The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $36+ million (based on 2024 expenses)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Rigorous peer review process (timeline not specified)
- Grant Range: $2.1M - $3.4M (based on recent awards)
- Geographic Focus: United States and United Kingdom
Contact Details
- Website: https://themarkfoundation.org/
- Address: 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2902, New York City, NY 10019
- EIN: 36-4825921
Overview
Founded in 2015, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is a major philanthropic organization with over $105 million in total assets and annual revenue of approximately $45 million (2024). The foundation supports cutting-edge, innovative scientific ideas that answer complex questions about cancer biology while advancing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With a strategic focus on funding breakthrough research, the foundation maintains high standards of scientific excellence through rigorous peer review processes. The organization employs 11 staff members and distributes over $36 million annually in research support.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation offers multiple grant programs designed to support researchers at various career stages:
- Emerging Leader Awards: Support for early career cancer researchers
- ASPIRE Award: Flexible funding for research feasibility projects
- Momentum Fellowship: Awards for promising researchers
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: Collaborative awards with partner organizations
- Multidisciplinary Teams: Funding for interdisciplinary cancer research collaborations
Priority Areas
- Basic breakthrough cancer research
- Cancer detection and prevention technologies
- Innovative cancer biology research
- Oncology treatment development
- Supporting individual investigators and multidisciplinary research teams
- Inter-institutional collaborations
- Technological innovation in cancer research
What They Don't Fund
Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed on available sources.
Governance and Leadership
Key Personnel:
- CEO: Ryan Schoenfeld, PhD
- Board Chair: Raymond DuBois, PhD
- Scientific Directors: Including Rebecca Bish Cornelissen
The board includes leaders from major institutions including Meta and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, bringing diverse expertise to guide the foundation's strategic direction.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
While the foundation maintains multiple grant programs, specific application portals and processes are not publicly detailed. The foundation indicates that all grants undergo rigorous peer review by their scientific advisory committee and are held to "the strictest standards of scientific excellence."
Getting on Their Radar
Based on recent grant patterns, the foundation appears to work primarily with established research institutions. Recent major recipients include Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ($3.36M), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center ($2.67M), and Stanford University ($2.13M), suggesting a focus on partnering with leading cancer research centers.
Decision Timeline
Specific timelines are not publicly available, though the foundation emphasizes a thorough peer review process.
Success Rates
Application numbers and success rates are not publicly disclosed.
Reapplication Policy
Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available.
Application Success Factors
Based on the foundation's stated priorities and recent funding patterns:
- Demonstrate innovative thinking in cancer research
- Focus on breakthrough potential rather than incremental advances
- Strong institutional support and research infrastructure
- Multidisciplinary approaches are valued
- Clear pathway to impact on cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment
- Excellence in scientific methodology as evaluated by peer review
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The foundation focuses on high-impact, transformative cancer research rather than incremental studies
- Strong preference for established research institutions with proven cancer research capabilities
- Multiple program types available for different career stages and project types
- Emphasis on both individual investigator support and collaborative team science
- International scope includes both US and UK research
- Substantial funding available with recent grants ranging from $2.1M to $3.4M
- Partnership approach with both academic and commercial research entities
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (Accessed December 2024)
- CauseIQ Organization Profile - The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (Accessed December 2024)
- GuideStar Profile - The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, EIN 36-4825921 (Accessed December 2024)
- The Mark Foundation official website - https://themarkfoundation.org/ (Accessed December 2024)