PLATINUM2025

The Hope Foundation

Supporting SWOG

aka The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research   |   Ann Arbor, MI   |  http://www.thehopefoundation.org

Mission

The Hope Foundation partners with SWOG Cancer Research Network to provide over $7.5 million each year in support of oncology research in lung, breast, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary cancers, as well as melanoma, myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and rare diseases. We fund critical, need-based research grants, fellowships, training events, physician education, and patient advocacy.

Ruling year info

1993

Principal Officer

Johanna Horn

Main address

24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr Ste 3600a PO Box 483

Ann Arbor, MI 48105-9484 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

SWOG Foundation

EIN

74-2655302

NTEE code info

Cancer Research (H30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2023, 2022 and 2021.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research focuses on supporting innovative and impactful clinical trials. We believe that research and trials, in particular, are the key to understanding more about complex cancers; understanding leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to cures, cures lead to saving patient's lives. We also know that treatments can be complicated and wrought with life-long side effects, so we are committed to supporting survivorship, quality of life and patient reported outcomes studies.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Young Investigators Training Course

Outstanding new investigators are provided one on one mentorship.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Research support (protected time) for new clinical research investigators

Population(s) Served
Adults

Research support to expediently activate SWOG trials

Population(s) Served
Adults

Face to Face scientific meetings and working groups for SWOG.

Population(s) Served
Adults

$1,000,000 awarded annually for the highest caliber translational science that will significantly impact the way we treat cancer in the clinic.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Full support of SWOG (one of the NCI's largest Cancer Cooperative Groups) administration and operations.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Funding supports the integration and input of patients into the research design and trial process.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

  • Seattle (Washington, United States)

  • South America

  • United States

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

SWOG

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

COVID19 Pandemic impacted our programs in 2020 and 2021

Total number of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

SWOG

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Hope's funding supports the full continuum of SWOG Cancer Research Network's research efforts-- including early education to mid-career fellowships, science at the bench to science at the bedside.

Total dollar amount of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Funding for 2020-2021 is reduced due to the pause of research during the COVID19 pandemic. Hope's funding supports the full continuum of SWOG Cancer Research Network's research efforts

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The goal of The Hope Foundation is to support real progress in cancer treatments and prevention as led by SWOG. This is achieved through direct trial support of innovative treatment and prevention clinical trials, competitive research grants programs, Fellowships and training for new investigators, and ACCME-accredited educational programs for oncologists.

Each year, we measure our success through a Board-driven review of program metrics, including study successes or challenges, participant and community surveys, progress and publication on grants awarded, and funding percentage in relation to administrative costs. We strive to keep fundraising costs low (less than 3%), and overhead at less than 9%.

The Foundation employs a number of strategies to ensure we meet our goals:
- Our active Board of Directors is comprised of SWOG and community leaders, ensuring programming meets the unified goals of researchers and patients.
-We work directly with SWOG leadership to determine how to efficiently raise money and disburse grants with the most impact.
- We support grantees with educational opportunities, and expect them to be actively involved with the future of SWOG.
-We understand that though the field of cancer research has accelerated greatly, there is so much more to do. Active support and funding for Young Investigator's is one of our key initiatives.
-We believe that basic science will unlock new cures, and invest in bringing these findings directly into clinical practice.
- We maintain a small staff at our main office, and do not indulge in fancy gimmicks or marketing.

The Hope Foundation is lead by an engaged Board of Directors who are international leaders in cancer research, patient advocacy, fundraising, and law. SWOG has been supported by the National Cancer Institute since 1956, and by Hope since 1993.

The Hope Foundation and SWOG understand that there is so much more to be done for our patients, but also know that cancer research is expensive and sometimes a financial risk. We have been very successful in funding programs that lead to a change in the practice of cancer treatment or prevention, but we have also funded programs that have not progressed as quickly as we would expect.

SWOG runs approximately 100 clinical trials at any given time. Hope strives to support any worthy trial that requires supplemental or sole source funding. Since we began, we have awarded over $30 to SWOG, including 95 Young Investigators since 2000, 18 Coltman Fellowships since 2009, and 25 SWOG Impact Awards since 2011.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, 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 engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, 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.),

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback

Financials

The Hope Foundation
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

The Hope Foundation

Board of directors
as of 5/20/2025
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Cathy Tangen

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Cathy Tangen DIRECTOR

Charles Blanke

SWOG Chair, OHSU

Charles Blanke SWOG CHAIR

Christopher Lieu DIRECTOR

David Gibson SECRETARY

Dawn Hershman

Columbia University

Don Dizon

Lifespan Cancer Institute

Don S Dizon VICE CHAIR

Johanna Horn

Johanna Horn Msw PRESIDENT & CEO

Joseph Unger DIRECTOR

Lajos Pusztai Md Dph DIRECTOR

Lee Ellis

SWOG Vice Chair of TM. MD Anderson

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor DIRECTOR

Mariana Chavez MacGregor

MD Anderson

Marita Wein

Community Leader

Marita Wein TREASURER

Marti K S Heil DIRECTOR

MD PhD Christopher Lieu

Colorado

Nathan Eriksen

SWOG CAO

Nathan Eriksen DIRECTOR

Norah Lynn Henry DIRECTOR

Priyanka Sharma

Kansas

Raymond Osarogiagbon CHAIR

Sarah Goldberg DIRECTOR

Sumanta Pal DIRECTOR

Susan O'Brien

UCalifornia

Syed Ahmad DIRECTOR

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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? no

Organizational demographics

info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability