Breast Cancer Now

Charity Number: 1160558

Annual Expenditure: £56.3M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, United States

Contact Info

Website: www.breastcancernow.org

Phone: 3332070300

Email: hello@breastcancernow.org

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £299+ million invested to date
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks minimum (notification within 12 weeks if unsuccessful)
  • Grant Range: Up to £170,000 (PhD) - £400,000+ (Project grants)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and Republic of Ireland

Contact Details

  • Website: www.breastcancernow.org
  • Email: hello@breastcancernow.org
  • Phone: 3332070300
  • Research Team Contact: Contact early for projects over £400,000 or longer than 4 years

Overview

Breast Cancer Now (founded through merger, charity number 1160558) is the UK's largest breast cancer charity, having invested more than £299 million in research to date. Led by new CEO Claire Rowney (appointed 2024), the charity operates under a bold vision that by 2050 everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live and be supported to live well. Their “Turning the Tide” strategy to 2025 focuses on accelerating progress towards fewer cases, fewer deaths and better quality of life. As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, they follow best practice guidelines for peer review and award grants based on scientific value aligned with their strategic objectives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • PhD Studentships: Up to £170,000 (including £2,500 conference costs) - 3-4 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 8 years
  • Project Grants: Varies, will consider £400,000+ applications - typically 3-4 years duration
  • Application Method: Online Grant Tracker system, single funding round annually

Priority Areas

  • Prevention and early diagnosis research
  • Better treatments development
  • Improving quality of life for patients
  • Secondary/metastatic breast cancer research (priority focus)
  • Kinder, smarter treatments
  • Reducing health inequities
  • Physical and mental health support research

What They Don't Fund

  • Overhead/indirect costs (direct costs only policy)
  • Administrative expenses beyond essential research costs
  • Research outside UK and Republic of Ireland (though international collaborators permitted)

Governance and Leadership

CEO: Claire Rowney (appointed 2024) - former Cancer Research UK director with 13 years experience, voted Campaign Magazine 'Power 100' 2023.

Chair of Trustees: Jill Thompson

Claire Rowney states: “Breast cancer is so far from a done deal. Our new report exposes the growing scale of the problem, and the human and economic prices being paid - with far too many lives tragically being lost to this devastating disease.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Online Grant Tracker system
  • Single annual funding round
  • Contact research team early for larger projects (£400,000+) or longer duration (4+ years)
  • Committee reviews applications in November

Decision Timeline

  • Unsuccessful applications notified within 12 weeks of deadline with committee feedback
  • Final decisions communicated via email following committee review
  • Grants Committee meeting occurs annually

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available - recommend contacting research team

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment Essential: Research must align with their 2050 vision and current strategic priorities, particularly secondary breast cancer which they identify as an area where patients feel “forgotten” and “invisible.”

Patient Voice Integration: Following their Priority Setting Partnership with Association of Breast Surgery, they ask researchers to consider how projects address the top 10 research priority questions identified by patients, carers and healthcare professionals.

Research Excellence: As AMRC members, they emphasize scientific excellence and innovative approaches. Applications undergo rigorous peer review by committee members with relevant expertise.

Collaboration Welcomed: International collaborators permitted though principal investigators must be UK/Ireland-based.

Early Engagement: Their guidance consistently emphasizes early contact with research team for discussion of project suitability and larger funding requests.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on secondary breast cancer research - this is explicitly identified as a priority area where patients feel underserved
  • Align with patient-identified priorities - reference the top 10 research questions from their Priority Setting Partnership
  • Contact research team early - especially for projects over £400,000 or longer than 4 years
  • Emphasize innovation and excellence - they seek “game-changing differences” and scientific excellence
  • Consider their 2050 vision - frame research in context of their goal that everyone with breast cancer will live and live well
  • Direct costs only - budget accordingly as they don't fund overhead/indirect costs
  • Single annual opportunity - plan for November committee review cycle

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References