Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $19,249,505 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not available
• Decision Time: Not available
• Grant Range: Varies by programme ($180,000 to $800,000 for multi-year grants)
• Geographic Focus: National/International

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.alexslemonade.org
• Phone: 610.649.3034 or toll-free 1.866.333.1213 (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm ET)
• Email: [email protected]
• Location: 3 Bala Plaza West, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Overview

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is a paediatric cancer charity founded in 2005 by the parents of Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who passed away from neuroblastoma at age 8. The foundation shares Alex's vision of finding a cure for all children with cancer. Their mission is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer. The organisation has become one of the leading funders of paediatric cancer research in the United States, helping to fill critical gaps in research funding since childhood cancer receives less than 4% of the federal cancer research budget.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation offers multiple grant programmes focused on paediatric cancer research:

• 'A' Award: $800,000 over four years for early independent career scientists establishing careers in paediatric oncology research
• Young Investigator Grant: Up to $180,000 over three years supporting early-career researchers in paediatric oncology
• RARE Grant: $250,000 over two years for rare childhood cancer research
• R Accelerated Grant: $800,000 over four years for accelerated research projects
• Innovation Grants: Seed funding for novel approaches to childhood cancer treatment
• POST (Paediatric Oncology Student Training) Programme: Supporting undergraduate, graduate and medical students interested in paediatric oncology research
• Infrastructure Grants: Supporting research centres and collaborative efforts

Priority Areas

• Paediatric cancer research across all types and subtypes
• Development of safer, more effective treatments for childhood cancer
• Innovative approaches to cure childhood cancer
• Support for early-career researchers in paediatric oncology
• Collaborative research efforts and infrastructure development

What They Don't Fund

Based on available information, the foundation focuses exclusively on childhood cancer-related initiatives and does not fund:

• Adult cancer research
• Non-cancer related medical research
• General operating expenses unrelated to paediatric cancer

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by:

• Board Chair: Larry Vincent, Associate Professor of the Practice of Marketing at USC Marshall School of Business and Founder of Conclusive
• Co-Executive Directors: Jay Scott and Liz Scott (Alex's parents)

The organisation maintains a strong commitment to transparency, achieving GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency, demonstrating accountability in their operations and grant-making activities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via Proposal Central. Interested applicants should create a profile on Proposal Central, and those with an ORCID can login using ORCID to automatically populate their profile. Grant application deadlines are staggered throughout the year. For questions about grant deadlines, applications and reporting, contact [email protected] or call 610.649.3034.

All applications are reviewed by the appropriate Grant Review Boards according to the National Institutes of Health peer review process.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by programme. Specific timelines are available on the foundation's grants calendar at www.alexslemonade.org.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies was not available in the research conducted.

Application Success Factors

Successful applications likely align with:

• The foundation's core mission of finding cures for childhood cancer
• Innovative approaches to paediatric cancer treatment
• Clear potential for impact on children with cancer
• Strong research methodology and feasibility
• Alignment with gaps in federal funding for paediatric cancer research

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• ALSF is a major funder of paediatric cancer research, helping fill gaps left by limited federal funding (childhood cancer receives less than 4% of federal cancer research funding)
• The foundation focuses exclusively on childhood cancer, making them a specialised funding source
• They support various types of grants from seed funding to multi-year research projects ranging from $180,000 to $800,000
• Applications are submitted via Proposal Central and reviewed using NIH peer review standards
• The organisation values transparency and accountability (Platinum GuideStar rating)
• Founded by parents who lost their daughter to cancer, bringing personal commitment to the mission
• Visit their website directly or contact [email protected] for current grant opportunities as specific programmes may vary

References

• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation website: www.alexslemonade.org
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Board of Directors page
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Form 990 (2023)
• GuideStar Profile for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (EIN: 56-2496146)
• Wikipedia entry for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation