Childrens Cancer Research Fund
Your donation supports the innovative and promising research that will one day cure childhood cancer
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Every week, 38 kids pass away from cancer. We want to stop this, so we support the brightest and boldest minds whose groundbreaking research is leading to better treatments and cures. We also fund vital family support services and advocate for childhood cancer education and awareness. Funding for childhood cancer research pales in comparison to funds available for research into adult cancers. In childhood cancer, the road to new, better treatment options always starts with philanthropic support.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Childhood cancer awareness and education
Children's Cancer Research Fund is regarded as both a go-to resource for information on childhood cancer and a source for inspiration to those touched by childhood cancer. Through various education initiatives, the organization has reached more than 60 million people worldwide.
Our funding helps train to the next generation of pediatric cancer researchers and physicians around the country.
Camp Norden and addt'l family and patient programs
Camp Norden was created for kids who have been affected by cancer to build lifelong friendships and experience adventure through a safe and fun camp experience either in-person or virtually.
Camp Norden is fully funded by Children’s Cancer Research Fund, meaning there is no cost to families who want to send their child to camp. Your gift keeps Camp Norden free for families of children affected by cancer. At Children's Cancer Research Fund, we work to amplify the stories of families experiencing childhood cancer. We understand that childhood cancer is a whole-family diagnosis. We are dedicated to funding resources and experiences that help kids and families as they navigate the difficult experience of cancer treatment and survivorship. Some of these programs include our C.C. Bear program and the Big Dreams Tour.
Childhood Cancer Research Granting Program
We work closely with doctors and scientists to fund innovative research that has led to better treatments for kids battling cancer. We remove the roadblocks that stand in the way of research breakthroughs, by providing seed funding and filling gaps for promising research that doesn't yet qualify for federal funding. And we have a track record of success from new drug trials for children with brain tumors and osteosarcoma to improvements in blood and marrow transplantation.
We focus our research funding on four key areas that will drive the most impact: hard-to-treat pediatric cancers, eliminating disparities, improving survivorship, leveraging data, and supporting emerging scientists. Since 1981, we've provided over $100 million in research grants to 31 childhood cancer research institutions around the country.
In 2022, we awarded over $5 million in research and program grants designed to fund the best, most innovative research to advance toward breakthrough treatments.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Families, People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Childhood Cancer Research Granting Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This metric is for the number grants awarded. The total awarded in 2019 was for just 6 months.
Number of industry standards/practices developed by nonprofit
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Annual standards we practice along with our Board of Directors to ensure a healthy, equitable, transparent and secure organization.
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Childhood Cancer Research Granting Program
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We believe a world without childhood cancer is possible.
That's why we support bright scientists whose ideas make a great impact for children with cancer. We work closely with researchers to fund innovative projects quickly so that promising new discoveries can continue uninterrupted.
We give seed grants for innovative research projects that hold great promise but don’t yet qualify for federal or larger funding. Without this support, many brilliant ideas wouldn’t move forward.
Fewer doctors are choosing a career in hematology/oncology, so we’re helping attract and train researchers by funding emerging scientists and fellowships that build experience and expertise. For nearly 40 years, we’ve funded over 90 fellows who are working around the world to create safer, more effective treatments for kids.
Because cancer affects the whole family, we also fund quality of life services that enhance healing and care, and we educate the world about the need for research.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We launch new ideas and fill funding gaps, helping turn clinical trials into standard treatments. We give seed grants for innovative research projects that hold great promise but don't yet qualify for federal or larger funding. Without this, many brilliant ideas wouldn't move forward. Clinical trials test novel treatments that lead to new and improved therapies for kids with cancer everywhere.
Many childhood cancer survivors suffer from late effects of cancer treatment including infertility, hearing loss, brain damage, vision loss, heart problems & more. We fund research that works to understand these effects and care for children beyond their diagnosis and treatment.
Raising awareness and providing education about childhood cancer is also a key part of our mission. We have the honor of sharing the stories of children, families and researchers throughout the country to inspire advocacy, collaboration and cures. We also foster collaboration by supporting conferences and lectureships.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 1981, we've provided more than $220 million for childhood cancer research, education and patient and family services.
We collaborate with leading researchers who stay keenly attuned to the ever-changing landscape of cancer research. The research we fund is shared with more than 9,000 experts around the globe, helping accelerate promising discoveries.
For every dollar that we grant, researchers are able to leverage the funding and secure an additional $18 in federal or other grants.
Were committed to sharing transparent and complete financial information with our donors and the community.
In fiscal year January 1 to December 31, 2022, 81 percent of donations went toward our mission for research, education & awareness and quality-of-life programs for childhood cancer patients.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Thanks in part to our funding, research has helped improve childhood cancer survival rates from dismal to hopeful in the last 35 years. We're very proud of the impact we've made on improving outcomes for childhood cancer patients.
In 2022, we awarded over $5 million for innovative childhood cancer research at leading institutions across the country, and also supported patient and family programs.
Today's treatments for kids are less than perfect. While Children's Cancer Research Fund has helped increase survival rates to 80 percent, many of these young survivors face life with hearing loss, heart damage, cognitive delays, infertility and other late effects.
As federal funding shrinks, philanthropic support from donors and organizations like Children's Cancer Research Fund makes all the difference.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Childrens Cancer Research Fund
Board of directorsas of 11/29/2023
John Golden
Crux Collaborative
Term: 2023 - 2024
Ingrid Culp
Fredrikson & Byron
Peter F. Durow
Delta Air Lines
Susan Doherty
The Doherty Group
John Golden
Crux Collaborative
Megan Harris
Bremer Financial Services
Dan Seeman
Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.
Greg Soukup
Warrior Mfg., LLC
Barb Farrell
Community Volunteer
Michelle Johnson
Northland Securites
Dawn Lamm
space150
Abbie Miller, MD
PreferredOne
Matt Hedman
UnitedHealth Group
Adam Choe
Tundra Ventures
Beth Monsrud
UCare
Chris Toppin
Deloitte & Touche
Chris Zupfer
Hill-Murray Foundation
Charlie Manzoni
Community Volunteer
Jen Wilson
Thrivent Mutual Funds
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/01/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.