RTOG Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• EIN: 46-0902111
• Annual Revenue: $14,000,061 (2024)
• Annual Expenses: $12,705,224 (2024)
• Total Assets: $20,327,245 (2024)
• Fellowship Funding: $50,000 per fellow over two years
• Geographic Focus: National (USA) and International
• Funding Type: Research fellowships, travel awards, investigator support

Contact Details

Main Office: Nova Tower 2 Two Allegheny Center, Suite 1200 Pittsburgh, PA 15212

General Information:

• Email: info@rtog.org
• Phone: 215-574-3173
• Website: www.rtog.org

Membership & Funding Inquiries:

• Email: RTOG-Membership@acr.org
• Phone: 215-574-3173

Vendor Contracts:

• Email: contracts@rtogfoundation.org

Overview

RTOG Foundation Inc (RTOGF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2013 (incorporated in August 2013 in Pennsylvania; received 501(c)(3) status in July 2014). The foundation is dedicated to improving outcomes for cancer patients through the conduct of practice-changing, radiation oncology-focused clinical trials. RTOG Foundation is the successor to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, which was a 40-year participant in the NCI-funded cooperative group program.

The foundation operates as one of three member organizations in NRG Oncology Foundation and conducts both federally-funded trials through its NRG Oncology membership and industry-funded foundation trials. With annual revenue exceeding $14 million, RTOGF maintains a dynamic, multidisciplinary research network including participation from physicians and investigators at NCI designated cancer centers, major community centers, academic and regional centers in Canada, and international sites across four continents. The foundation's origins trace back to 1997 when the RTOG Fund was created under the American College of Radiology to receive corporate and private donations to sustain research activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. NRG Oncology Health Equity Fellowship (co-sponsored with ASTRO)

• Amount: $50,000 over two years
• Purpose: Train early-stage investigators in the NRG Oncology system through structured mentorship
• Focus: Emphasis on recruitment of researchers from underrepresented groups
• Goal: Develop new research protocols within NRG Oncology
• Recent Recipients: Onyinye D. Balogun, MD (2024)

2. NRG Oncology Health Care Access Fellowship

• Amount: Funding varies (RTOG Foundation funds select fellows)
• Duration: Two-year fellowship
• Recent Recipients:
  • 2024: Stephanie Rieder, MD, PhD (ASTRO & RTOG Foundation)
  • 2023: Idalid Franco, MD (ASTRO & RTOG Foundation)
  • 2023: Sophia Kamran, MD (RTOG Foundation)

3. NRG Oncology Health Equity New Investigator Mentor Program

• Amount: RTOG Foundation funds one investigator per two-year cycle
• Total Investment: $100,000 over two years (combined with NSABP Foundation support)
• Purpose: Mentorship program for underrepresented minority scholars
• Outcome: Development of new research protocol within NRG Oncology

4. Travel Awards

• Purpose: Support attendance at NRG Oncology semiannual meetings
• Priorities: Young investigators, study chairs, active committee members, member institution PIs, clinical research professionals
• Application: Contact meeting-reg@nrgoncology.org

5. General Research Funding

• Purpose: Support basic, clinical, and translational investigators collaborating with RTOG
• Focus: Development of biologic and biophysical targeted therapies
• Method: Through RTOG Foundation network membership

Priority Areas

Disease Focus:

• Breast cancer
• Central nervous system cancers
• Cervical cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancers
• Genitourinary cancers
• Head and neck cancers
• Lung cancer

Research Priorities:

• Radiation oncology-focused clinical trials
• Novel radiotherapy delivery methods
• New systemic and targeted therapies in conjunction with radiotherapy
• Health equity in cancer care
• Young investigator development
• Underrepresented minority researcher development

What They Don't Fund

RTOG Foundation does not:

• Make traditional organizational grants to nonprofits
• Fund projects outside their clinical trial network
• Support research unrelated to radiation oncology or cancer care
• Fund individuals or organizations not affiliated with the RTOG/NRG Oncology network

