundraising.
Focus Areas
Cancer researchClinical trialsCancer preventionCancer screeningSupport for junior faculty and early-career scientists
Who They Fund
people with cancer (patients)clinical trial participantsjunior/early-career cancer investigatorsUniversity of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (institutional programs)
Funding Style
targeted/institutional support
About University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation
The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation centers its giving on cancer research at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, with a clear emphasis on prevention, screening, and the development of safer, more effective therapies. Its recent grant history shows a concentrated institutional pattern: $2,539,475 in 2024 and $1,360,261 in 2023, both to the University of Chicago in Chicago for cancer research. That pairing aligns with the foundation’s stated purpose of supporting basic and clinical research programs tied to treatment and prevention. The foundation also uses its grantmaking to strengthen research capacity within the cancer center, including support for junior faculty and early-career scientists. Beyond core research funding, its program descriptions point to clinical trials, patient care improvement, and supportive oncology as part of the institutional ecosystem it helps sustain. The annual Simon M. Shubitz Cancer Prize and Lectureship adds a recognition component by bringing an internationally respected scientist to the University of Chicago, linking research support with scientific exchange and visibility.
What University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Funds
Cancer research is the foundation’s main giving area, and the largest recent grant went to the University of Chicago for CANCER RESEARCH. That support sits alongside a broader institutional mission to advance basic and clinical research programs at the Comprehensive Cancer Center. A separate program, Auxiliary Board Sponsored Research / Junior Faculty Support, is designed to fund young scientists and junior faculty in the early stages of their careers. The foundation also names cancer prevention and screening research as a priority, showing that its support extends beyond treatment-focused work. In addition, its stated taxonomy includes clinical/translational oncology, clinical trials, patient care improvement, and supportive oncology, indicating a research portfolio that connects laboratory work with patient-facing cancer care.
How University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Gives
Grant size is large and tightly clustered: the p25 is $1,655,064, the median is $1,949,868, and the p75 is $2,244,672. The recent record also shows a recurring recipient pattern, with the University of Chicago receiving grants in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation is an institutional supporter rather than an individual-giving funder, and it does not make program-related investments. One active program, Auxiliary Board Sponsored Research / Junior Faculty Support, accepts unsolicited requests and is directed toward research support for junior faculty and young scientists.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$444K
Total Assets
$6.1M
Total Revenue
$812K
Total Expenses
$484K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $1.7M and $2.2M, with a median of $1.9M.
25th Percentile
$1.7M
Median
$1.9M
75th Percentile
$2.2M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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