LUNGevity Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $13.8M (total revenue FY2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (competitive, two-stage review process with LOI pre-screening)
• Decision Time: 6-8 months (applications typically due mid-February, awards announced late summer/early fall)
• Grant Range: $50,000 - $1,500,000
• Geographic Focus: National (United States)
• Total Research Investment: $55+ million since 2002 across 200 projects

Contact Details

Main Office:

• Address: 228 S. Wabash Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60604
• Phone: 312-407-6100
• Email: info@lungevity.org
• Website: www.lungevity.org

Research Grant Inquiries:

• Contact: Carol Perline, VP of Philanthropy
• Email: cperline@lungevity.org

Additional Office:

• Address: 6917 Arlington Road, Suite 352, Bethesda, MD 20814

Lung Cancer HELPLine: 844-360-5864

Application Portal: Applications submitted via proposalCENTRAL (proposalcentral.com)

Overview

Founded in 2001 and based in Chicago, Illinois, LUNGevity Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit funder dedicated exclusively to lung cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. The organization was created through the 2010 merger of LUNGevity with Protect Your Lungs, founded by current President and CEO Andrea Ferris after her mother's death from lung cancer in 2008. With total assets of $6.2 million and annual revenue of approximately $13.8 million (FY2024), LUNGevity has invested more than $55 million in 200 lung cancer research projects at 58 institutions across 23 states since 2002.

The foundation's mission is to have a meaningful and immediate impact on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensure a higher quality of life for lung cancer patients, and provide a community for those impacted by lung cancer. LUNGevity focuses on translational research designed to move knowledge quickly from basic discovery to treating patients, with an emphasis on projects that have "near-term impact on improving lung cancer mortality rates." The organization has earned Charity Navigator's coveted 4-Star rating six times, placing it in the top 25% of rated charities for fiscal responsibility, accountability, and transparency. Their Career Development Award program has generated more than $27 million in follow-up funding for recipients, including independent NIH/NCI grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

LUNGevity offers multiple research award programs with applications typically opening in January and deadlines in mid-February:

Career Development Award (Flagship Program):

• Amount: $300,000 over three years
• Focus: Supports future research leaders working on projects with direct impact on early detection or outcomes
• Eligibility: Doctoral degree holders within first 5 years of first faculty appointment, post-fellowship
• Application: Letter of Intent due mid-February; full applications by invitation only
• Note: This is a mentored award requiring a mentoring plan

VA Research Scholar Award:

• Amount: $100,000 over two years
• Focus: Supports lung cancer research within the VA System
• Eligibility: Doctoral degree holders pursuing postdoctoral fellowship or junior faculty within first 5 years in VA System

ASTRO-LUNGevity Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grant:

• Amount: $50,000 for one year
• Focus: Radiation oncology-related research to benefit lung cancer patients
• Eligibility: Residents and fellows interested in radiation oncology research
• Application: Managed through proposalCENTRAL

Health Equity and Inclusiveness Research Fellow Award:

• Amount: Up to $100,000 ($50,000 per year for 2 years)
• Focus: Supports fellows from underrepresented minorities in STEM
• Eligibility: Doctoral degree holders in any year of fellowship planning careers in lung cancer research

Brown/LUNGevity Award to Understand Mechanisms of Resistance to Immunotherapy:

• Amount: $500,000 over two years
• Focus: Understanding immunotherapy resistance in lung cancer

Hamoui Foundation/LUNGevity Clinical Research Award for RET-positive Lung Cancer:

• Amount: $500,000 over two years
• Focus: RET-positive lung cancer research

Rising Tide/LUNGevity Team Award to Target Mechanisms of Resistance:

• Amount: Up to $1,500,000 over three years
• Focus: Interventional clinical trials targeting shared resistance mechanisms in oncogene-driven lung adenocarcinoma
• Requirement: At least two institutions must be involved

LUNGevity Early Detection Research Award:

• Amount: Varies by program
• Focus: Early detection and interception research

Mid-Career "Bridge to Breathe" Award:

• Amount: Varies
• Focus: Supporting mid-career investigators

Priority Areas

LUNGevity funds translational research focusing on:

• Early Detection and Diagnosis: Projects detecting lung cancer earlier, including biomarker development and minimal residual disease detection
• Treatment Innovation: New and better treatments, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy
• Overcoming Treatment Resistance: Understanding and addressing resistance to existing therapies (immunotherapy, targeted treatments)
• Health Equity: Research addressing disparities in lung cancer care and outcomes for underserved communities
• Precision Medicine: Projects accelerating access to personalized treatment approaches
• Clinical Trial Development: Interventional studies moving discoveries from lab to patient care
• Workforce Development: Supporting early-career and underrepresented researchers to strengthen the lung cancer research field

Research must focus specifically on lung cancer with emphasis on projects that "bridge the gap between scientific breakthroughs made in the laboratory and patient care" and turn scientific knowledge into "real-world outcomes that have a direct impact on people with lung cancer."

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated on their website, the following would typically be excluded based on their stated priorities:

• Basic research without clear translational pathway to patient impact
• Projects not focused on lung cancer
• Research at institutions without proper animal research accreditation (if animal studies involved)
• Investigators beyond eligibility criteria (e.g., senior faculty for Career Development Awards)
• Projects without mentoring plans (for mentored awards)
• Institutions unable to provide required supplemental funding support

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is chaired by Lynne Doughtie, retired U.S. Chairman and CEO of KPMG, who also serves on the boards of Boeing, McKesson, and Workday. Each board member has been personally touched by lung cancer.

Key Board Members include:

• Alexander F. Stern (Treasurer) - Responsible for Strategy, M&A, Ventures at IBM; previously President of Lazard
• Jason Bernhard - Managing Director and Global Chief Operating Officer of Financial Advisory at Lazard (appointed July 2025)
• Terri Ann DiJulio - Three-time lung cancer survivor and active lung cancer blogger and speaker
• Andrea E. Ferris - President and CEO of LUNGevity
• William "BJ" Jones - Chief Commercial Officer at NewAmsterdam Pharma; former US Air Force Major
• Jennifer Kashatus - Partner at DLA Piper LLP specializing in privacy and cybersecurity
• Michael Marquis - CEO of Raw Sugar; global business executive in consumer goods
• Barry Nelson - Retired risk management professional, lung cancer survivor, and clinical trial participant
• Bob Newman - Former chairman of ASM Global; venue industry executive
• Andre Owens - Partner at WilmerHale focusing on securities trading and markets
• Michael Parisi - Chief Client Officer at Lumanity; President of Cancer_Care_ Board of Trustees
• Dr. Charles Rudin, MD, PhD - Chief of Thoracic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering; lung cancer researcher and clinician
• Frank Sierawski - 10+ year lung cancer survivor with no evidence of disease since 2017; former finance leader at Union Pacific Railroad
• Andrew Stern - Co-CEO of Aurify Kingstar; entrepreneur and company developer

Senior Management Team

Andrea E. Ferris, President and Chief Executive Officer

• Responsibilities: "Setting and executing the strategic direction of the organization and its science programs"
• Background: Founded Protect Your Lungs after her mother's death from lung cancer in 2008; merged it with LUNGevity in 2010

Dr. Upal Basu Roy, PhD, MPH, Executive Director, LUNGevity Research

• Responsibilities: "Spearheads LUNGevity's Translational Research Programs and Patient-Focused Research Center"

Meriam Driss, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

Ann Fish-Steagall, BSN, RN, Senior Vice President, Patient Services

• Responsibilities: "Leads the Patient Services department" including Support, Survivorship, Survivorship Conferences, and Education

Diana Aldecoa, Senior Vice President of Program Logistics and Events

Leah Fine, MBA, Vice President, Early Lung Cancer Center

• Responsibilities: "Spearheads LUNGevity's early lung cancer initiatives"

Carol E. Perline, Vice President, Philanthropy

• Responsibilities: Special events and donor/volunteer cultivation

Marci Allison, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

• Responsibilities: "Oversees the foundation's marketing and communications initiatives"

Brandon Leonard, Vice President, Government Affairs

• Responsibilities: "Amplifies the impact of LUNGevity's policy and advocacy efforts"

Dr. Bellinda King-Kallimanis, PhD, Vice President, Patient Focused Research

Dr. Nikki Martin, MA, Senior Director, Precision Medicine Initiatives

• Responsibilities: "Accelerating access to precision medicine for lung cancer patients"

Dr. Brittany Avin McKelvey, PhD, Senior Director, Regulatory Policy

• Responsibilities: "Leading lung cancer policy, clinical trial reform, and regulatory initiatives"

Relevant Leadership Quotes:

Andrea Ferris emphasizes LUNGevity's commitment to "making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship" through "lifesaving, translational research." She has stated the organization is "proud to be partnering with ALK Positive to identify and drive research projects that have the potential to quickly improve outcomes" for specific patient populations, highlighting their focus on accelerating research to patients and removing barriers to accessing treatments.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