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair:

• Quynh-Thu Le, MD - Professor of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Also appointed as one of three group chairs for NRG Oncology

Committee Leadership:

Membership Committee:

• Seth A. Rosenthal, MD, FACR, FASTRO - Chair
  • Also serves on RTOG Foundation Board of Directors

Communications Committee:

• Kristin Higgins, MD - Chair

Governance Committee:

• Stuart Wong - Chair

Research Committee:

• Edwin Posadas, MD - Co-Chair
• Dr. Mishra - Co-Chair (first name not specified in sources)

The foundation operates with a multidisciplinary leadership structure involving leaders in radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, pathology, and laboratory sciences.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Fellowship Programs (ASTRO-RTOG Fellowships): Applications are managed through ASTRO's funding opportunities portal. Specific deadlines vary by program year. Contact ASTRO directly for current application cycles and requirements.

For Travel Awards:

• Contact: meeting-reg@nrgoncology.org for application process
• Applications considered in advance of NRG Oncology semiannual meetings

For General Research Funding: RTOG Foundation does not have a public, open application process for general research funding. To access funding opportunities:

1. Become an RTOG Foundation member institution - Organizations must be part of the RTOG Foundation network to participate as study investigators
2. Contact for membership: info@rtog.org or call 215-574-3173
3. Once a member institution, investigators can access funding opportunities through the network

For Health Equity New Investigator Mentor Program: Applications are coordinated through NRG Oncology. Applicants must be early-stage investigators within the NRG Oncology membership structure with emphasis on underrepresented groups.

Getting on Their Radar

Specific Strategies for RTOG Foundation:

1. Join the Network: The most direct path to accessing RTOG Foundation funding is through institutional membership. Organizations interested in becoming RTOG Foundation members should contact info@rtog.org or call 215-574-3173.

2. Affiliate with Member Institutions: Individual researchers at NCI-designated cancer centers, major academic medical centers, or regional cancer centers should check if their institution is already an RTOG Foundation member site.

3. Engage with NRG Oncology: Since RTOG Foundation is one of three member organizations in NRG Oncology, engagement with NRG Oncology committees and activities can lead to funding opportunities.

4. Attend ASTRO Meetings: The foundation has partnerships with ASTRO (American Society for Radiation Oncology), making ASTRO meetings and activities key networking opportunities.

5. Committee Involvement: Active service on RTOG Foundation or NRG Oncology committees can lead to greater awareness of funding opportunities. The foundation has four committees: Membership, Communications, Governance, and Research.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and vary by program:

• Health Equity Fellowships: Announcements typically made annually (2024 recipients announced in early 2024)
• Travel Awards: Decisions made in advance of each semiannual NRG Oncology meeting
• Investigator Funding: Timeline depends on research proposal and institutional partnership

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly published. The foundation maintains a selective process focused on:

• Early-stage investigators showing promise
• Researchers from underrepresented groups
• Projects aligned with NRG Oncology priorities
• Investigators within the RTOG/NRG network

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated on public-facing materials. For fellowship programs, contact the specific program administrator (ASTRO for ASTRO-RTOG fellowships, NRG Oncology for Health Equity programs).

Application Success Factors

Based on RTOG Foundation's documented priorities and programs:

1. Network Membership is Essential: Dr. Le's announcement as Board Chair emphasized that "organizations must be part of the RTOG Foundation network" to participate. Institutional affiliation with the network is the primary gateway to funding.

2. Focus on Health Equity: The foundation has made significant investments in health equity programs, particularly the recruitment and support of researchers from underrepresented groups. Multiple fellowship programs explicitly prioritize underrepresented minority scholars.

3. Early-Stage Investigator Status: The foundation specifically states it "supports young investigators from many disciplines within the RTOG research enterprise." Most fellowship programs target early-career researchers.

4. Alignment with Disease Focus Areas: Successful applicants work in one of RTOG's seven primary disease focus areas: breast, CNS, cervix, GI, GU, head and neck, or lung cancer.

