ALK Positive
ALK Positive is a 501(c)(3) patient-driven nonprofit serving patients with ALK-positive cancers across 55+ countries through second-opinion programs, a clinical trial finder, educational content, and research grants totaling $10.8M since 2017.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ALK Positive does
ALK Positive is a 501(c)(3) patient-driven nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and incorporated in 2017, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It serves patients with ALK-positive cancers — a rare molecular subset of cancer driven by rearrangements in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene — and has grown its community to more than 8,000 members across 55+ countries. The organization operates a portfolio of patient-facing programs including a Second Opinion Program delivered through 20+ partner academic cancer centers, a Clinical Trial Finder, the ALKtALK educational series, a Decision Aid tool, a Healing Arts program, and an online peer support community.
The business model is nonprofit: revenue is generated through individual donations, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and increasingly cryptocurrency donations via Gemini Giving Block. Funding is deployed into patient services and research grants; the organization states it has committed $10.8 million to ALK-positive cancer research since inception. Strategic grant-making relationships include the LUNGevity Foundation (up to $1.5 million, 2022), the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation ($500,000, 2020), and academic research collaborations with the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center (Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative), Dana-Farber (Young Lung Cancer Study), and 23andMe (lung cancer genetics study).
Governance is led by Executive Director Dr. Ken Culver and a Scientific Advisory Board drawn from leading US cancer centers (Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, Dana-Farber, University of Michigan). The organization holds the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency and a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, indicating strong third-party validation of operational and financial transparency. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; based on disclosed research commitments, foundation grant sizes, and small staff footprint, annual support is estimated in the $5M–$10M range, though precision is limited.
ALK Positive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ALK Positive
- Legal name
- ALK Positive Inc.
- Website
- https://alkpositive.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ALK Positive is a 501(c)(3) patient-driven nonprofit serving patients with ALK-positive cancers across 55+ countries through second-opinion programs, a clinical trial finder, educational content, and research grants totaling $10.8M since 2017.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where ALK Positive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ALK Positive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: ALK Positive relies primarily on individual donations from patients, caregivers, family members, and supporters affected by ALK+ cancer. The organization runs fundraising campaigns including the annual #FuelTheCure campaign and accepts one-time and recurring donations via its website.
- Research Grants and Partnerships: The organization receives funding through research grants and partnerships. For example, LUNGevity Foundation partnered with ALK Positive to fund up to $1.5 million for lung cancer research projects targeting ALK-positive lung cancer. Additional funding comes from the Richard Tam Foundation for the Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative at University of Michigan.
- Corporate Partnerships: ALK Positive receives support through corporate matching gift programs, cryptocurrency donations, stock donations, and planned giving. The organization partners with pharmaceutical companies for educational initiatives and clinical trial awareness.
- Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: The organization offers planned giving options including bequests through FreeWill partnership, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs for donors 70½ or older, and other legacy giving vehicles.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
ALK Positive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ALK Positive is a 501(c)(3) patient-driven nonprofit that delivers free support services, expert education, clinical trial navigation, and second-opinion access to the global ALK-positive cancer community. It funds ALK+ research through grants and partnerships (committing $10.8 million since 2017) and operates educational speaker series (ALKtALK), wellness programs (Healing Arts), and patient-focused research initiatives. The organization serves 8,000+ members across 55+ countries, connecting patients and care partners with ALK+ specialists and cutting-edge clinical trials.
Product overview
ALK Positive is a patient-driven nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) offering a portfolio of support services, educational programs, and research initiatives for the ALK-positive cancer community. The core offerings include the Patient-Focused Research Programs that enable patients to contribute to studies on ALK+ cancer; the Second Opinion Program that connects patients with expert oncologists; the Clinical Trial Finder tool for finding relevant studies; the ALKtALK educational speaker series; Healing Arts wellness sessions; and the Decision Aid tool. These programs are complemented by the online support community, newsletter communications, and Doctor Discussion Guide resources. Together, these services form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting patients from diagnosis through treatment and ongoing care.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Second Opinion Program Program that connects eligible ALK-positive cancer patients with world-class medical experts for treatment reviews and second opinions at no cost to qualifying patients, with both in-person consultations at partner institutions and remote telemedicine options.