LUNGevity uses a competitive two-stage application process for most award programs:

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Submit brief overview of proposed project and biographical information
• Due date: Typically mid-February (February 17, 2026 for current cycle)
• Submitted via proposalCENTRAL (proposalcentral.com) for most programs
• Only a subset of applicants invited to submit full applications

Stage 2: Full Application (By Invitation Only)

• Extended narrative about the project
• Supporting information and documentation
• Mentoring plan (for mentored awards)
• Due date: Varies by program after LOI review

Application Portal: All applications must be submitted electronically via proposalCENTRAL. The Request for Applications (RFA) is available at lungevity.org/apply-for-award and proposalcentral.com

Institutional Requirements:

• Awards are granted to individuals, not institutions
• Institution must provide supplemental funds to supplement salaries or supplies as needed
• For animal research: Institution must have AAALAC accreditation, current PHS Animal Welfare Assurance, or US IACUC accreditation
• For team awards: At least two institutions must be involved

Decision Timeline

Typical Timeline:

• January: Application portal opens (opened January 12, 2026 for current cycle)
• Late January/Mid-February: Application deadlines (LOI due February 17, 2026 for most programs; ASTRO-LUNGevity due January 26, 2026)
• Spring: LOI review; invitations sent for full applications
• Late Summer/Early Fall: Award recipients announced (typically 6-8 months from initial deadline)
• Example Pattern: March 2023 deadline → Early summer 2023 announcements; September-November announcements common for prior cycles

Notification: Award announcements made via press releases and posted on LUNGevity website

Success Rates

Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation notes:

• "Because there are a limited number of awards, only a subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full application after the LOI review is completed"
• Since 2002, LUNGevity has funded 200 research projects from presumably thousands of inquiries
• The two-stage process with LOI pre-screening suggests competitive selection
• Career Development Award program noted for attracting "outstanding young researchers who have gone on to become leaders in the lung cancer space"

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed on the website. Applicants should consult the detailed RFA documents available through proposalCENTRAL or contact Carol Perline (cperline@lungevity.org) for guidance on reapplication procedures.

Application Success Factors

Based on LUNGevity's stated priorities and review process, successful applications demonstrate:

Review Process:

• LUNGevity uses a "formal National Institutes of Health (NIH)-style study section"
• Scientific Advisory Board members and lung cancer experts serve as reviewers
• Research proposals are "rigorously vetted" to ensure "funding the most impactful science possible"
• Focus on "the best science and the best scientists"

What LUNGevity Values:

1. Near-Term Patient Impact: Projects must demonstrate potential to "have a direct impact on early detection or outcomes of lung cancer" with emphasis on "near-term impact on improving lung cancer mortality rates"

2. Translational Approach: Research should "bridge the gap between scientific breakthroughs made in the laboratory and patient care" and turn knowledge into "real-world outcomes that have a direct impact on people with lung cancer"

3. Strong Mentorship (for Career Development Awards): "This is a mentored award" requiring a comprehensive mentoring plan demonstrating committed mentor support

4. Career Development Potential: The Career Development Award program seeks researchers who will "keep the field of lung cancer research vibrant with new ideas" and become "future research leaders"

5. Leveraging Potential: Successful past projects have generated "$27 million in follow-up funding, including independent NIH/NCI funding," suggesting LUNGevity values projects that can attract additional support

6. Specific Research Foci: Recent awards prioritize:

   • Mechanisms of treatment resistance (especially immunotherapy)
   • Early detection and minimal residual disease
   • CAR-T therapy and other innovative treatments
   • Health equity and access for underserved populations
   • RET-positive, ALK-positive, and EGFR-positive lung cancers

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

• Dr. Elliot Brea (Dana-Farber): "Local CAR T as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for CNS Progression in NSCLC" - targeting TROP-2 in EGFR-positive NSCLC patients with CNS metastases
• Dr. Cristina Redin: Understanding drug tolerant persister cells in EGFR-positive lung cancer (15-30% of lung adenocarcinomas)
• Dr. Abhijit Patel: Early detection measuring tiny DNA fragments from cancer cells in bloodstream
• Dr. Wilson Mai (Stanford): Overcoming radiation resistance in NSCLC
• Dr. Nicholas Eustace (City of Hope): Radiation resistance in squamous cell carcinoma

Application Tips:

• Clearly articulate the translational pathway from your research to patient benefit
• Emphasize how findings could be rapidly moved to clinical practice
• For Career Development Awards, invest significant effort in the mentoring plan
• Align project with LUNGevity's current strategic priorities (check recent award announcements)
• Demonstrate understanding of lung cancer-specific challenges
• Show potential for generating follow-on funding
• For early-career researchers, emphasize long-term commitment to lung cancer research field

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Two-Stage Process is Real: LUNGevity pre-screens through LOI stage - invest time in a compelling, concise letter of intent as most applicants won't be invited to submit full proposals

2. Translational Impact is Essential: Every application must clearly articulate the pathway from research findings to improved patient outcomes; pure basic science without clinical translation pathway will not be competitive

3. Timing Matters: Annual cycle with mid-February deadlines and late summer decisions - plan 6-8 months from submission to award announcement

4. Mentorship is Critical for CDA: Career Development Awards require strong mentoring plans - secure committed mentor support before applying and invest significant effort in this component

5. Focus on Competitive Advantage: As the largest nonprofit lung cancer research funder, LUNGevity seeks projects that will position investigators for larger NIH/NCI grants - demonstrate how this seed funding will leverage additional resources

6. Institutional Support Required: Ensure your institution can provide supplemental funding and meets all requirements (especially for animal research) before applying

7. Stay Current on Priorities: Recent emphasis on treatment resistance, early detection, health equity, and specific biomarkers (RET, ALK, EGFR) - align projects with current strategic focus areas by reviewing recent award announcements

8. Four-Star Rating Reflects Excellence: LUNGevity's six-time Charity Navigator 4-star rating indicates strong fiscal management - they fund fewer, higher-impact projects rather than spreading resources thin

References

1. LUNGevity Foundation Official Website - Home. https://www.lungevity.org/ (Accessed February 6, 2026)

2. LUNGevity Foundation - Research Funding. https://www.lungevity.org/learn-about-lungevity/scientific-research/research-funding (Accessed February 6, 2026)

3. LUNGevity Foundation - Translational Science Research Grant Programs. https://www.lungevity.org/research/translational-science-research-grant-programs (Accessed February 6, 2026)

4. LUNGevity Foundation - Applying for a LUNGevity Award. https://www.lungevity.org/research/translational-science-research-award-programs/applying-for-lungevity-research-award (Accessed February 6, 2026)

5. LUNGevity Foundation - Senior Management. https://www.lungevity.org/our-people/senior-management (Accessed February 6, 2026)

6. LUNGevity Foundation - Board of Directors. https://www.lungevity.org/our-people/board-of-directors (Accessed February 6, 2026)

7. Charity Navigator - Rating for LUNGevity Foundation. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/364433410 (Accessed February 6, 2026)

8. Cause IQ - Lungevity Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/lungevity-foundation,364433410/ (Accessed February 6, 2026)

9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Lungevity Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/364433410 (Accessed February 6, 2026)

10. PR Newswire. "LUNGevity Now Accepting Research Grant Applications to Drive Breakthroughs in Lung Cancer." January 12, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lungevity-now-accepting-research-grant-applications-to-drive-breakthroughs-in-lung-cancer-302661220.html (Accessed February 6, 2026)

11. LUNGevity Foundation. "Research Milestones: Celebrating LUNGevity's 2024 Research Awards." https://www.lungevity.org/blogs/research-milestones-celebrating-lungevity%E2%80%99s-2024-research-awards (Accessed February 6, 2026)

12. LUNGevity Foundation. "LUNGevity Foundation Announces $1.2M in Lung Cancer Workforce Development Research Awards." https://www.lungevity.org/news/media-releases/lungevity-foundation-announces-12m-in-lung-cancer-workforce-development (Accessed February 6, 2026)

13. LUNGevity Foundation. "LUNGevity Foundation Earns Coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator." https://www.lungevity.org/news/media-releases/lungevity-foundation-earns-coveted-4-star-rating-from-charity-navigator (Accessed February 6, 2026)

14. Boston University Office of Research. "Meet the LUNGevity Foundation (2025)." https://www.bu.edu/research/2024/10/24/meet-the-lungevity-foundation/ (Accessed February 6, 2026)

15. LUNGevity Foundation - Contact Us. https://www.lungevity.org/about-us/contact-us (Accessed February 6, 2026)

16. LUNGevity Foundation - Financial & Legal Disclosures. https://www.lungevity.org/financial-legal-disclosures-0 (Accessed February 6, 2026)