5. Radiation Oncology Connection: While the foundation supports multidisciplinary research, all programs maintain a focus on "radiation oncology-focused clinical trials" and "radiotherapy delivery."

6. Potential for NRG Oncology Protocol Development: Health Equity fellows are expected to develop "a new research protocol within NRG Oncology" - demonstrating how individual support leads to broader network benefits.

7. Industry Collaboration Potential: The foundation notes that "corporate support allows them to pursue innovative and emerging pharmaceuticals and technologies." Research that could attract industry partnerships may be viewed favorably.

8. Mentorship Structure: The foundation's programs emphasize "structured mentorship" - applicants should demonstrate readiness to benefit from and contribute to mentorship networks.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional grantmaking foundation - RTOG Foundation primarily makes grants to individual researchers (fellowships) and travel awards, not to organizations for programmatic funding. Organizations seeking funding should focus on institutional membership rather than project grants.

• Institutional affiliation is the critical entry point - Individual researchers must be affiliated with RTOG Foundation member institutions to access most funding opportunities. Contact info@rtog.org to explore membership.

• Health equity is a strategic priority - Multiple recent funding initiatives emphasize support for underrepresented minority researchers and health equity research. This represents a clear strategic direction.

• Fellowship amounts are substantial - $50,000 over two years provides significant support for early-stage investigators, with the added benefit of mentorship and protocol development experience.

• Partnership approach to funding - Many programs are co-sponsored with ASTRO or operated through NRG Oncology, indicating a collaborative funding model rather than independent grantmaking.

• Clinical trials are the core mission - All funding ultimately supports the conduct of practice-changing clinical trials. Research must align with this applied, clinical focus rather than basic science alone.

• Multi-year commitment to fellows - Two-year fellowship programs demonstrate the foundation's interest in sustained support and relationship-building rather than one-time grants.

References

1. RTOG Foundation About Us. https://www.rtog.org/About-Us - Accessed February 12, 2026
2. RTOG Foundation About Us (ACR). https://qartog.acr.org/About-Us - Accessed February 12, 2026
3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - RTOG Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/460902111 - Accessed February 12, 2026
4. GuideStar Profile - Rtog Foundation Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-0902111 - Accessed February 12, 2026
5. Cause IQ - Rtog Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/rtog-foundation,460902111/ - Accessed February 12, 2026
6. RTOG Foundation Contact Us. https://www.rtog.org/Contact-Us - Accessed February 12, 2026
7. "New Chair Elected to RTOG Foundation Board." RTOG Foundation News. https://www.rtog.org/News/New-Chair-Elected-to-RTOG-Foundation-Board - Accessed February 12, 2026
8. "RTOG Foundation Announces Four New Committees and their Appointed Committee Leaders." RTOG Foundation News. https://www.rtog.org/News/RTOG-Foundation-Announces-Four-New-Committees-and-their-Appointed-Committee-Leaders - Accessed February 12, 2026
9. "NSABP and RTOG Foundations Join GOG Foundation in Funding of the NRG Oncology Health Equity New Investigator Mentor Program." NRG Oncology. https://www.nrgoncology.org/Home/News/Post/nsabp-and-rtog-foundations-join-gog-foundation-in-funding-of-the-nrg-oncology-health-equity-new-investigator-mentor-program/ - Accessed February 12, 2026
10. "ASTRO awards early career radiation oncology scientists with research grants and fellowships." American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). https://www.astro.org/news-and-publications/news-and-media-center/news-releases/2024/astro-awards-early-career-radiation-oncology-scientists-with-research-grants-and-fellowships - Accessed February 12, 2026
11. RTOG Foundation Partners. https://www.rtog.org/Partners - Accessed February 12, 2026
12. RTOG Foundation LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/rtog-foundation - Accessed February 12, 2026
13. NRG Oncology Travel Awards. https://www.nrgoncology.org/Winter-Meeting-2024/Travel-Awards - Accessed February 12, 2026