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St. Baldrick's Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.6M
Decision Time
5mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.8 million (2023)
  • Total Revenue: $26.7 million (FY 2024)
  • Cumulative Funding: Over $369 million since 2005
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months from LOI to award notification
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $575,000 (total award value)
  • Geographic Focus: United States (98%) and international
  • Application Method: Fixed cycles (Spring and Fall) via ProposalCentral

Contact Details

Website: https://www.stbaldricks.org/for-researchers
Email: Grants@StBaldricks.org
Phone: (626) 792-8247
Address: 1333 South Mayflower Ave., Suite 400, Monrovia, CA 91016

Overview

Founded in 2000 as a challenge between friends, St. Baldrick's Foundation has grown into the world's largest volunteer-powered, donor-centered fundraising program for childhood cancer research and the largest charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants, second only to the U.S. government. Since becoming an independent foundation in 2005, St. Baldrick's has awarded over $369 million to support lifesaving research at over 379 institutions in the U.S. and beyond. In 2023, the Foundation distributed $13.8 million across 57 awards. The Foundation earned National Cancer Institute Peer Review Funder designation, recognizing its rigorous scientific review process. St. Baldrick's strategic approach emphasizes translational research, safer treatments, and funding promising early-career scientists to ensure sustained progress in pediatric oncology. The Foundation is committed to resource sharing and collaboration to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes for children, teens, and young adults fighting cancer.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Spring Cycle Grants (begin July 1):

  • Scholar (Career Development) Award: $110,000/year for 3 years (potential extension to 5 years at $115,000/year for years 4-5) - Total: $330,000-$575,000
  • Research Grants: $100,000/year for 2 years - Total: $200,000
  • International Scholar Award: For researchers from low- and middle-income countries

Fall Cycle Grants (begin December 1 or January 1):

  • Fellowship Awards: Up to $97,500/year for 2 years with potential 3rd year - Total: $195,000-$292,500
  • Infrastructure Grants: $25,000-$50,000 for 1 year
  • Summer Fellowship Awards: $5,000 for student summer stipends

Applications submitted online through ProposalCentral on fixed deadlines (Letters of Intent required for most programs).

Priority Areas

St. Baldrick's funds lifesaving research throughout the world, focusing on all major types of childhood cancers. Leading pediatric oncology experts work with the Foundation to determine research priorities that help kids of all ages and with all cancer types.

Key Funding Priorities:

  • Translational Research: Research with tangible impact on patients - taking laboratory discoveries and translating them into direct benefits for children with cancer
  • Safer Treatments: Cutting-edge discoveries that are safer, less toxic, and more effective than current treatment options
  • Priority Cancer Types: Brain tumors (all types, including AT/RT, DIPG/DMG, and GBM) and Burkitt lymphoma receive special consideration due to high donor interest and historically low application numbers
  • Early Career Development: Scholar awards specifically support young pediatric cancer researchers who must compete with more established researchers for funding
  • Resource Sharing: All grantees are expected to encourage and facilitate sharing of research outputs to increase access, promote collaboration, accelerate discovery, and improve reproducibility

What They Don't Fund

Research Exclusions:

  • Human embryonic stem cell research

Financial Restrictions:

  • No institutional overhead or indirect costs
  • Funds cannot be used outside established grant cycles

Scholar Award Restrictions:

  • Scholar awards must be used entirely for the Scholar's salary and fringe benefits - no other personnel or non-personnel costs allowed
  • Applicants holding or awarded R01 grants at time of LOI are ineligible
  • Applicants cannot hold NIH K-awards (institutional K12 funding is allowable)
  • No comparable or higher-value career development awards may be held

Eligibility Requirements:

  • All projects must have direct applicability and relevance to pediatric cancer

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer:
Kathleen Ruddy - Two-time shavee, DWYW participant, and Board member

Senior Leadership Team:

  • Jennifer McCabe, CPA, CGMA - Chief Financial Officer
  • Michael T. Lockard - Chief Development Officer
  • Becky Weaver - Chief Mission Officer

Board Chair:
John M. McManus - Chief Legal & Administrative Officer & Secretary of MGM Resorts International

Board of Directors:
Richard A. Bucher (President & CEO of Victaulic), Jill Cetina (Executive Professor of Finance, Texas A&M University), Andrew Edelsberg (SVP Business Development, Gallagher Re), Julia Glade Bender MD (Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering), Tim Kenny (Executive Chairman, Aran Insurance Services Group), Karen Macarah (Mother to pediatric cancer survivor), Gene McGuire (Managing Partner, Ramp Health), Brian McMullan (Owner, McMullan's Irish Pub), Shannon Rutledge (President & CEO, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa), Eric Schwebach (Senior Managing Director, Aon Reinsurance Solutions), Tom Serratore

Chairmen Emeritus:
Charles M. Chamness (President & CEO, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies), Franklin W. Nutter (President, Reinsurance Association of America)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral (www.proposalcentral.com). Create an account and carefully review grant-specific guidelines before applying.

