Advocacy Organizations

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world’s leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993, PCF has raised more than $700 million and provided funding to more than 2,000 research programs at more than 200 cancer centers and universities. The PCF global research enterprise extends to 19 countries. PCF advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more efficient investment of governmental research funds for transformational cancer research. Its efforts have helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve outcomes for today’s patients and those diagnosed in the future.

The Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest independent organization devoted to melanoma. The MRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma, the MRF also educates patients, caregivers and physicians about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.

The MRF is also an active advocate for the melanoma community, helping to raise awareness of this disease and the need for a cure. Its online forum — the Melanoma Patients Information Page (MPIP) — is the oldest and largest community of people affected by melanoma and is hosted through the MRF. It is designed to provide support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends.

The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) is the largest private funder of melanoma research. Since its founding in 2007, MRA has committed $88 million in funding to advance our understanding of this disease. MRA funds projects in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, with the majority of funding allocated for melanoma treatment.

The mission of the Melanoma Research Alliance is to end suffering and death due to melanoma by collaborating with all stakeholders to accelerate powerful research, advance cures for all patients, and prevent more melanomas.

The Melanoma Action Coalition (MAC) is a group of community-based melanoma foundations and individuals from across North America, working together to share information and provide mutual support. While valuing and preserving the unique mission of each of our member organizations, we are combining our voices in ways that make us more effective advocates for melanoma awareness, education, prevention, and research.

LUNGevity is changing outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, education, and support.

We are dedicated to funding scientific research because the link between research spending and improved survival is clear. Our strategic investment in both early detection and therapeutics will help people live better with lung cancer and dramatically improve on the current 18% five-year survival rate.

LUNGevity initiatives position us as thought leaders in the lung cancer advocacy community, providing programs and driving change for those with lung cancer today and in the future. While we fund primary research, we also conduct patient-focused research to better understand their unmet needs and convene multi-stakeholder meetings to streamline the research process and accelerate progress to patients.

LUNGevity seeks to empower patients to be active decision makers in their treatment process through our extensive educational resources, online peer-to-peer support, and in-person survivorship programs.

We provide a community of empowerment, support, and hope as well as more than 80 grassroots awareness and fundraising events held from coast to coast each year.

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting lung cancer research. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of lung cancer.

Together with advocates like Elyse, the End Lung Cancer Now initiative boldly sets out to turn the tide against lung cancer—eliminating tobacco use, screening all eligible Hoosiers with low-dose CT scans, and dramatically increasing participation in lung cancer research.

The vision of End Lung Cancer Now is to end the suffering and death from lung cancer in Indiana.

Because tobacco products cause 80% to 90% of lung cancer and more than 1 million Hoosiers still smoke daily, End Lung Cancer Now seeks to eliminate tobacco use in Indiana. Strategies to eliminate tobacco use include embedding advocates in prevention efforts at the youth level, working within existing organizations, and working with the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center on tobacco reduction programs.

Low-dose CT scans significantly reduce mortality through early diagnosis of lung cancer, but less than 10% of those eligible participate in screenings. End Lung Cancer Now seeks to maximize low-dose CT scans by integrating advocates into local programs and addressing statewide efforts, promoting advocacy within the community and government, and integrating lung cancer screening with other screening and prevention programs.

Advances in treatments come from clinical trials, yet less than 5% of patients participate. End Lung Cancer Now seeks to increase enrollment in clinical trials by educating the public and advocates on the benefits of research through increased awareness about recent advances in lung cancer research and dispelling myths about and reducing barriers to clinical research participation, with special attention to under-represented populations.

The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation’s goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has raised over $30 million for lung cancer research and related programs.

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. Our work is focused on five strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases; and to accelerate fundraising and enhance organizational effectiveness to support the urgency of our mission.

The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF)’s mission is to find a cure and improve the quality of life for those affected by cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Founded in 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah, by a family member who lost a loved one to cholangiocarcinoma, CCF has grown to become a leading U.S. (and increasingly international) resource in research, education, and public awareness.

Initiated in 2012, the International Hepatobiliary Neoplasia Biorepository (IHNB) is a global collaboration between CCF, Mayo Clinic, and multiple academic and medical centers to accelerate research for early diagnosis, novel therapeutics, personalized oncology, and improved clinical outcomes for patients with cholangiocarcinoma. The IHNB has assembled one of the largest bio-specimen repositories for biliary cancers worldwide and serves as a key resource for basic, translational and clinical research in bile duct cancer.

CCF’s Research Fellowship Program was established in 2015 with the goal to raise awareness about cholangiocarcinoma and inspire innovative, quality research.

Blue Faery’s mission is to prevent, treat and cure primary liver cancer, specifically Hepatocellular Carcinoma, through research, education and advocacy. Our work will improve the quality of life for HCC patients, support their caregivers and give them hope, information and a voice.

Research

• To accelerate the acquisition and application of scientific understanding and to advance the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
• To increase the scientific understanding of the correlation between hepatitis, lifestyle choices and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
• To establish international alliances in a joint effort to find a cure for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
• To make clinical trials and treatment options available to all patients diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.

Education

• To educate the public on the causes, symptoms, treatment options and prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through lectures and literature developed by the organization, as well as through the use of Adrienne Wilson’s name, likeness, personal story and medical case history.
• To educate the public on the correlation between hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
• To educate the public on the other known causes of HCC, including Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) caused by obesity and lifestyle choices.

Advocacy

• To increase influence with private and public organizations to achieve Blue Faery’s goals.
• To increase awareness of Blue Faery among the general public in order to increase support for our mission and reach more people with the services we provide.
• To facilitate contact among patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, their families and healthcare providers for the purposes of support, exchange of knowledge and participation in clinical trials.

The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) was founded in 1990 by a small group of patients and doctors in Chicago, Illinois and has grown into an international non-profit organization. The KCA promotes scientific advances through two annual research symposiums and a robust grant program, participates in legislative advocacy, and seeks to be the trusted source of education and support for patients, caregivers, and all those impacted by kidney cancer.

Our vision is to be the universal leader in finding the cure for kidney cancer.

The KCA’s mission is to be a part of a global community dedicated to serving and empowering patients and caregivers, and leading change through advocacy, research, and education.

The mission of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) is to accelerate next generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend patients’ lives in pursuit of a cure. With its unique end-to-end system in precision medicine, the MMRF is committed to high-quality data generation and open access to that data to drive new insights to clinical trials to optimize care for all patients. In the process, we are changing the way cancer research is conducted. MMRF, a 501(c)(3), is the number one private funder of multiple myeloma research in the United States.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is the nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to funding innovative lymphoma research and providing people with lymphoma and healthcare professionals with up-to-date information about this type of cancer. LRF’s mission is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease.

Our goal is to change the future for everyone whose life has been affected by a lymphoma diagnosis. We are dedicated to funding biomedical research focused on the origins, treatment and identification of a cure for lymphoma; to raising public awareness of the disease; and providing support and services to people with lymphoma, their families and caregivers.

The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. We are the voice for all blood cancer patients and we work to ensure access to treatments for all blood cancer patients.

The Oral Cancer Foundation’s missions are rooted in science. OCF funds life-saving research and work that elucidates mechanisms for early discovery and furthers disease understanding. We provide direct peer to peer support for oral cancer patients and their caregivers. We disseminate vetted professional and public information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and work as advocates for national policies that facilitate disease awareness, early discovery, and improve treatments and their outcomes. Our foundation’s missions are changing patient’s lives today, and altering outcomes in the future.

The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) supports research, education and public awareness of gynecologic cancers. FWC is the official foundation of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.

Along with HCRN investigator-led clinical trials, learn about other ongoing clinical trials related to women’s cancer.

Headquartered in Wisconsin and serving families around the globe, No Stomach For Cancer (NSFC) is a worldwide leader in raising awareness, advancing stomach cancer education and supporting individuals and families affected by all forms of stomach cancer. The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has a mission to support research and unite the caring power of people worldwide affected by stomach cancer.