- Clinical Trial Finder Searchable clinical-trial navigation tool that helps ALK-positive patients identify relevant clinical trials based on their diagnosis, treatment history, and location, supporting informed conversations with their care teams.
- ALKtALK Flagship community speaker series featuring discussions with leading ALK experts, research teams, physicians, and mental health professionals to support, educate, and empower the ALK-positive community.
- Healing Arts Holistic wellness program offering virtual sessions including yoga, chair yoga, art therapy, book club, guided imagery, men's group, mindset reset, and specialized groups for newly diagnosed, young, and single ALK-positive patients.
- Patient-Focused Research Programs Collection of non-interventional research studies that ALK Positive facilitates, including the ALK Life Study, Young Lung Cancer Study at Dana-Farber, Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative at University of Michigan, and 23andMe Lung Cancer Genetics Study.
- Decision Aid Interactive web tool that helps ALK-positive patients make informed decisions about their cancer treatment options by translating clinical information into actionable decision support.
- Online Support Community Private Facebook-based peer support community connecting over 3,500 patients and caregivers worldwide, complemented by specialized caregiver support groups.
- ALK+ Newsletter Email newsletter providing subscribers with regular updates on ALK+ cancer research, clinical trials, events, patient stories, and organizational resources.
- Doctor Discussion Guide Educational guide providing suggested questions for ALK-positive patients to ask their doctors at critical points in their care journey, supporting more productive clinical conversations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50-90% of ALK+ patients respond well to approved ALK inhibitors once diagnosed
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ALK Positive
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ALK Positive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ALK Positive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LUNGevity FoundationcoreLUNGevity Foundation partnered with ALK Positive to fund up to $1.5 million for lung cancer research projects targeting ALK-positive lung cancer. The partnership aims to improve outcomes and potentially transform the disease into a manageable or curable condition. This collaboration represents a significant investment in ALK+ research funding.
- Dana-Farber Cancer InstitutecorePartnership for the Young Lung Cancer Study to learn about how and why lung cancer develops in people ages 45 years and younger. The study aims to identify factors related to lung cancer development, predict cancer risks, and learn about tumor changes that could affect treatment. Funded by private and public research grants.
- University of Michigan Rogel Cancer CentercorePartnership for the Judith Tam ALK Lung Cancer Research Initiative focused on advancing precision medicine for ALK+ NSCLC patients. The initiative aims to understand why current TKI medicines stop working over time and develop strategies to delay or prevent drug resistance. Funded by Richard Tam Foundation.
- 23andMeminorPartnership for the 23andMe Lung Cancer Genetics Study, a patient-focused research initiative inviting ALK+ patients to participate in genetic research that may benefit the broader ALK+ community.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CentercorePartner institution for the Second Opinion Program. Dr. Mark Awad, Chief of Thoracic Oncology Service at MSK, serves as one of the expert consultants providing free second opinions to eligible ALK+ patients.
- MD Anderson Cancer CentercorePartner institution for the Second Opinion Program. Dr. John Heymach, Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at MD Anderson, serves as an expert consultant for the program.
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Second Opinion Program)corePartner institution for the Second Opinion Program. Dr. Narjust Florez and Dr. Alice Shaw from Dana-Farber provide expert consultations to eligible ALK+ patients, with some remote consultation options available.
- Massachusetts General HospitalcorePartner institution for the Second Opinion Program. Dr. Jessica Lin and team from MGH provide expert consultations to eligible ALK+ patients.
- University of Colorado Cancer CentercorePartner institution for the Second Opinion Program. Dr. Ross Camidge, Dr. Tejas Patil, and Dr. Erin Schenk from UCHealth provide expert consultations, with remote options available for some physicians.
- Multiple Academic Cancer Centers (Second Opinion Program)coreNetwork of 20+ academic cancer centers and specialists across the US and internationally participating in the Second Opinion Program, including institutions in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, DC, and India. Remote consultations available for qualifying patients.
- FreeWillminorPartnership to offer free will-writing services to supporters who wish to include ALK Positive in their estate plans. FreeWill provides an easy, secure platform for planned giving.
- The Giving Block / Gemini Trust ExchangeminorCryptocurrency donation processing partnership through The Giving Block and Gemini Trust Exchange, allowing supporters to donate cryptocurrency with potential tax benefits.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ALK Positive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LUNGevity Foundation: LUNGevity is the largest lung cancer-focused nonprofit in the US and a direct research-funding partner of ALK Positive ($1.5M co-funded program). It competes for the same donor mindshare and pharma sponsorships while operating across all lung cancer subtypes, making it both a partner and the most significant broader incumbent in the space.
- GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer: GO2 Foundation (formed from the merger of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and Lung Cancer Alliance) is one of the largest lung cancer patient advocacy organizations. It competes for donor dollars and offers overlapping support services, screening initiatives, and research funding across all lung cancer types.
- American Lung Association: The American Lung Association is a large, established health organization addressing all lung diseases including lung cancer. It offers patient support, research funding, and advocacy across a much broader portfolio, competing for general donor dollars and institutional visibility.
- American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is the largest US cancer nonprofit with extensive lung cancer programs, research grants, and patient navigation services. It represents the broadest incumbent against which ALK Positive must differentiate its biomarker-specific focus.
Direct peers
- EGFR Resisters: EGFR Resisters is a patient-driven community for EGFR-positive lung cancer patients and caregivers, using the identical model to ALK Positive (Facebook community, second opinions, research funding, summit). It is the closest structural analog and the most direct substitute for biomarker-specific donor and pharma attention.
- The ROS1ders: The ROS1ders is a patient-driven nonprofit for ROS1-positive cancer patients, mirroring ALK Positive's model of community support, education, and research funding. Like ALK Positive, it is hyper-focused on a single oncogenic driver and competes for the same niche pharma partnerships and biomarker-aware donor base.
- Lung Cancer Foundation of America: Lung Cancer Foundation of America is a lung cancer patient advocacy and research-funding nonprofit. While broader than ALK Positive's mutation-specific focus, it competes for the same donor segment and has overlapping research-grant and patient-education programs.
Others
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC): IASLC is the global professional society for lung cancer researchers and clinicians. It is not a direct donor competitor but is a critical peer in the ALK+ research ecosystem, hosting the World Conference on Lung Cancer and setting research priorities that shape ALK Positive's grantmaking focus.
- Cancer Research Institute: Cancer Research Institute is a major US nonprofit funding immunotherapy and cancer immunology research. It is adjacent rather than directly competitive but funds overlapping research portfolios and competes for high-net-worth donors interested in cancer research funding.
Emerging players
- KRAS Kickers: KRAS Kickers is a patient-driven nonprofit for KRAS-mutant lung cancer, structured similarly to ALK Positive with a community, research funding, and education focus. It represents the broader mutation-specific advocacy peer set that is fragmenting the niche donor and pharma attention pool.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ALK Positive social profiles
Digital presenceALK Positive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ALK Positive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
ALK Positive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ALK Positive M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ALK Positive
What does ALK Positive do?
ALK Positive is a 501(c)(3) patient-driven nonprofit that delivers free support services, expert education, clinical trial navigation, and second-opinion access to the global ALK-positive cancer community. It funds ALK+ research through grants and partnerships (committing $10.8 million since 2017) and operates educational speaker series (ALKtALK), wellness programs (Healing Arts), and patient-focused research initiatives. The organization serves 8,000+ members across 55+ countries, connecting patients and care partners with ALK+ specialists and cutting-edge clinical trials.
Is ALK Positive a public or private company?
ALK Positive is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ALK Positive founded?
ALK Positive was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ALK Positive based?
ALK Positive is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does ALK Positive make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Partnerships, corporate Partnerships and planned Giving and Estate Gifts.
Who are ALK Positive's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LUNGevity Foundation, GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, American Lung Association and American Cancer Society. Direct peers are EGFR Resisters, The ROS1ders and Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Others are International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and Cancer Research Institute. KRAS Kickers is listed as an emerging player.
Does ALK Positive have an API?
No public API is recorded for ALK Positive.