Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $31 million (total expenses)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: $100,000 - $300,000
- Geographic Focus: United States
Contact Details
- Website: https://lustgarten.org
- Location: Uniondale, NY
- EIN: 31-1611837
Overview
The Lustgarten Foundation is the world's largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, with a mission to transform pancreatic cancer into a curable disease. Since its founding, the foundation has invested more than $250 million in over 300 pancreatic cancer research projects. With net assets of $75.8 million and annual expenses of $31 million, the foundation maintains a strong financial position to support its research initiatives. The organization has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with an 82.05% program expense ratio, demonstrating efficient use of funds for its core mission.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
- Career Development Awards: $300,000 over 3 years - Supporting early-career researchers establishing independent research programs in pancreatic cancer
- Innovation Grants: $100,000-$110,000 over 1 year - Funding novel, "out-of-the-box" concepts in both translational and basic research
- Correlative Studies Award Program: Amount varies - Supporting research applications linked to clinical trials for pancreatic cancer
- LEAD Grants: Amount not specified - Leadership development and research support
- Early Events Grants: Amount not specified - Focusing on early detection research
Priority Areas
- Early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
- Personalized medicine and treatment strategies based on genetic markers
- New drug development and therapeutic approaches
- Clinical trials and translational research
- Basic science research advancing understanding of pancreatic cancer biology
What They Don't Fund
Not explicitly stated in available materials
Governance and Leadership
- CEO: Linda Tantawi (compensation: $465,053)
- President: Kerri Kaplan (compensation: $328,848)
- Chairman: Andrew Lustgarten
- Vice Chairman: Adam Silver
- Board Members include: Charles F. Dolan and other business and media leaders
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
The foundation maintains a "Current Funding Opportunities" page on their website where researchers can find open grant programs. Specific application portals and submission requirements vary by grant type.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly specified
Success Rates
Not publicly available
Reapplication Policy
Not publicly specified
Application Success Factors
Based on the foundation's strategic focus and funding patterns:
- Alignment with the foundation's three key research areas: early detection, personalized medicine, and new drug development
- Innovation and novel approaches to pancreatic cancer research
- Strong preliminary data and clear clinical relevance
- Collaborative approaches, particularly those aligned with the Pancreatic Cancer Collective which involves 70+ institutions
- Clear potential for impact on patient outcomes
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The Lustgarten Foundation is a major funder with substantial resources dedicated exclusively to pancreatic cancer research
- They offer multiple grant mechanisms suitable for researchers at different career stages
- The foundation emphasizes innovation and transformative research approaches
- Strong focus on translational research with clear clinical applications
- Part of larger collaborative efforts including the Pancreatic Cancer Collective with nearly 30 clinical trials
- High organizational efficiency with over 82% of expenses going directly to programs
- Leadership includes prominent figures from business and sports, suggesting strong fundraising capacity
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (accessed January 2026)
- Charity Navigator Profile (accessed January 2026)
- GuideStar Profile (accessed January 2026)
- Lustgarten Foundation Official Website (accessed January 2026)