The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $29.8 million (2023 tax year)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Rigorous peer review process (timeline not specified)
• Grant Range: Varies by programme
• Geographic Focus: International, including 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 2017, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is a major philanthropic organisation with over $104 million in total assets (2023). The foundation supports cutting-edge, innovative scientific ideas that answer complex questions about cancer biology whilst 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 foundation has awarded over $275 million in research funding to investigators at more than 110 institutions across 18 countries since its founding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation offers multiple grant programmes designed to support researchers at various career stages:

• Emerging Leader Awards: Support for early career cancer researchers ($1 million over four years)
• ASPIRE Award: Flexible funding for research feasibility projects
• Momentum Fellowship: Awards for promising researchers (one-year funding)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Collaborative awards with partner organisations including the European Association for Cancer Research
• Endeavor Awards: Funding for multidisciplinary cancer research collaborations
• Early Detection Award: Supporting innovation in cancer detection technologies
• Drug Discovery Award: Funding for therapeutic development

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
• Executive Chairman: Raymond DuBois, MD, PhD

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

The foundation operates a two-stage application process. Applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), and full applications are accepted by invitation only following review of the LOI. All grants undergo rigorous peer review by the foundation's scientific advisory committee and are held to the strictest standards of scientific excellence.

Application Process:

1. Submit Letter of Intent through the foundation's online grants portal
2. Selected applicants are invited to submit full applications
3. Applications undergo rigorous peer and internal review
4. Awards are selected based on scientific merit and potential for impact

Some programmes may be offered through focused Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to specific institutions.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and funding patterns, the foundation works with established research institutions and academic medical centres. The foundation has funded investigators at more than 110 institutions across 18 countries, demonstrating a broad reach whilst maintaining focus on scientific excellence.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines vary by programme. For example, the Emerging Leader Award requires Letters of Intent to be submitted by late April, with full applications invited following LOI review.

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:

• 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
• Applications follow a two-stage process: Letter of Intent, then invitation to full application
• Multiple programme types available for different career stages and project types
• Emphasis on both individual investigator support and collaborative team science
• International scope includes researchers across multiple countries including US and UK
• Partnership approach with both academic and commercial research entities
• Strong focus on rigorous peer review and scientific excellence

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (Accessed December 2024)
• The Mark Foundation official website - https://themarkfoundation.org/ (Accessed May 2026)
• The Mark Foundation Form 990 filings (2023)
• Press releases and announcements from The Mark Foundation (2022-2026)