Spring Cycle Schedule:

  • LOI Opens: October
  • LOI Deadline: Early December (5pm ET)
  • LOI Decisions: Late December
  • Full Application Deadline: February (5pm ET)
  • Award Notification: April-May
  • Award Begins: July 1

Fall Cycle Schedule:

  • LOI Opens: May
  • LOI Deadline: Early July (5pm ET)
  • LOI Decisions: August
  • Full Application Deadline: Late August/Early September (5pm ET)
  • Award Notification: October-November
  • Award Begins: December 1 or January 1

Application Requirements:

  • Most grant types require a Letter of Intent (LOI) before full application
  • LOI must be invited to proceed to full application
  • It is the applicant's responsibility to verify application is received, complete, and correct before deadline
  • All applications must be validated before submission
  • Confirmation email will be sent upon successful submission

For Resubmissions:
Applicants resubmitting are asked to address reviewer comments in the appendix.

Decision Timeline

From LOI to Decision: Approximately 4-6 months

Review Process:

  1. Each application assigned to three pediatric cancer research experts (over 200 volunteer reviewers)
  2. Reviewers independently score applications using NIH 1-9 scale
  3. Applications with three exceptional scores are recommended for funding
  4. Applications with three poor scores are declined
  5. Intermediate-scored applications discussed and ranked by committee
  6. Scientific Advisory Committee determines minimum score for each grant type
  7. Mission Committee makes funding recommendations
  8. Board of Directors makes final funding decisions

Notification Methods:

  • Email through ProposalCentral system
  • Phone call
  • Applicants are notified as soon as possible after board decision

Success Rates

Specific success rates not publicly disclosed. The Foundation uses the same rigorous review process as the National Cancer Institute, with scoring determining which grants are funded based on available funds. In 2023, 57 awards were made; in 2022, 50 awards were made.

Reapplication Policy

Resubmissions are permitted. Applicants with a resubmission are asked to address reviewer comments in the appendix. Contact Grants@StBaldricks.org for specific guidance on reapplication timing and requirements.

Application Success Factors

What Reviewers Evaluate (NIH-style criteria):

  • Significance: How concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions will be changed if the research is successful
  • Innovation: Novel approaches and creative solutions to pediatric cancer challenges
  • Quality of Science: Rigor, methodology, and feasibility of proposed research
  • Potential for Clinical Impact: Likelihood of translating findings to benefit children with cancer

Foundation Priorities in Review: The Foundation emphasizes funding research most likely to save lives, improve treatment options, and enhance survivors' quality of life. Research with direct translational potential is highly valued.

Resource Sharing Expectations: Strong applications demonstrate commitment to sharing research outputs. The Foundation expects grantees to encourage and facilitate resource sharing to increase access to scientific information, promote collaboration, accelerate discovery, and improve research reproducibility.

Scholar Award Considerations: Scholar awards are designed to help promising early-career scientists succeed. Applications should demonstrate the candidate's potential for independent research career development and how the award will enable their transition to research independence.

Infrastructure Grant Criteria: Unlike other grants funded purely on scientific review, Infrastructure grants are evaluated based on need, expected outcomes, and local St. Baldrick's fundraising participation. Strong priority is given to geographic areas with no other St. Baldrick's funding.

Brain Tumor and Burkitt Lymphoma Applications: Due to high donor interest and historically low application numbers, research focused on brain tumors (all types, including AT/RT, DIPG/DMG, and GBM) and Burkitt lymphoma receives special consideration in review.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Use the NIH review model: St. Baldrick's uses the same review criteria and 1-9 scoring scale as the National Cancer Institute. Structure your application to clearly address significance, innovation, scientific quality, and clinical impact.
  • Emphasize translational potential: The Foundation prioritizes research that can be translated into direct benefits for children with cancer. Clearly articulate how your work will impact patient outcomes.
  • Demonstrate resource sharing commitment: Include specific plans for sharing research outputs, data, and resources to accelerate discovery in the field.
  • Apply through proper channels: All applications must go through ProposalCentral. Do not request funding outside established cycles. Validate your application before submission.
  • Consider strategic timing: Brain tumor and Burkitt lymphoma research receives special consideration. Infrastructure grants are influenced by local St. Baldrick's fundraising participation.
  • Address reviewer feedback thoroughly: If resubmitting, comprehensively address all reviewer comments in the appendix.
  • Contact program staff early: St. Baldrick's welcomes questions during the application process. Reach out to Grants@StBaldricks.org with specific questions about eligibility, application requirements, or strategic fit.

References

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