In 2009, after losing two family members to stomach cancer and learning about the CDH1 genetic mutation that increases the risk of developing stomach cancer, Karen Chelcun Schreiber founded NSFC. The goal was to advance awareness and education about stomach cancer, including Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC), provide a support network for affected families and support research efforts for early detection, screening and prevention of stomach cancer.

One of NSFC’s key priorities is stomach cancer awareness. NSFC shares information with the general public and within the medical community to promote earlier stomach cancer diagnoses and improve survival rates. We distribute facts and information on stomach cancer’s prevalence and impact through our website, resources, educational events, fundraisers, public relations, media outreach and Stomach Cancer Awareness Month. Understanding stomach cancer symptoms and risk factors, including the hereditary risks associated with Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC), helps to save lives.

Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) is the leading patient-empowerment and advocacy organization in the United States, providing balanced and objective information on colon and rectal cancer research, treatment, and policy. We are relentless champions of hope, focused on funding, promising high-impact research endeavors, while equipping advocates to influence legislation and policy for the collective good.

Our Mission

While colorectal cancer affects the lives of more than 140,000 Americans every year, it is preventable. With this in mind we have made it our mission to end the disease within our lifetime.

Our Pillars

Patient Support:
No one is ever alone. Our patient empowerment team is always available to provide hope and support to patients, families, caregivers and survivors. If you, or someone you love, is struggling to understand or overcome a cancer diagnosis, we can provide the latest information, and point you to expert resources and cutting-edge tools. At the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, we strive to deliver the level of support you need to make you whole again.

Prevention:
Screening is the number one way to reduce the risk for this unique cancer. There are other ways, though. We believe it’s important for all of us to can take charge of our health by knowing family history, understanding risk factors, eating a balanced diet, exercising, limiting alcohol use, and never smoking. For us, sharing this information is essential to ending colorectal cancer.

Research:
Our research agenda includes advancing biomarker research, understanding why those under 50 are increasingly diagnosed with colon cancer, decreasing late-state diagnosis of high-risk populations, closing the referral gap for screening and diagnostic testing, and advancing long-term survivorship psychosocial concerns. We see patients, researchers, medical institutions and industry as pivotal allies for pursuing this effort.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to achieving prevention and a cure for breast cancer. We provide critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship.

Since our founding in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, BCRF has raised more than half a billion dollars for lifesaving research. Through a unique and streamlined grants program, we seek out the brightest minds in science and medicine and give them the necessary resources to pursue their best ideas. As a result, researchers are able to make discoveries and design new approaches to address all aspects of breast cancer — and do so in record time.

The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA) is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved.

Breast Cancer Alliance is a fast-growing, dynamic, national breast charity. BCA funds 1-year Exceptional Project grants and 2-year Young Investigator grants, supporting essential seed funding for novel, early-stage, innovative research. It also uniquely funds breast surgery fellowships, propelling more high-skilled, specially trained doctors into the field, and supports breast health providers with grants to eliminate barriers to access to care for underserved women. Since its founding, Breast Cancer Alliance has awarded $29 million in grants.

The Urology Care Foundation is the world’s leading nonprofit urological health foundation — and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. We partner with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public to support and improve the prevention, detection and treatment of urological diseases through research and education.

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is on the front-lines advocating for greater public awareness and increased funding for research to identify effective treatments and eventually, a cure for bladder cancer.

Each year, BCAN provides thousands of patients, caregivers, and the medical community with the educational resources and support services they need to navigate their bladder cancer journey. BCAN works collaboratively with the medical and research professionals who are dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer and empowers the patient community by allowing them to share experiences with others, and to participate in building awareness of the need for a cure.

The Research Advocacy Network advances patient-focused cancer research by fostering interaction among advocates, researchers and related organizations.

We are the only nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cancer research through advocacy. While there are a myriad of organizations hard at work addressing the needs of patients with specific diseases, advocating in the political arena, delivering education and raising funds, no one else does what we do. Our approach is collaborative, not competitive. We work with other cancer-centered organizations to help them meet the needs of their stakeholders. We harness advocates’ passion to:

• Develop a network of advocates and researchers that influences how research programs are designed and conducted and how results are disseminated.
• Equip advocates to affect change in the medical research system.
• Mobilize a network of people around issues of patient-focused research.