Hope For Stomach Cancer

What Hope For Stomach Cancer does

Hope For Stomach Cancer (legally the Stomach Cancer Awareness Network) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization founded in 2016 by Aki Smith and headquartered in Marina Del Rey, California. The organization serves three primary constituencies: stomach cancer (gastric cancer) patients seeking information and support at diagnosis and through treatment; caregivers and family members needing guidance and emotional support; and medical professionals, including oncologists, surgeons, and researchers at leading cancer centers who participate in the Medical Advisory Board, conferences, and clinical trial postings. Itself a two-time cancer survivor and a stage IV stomach cancer survivor serve on the board, anchoring the mission in lived patient experience.

The organization's core product surface is a suite of free programs rather than a proprietary technology product. Flagship offerings include Hope In A Bag, a free physical resource bundle (My Companion Guidebook plus NCCN treatment guidelines) shipped to newly diagnosed patients across the United States; biannual Patient Empowerment Summits in Los Angeles (Q4) and Washington, D.C. (Q1); the annual Gastric Cancer Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill; the Stomach Cancer Mentor Program (delivered via partnership with Imerman Angels); monthly Hope Webinars; multi-format Stomach Cancer Support Groups; Dr. Dan's Gastroesophageal Cancers Video Library (43+ educational videos); a Biomarkers educational initiative; a Data Sharing Program via the Esophageal and Stomach Cancer Project (Count Me In); and a Nutrition Guide. The underlying technology stack is a content/website platform (stocan.org and dedicated microsites such as stomachcancerbiomarkers.org and stomachcancernutrition.org), Zoom-based webinars and support groups, a YouTube channel, and social media properties; there is no proprietary software product or AI/ML capability.

The business model is a nonprofit donation- and grant-funded model with no pricing on beneficiary services. Revenue streams include individual donations (preset tiers of $25–$1,000 in one-time, monthly, quarterly, or yearly cadences), memorial donations, foundation grants (the only quantified example is a $9,500 GEICO Philanthropic Foundation grant in September 2024), and corporate partnerships with five pharmaceutical companies: Daiichi-Sankyo, Lilly Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Taiho Oncology, and Merck. Distribution is direct-to-patient via website, direct mail (Hope In A Bag), in-person summits, virtual support groups, and online video. The organization has 1–10 employees, holds a Platinum GuideStar/Candid Seal of Transparency, and is the operating entity behind H.R. 4841, the Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act, which was reintroduced in Congress in February 2025.

Name

Hope For Stomach Cancer

Legal name

Stomach Cancer Awareness Network

Website

https://stocan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hope For Stomach Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization that provides free educational resources, support groups, mentor matching, advocacy training, and annual Patient Empowerment Summits to stomach cancer patients, caregivers, and the medical community in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Gastric cancer advocacy
• Patient support services
• Cancer education resources
• Nonprofit health support
• Patient empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Marina Del Rey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Hope For Stomach Cancer generates revenue through individual donations from supporters. The donation page offers preset amounts ($25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000) with options for one-time, monthly, quarterly, or yearly recurring donations.
2. Grants: The organization receives grant funding from foundations such as the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation ($9,500 grant for stomach cancer education, support, and early detection efforts).
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships with pharmaceutical companies including Daiichi-Sankyo, Lilly Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Tahio Oncology, and Merck Pharma provide funding and support for programs and initiatives.
4. Memorial Donations: The organization accepts donations made in honor or memory of family members or loved ones affected by stomach cancer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hope For Stomach Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization that provides free educational resources, support programs, and advocacy services to stomach cancer patients, caregivers, and the medical community. Its core offerings include the Hope In A Bag resource bundle for newly diagnosed patients, annual Patient Empowerment Summits in Los Angeles and Washington D.C., mentor matching, virtual support groups, monthly educational webinars, and a Capitol Hill advocacy day.

Product overview

Hope For Stomach Cancer (dba Stomach Cancer Awareness Network) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization offering a comprehensive suite of resources and programs for stomach cancer patients, caregivers, and the medical community. The organization's core offerings include Hope In A Bag (free resource bundles for newly diagnosed patients), Patient Empowerment Summits (annual conferences in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.), and Gastric Cancer Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. Supporting programs include the Stomach Cancer Mentor Program (via Imerman Angels partnership), Hope Webinars (monthly expert-led educational sessions), Stomach Cancer Support Groups (virtual meetings for various stages), Dr. Dan's Gastroesophageal Cancers Video Library (40+ educational videos), the Stomach Cancer Biomarkers initiative, Data Sharing Program (via Esophageal and Stomach Cancer Project), Nutrition Guide, Mental Health and Wellness Programs, and Clinical Trials Information. The organization also provides access to NCCN Treatment Guidelines, survivorship guidelines, and financial/insurance assistance resources through partner organizations. The organization does not offer a software product but provides advocacy services, educational content, and community support programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hope In A Bag A free resource bundle for newly diagnosed stomach cancer patients that includes a My Companion Guidebook, NCCN treatment guidelines in multiple languages, and educational materials from partner organizations; shipped at no charge within the United States.
• Patient Empowerment Summits Annual educational conferences held twice a year (Los Angeles in Q4 and Washington, D.C. in Q1) that bring together patients, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates for education, connection, and advocacy.
• Gastric Cancer Advocacy Day Annual advocacy event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where patients, caregivers, and advocates meet with lawmakers to advance stomach cancer legislation, including the Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act.
• Stomach Cancer Mentor Program One-on-one mentorship matching patients and caregivers with cancer survivors and caregivers who have faced similar diagnoses, delivered in partnership with Imerman Angels at no cost.
• Hope Webinars Monthly on-demand webinar series covering the latest developments in stomach cancer diagnosis, treatment, surgery, clinical trials, and nutrition with expert clinical speakers.
• Stomach Cancer Support Groups Multiple support group options for stomach cancer patients and caregivers, including Stage IV virtual meetings, surgeon-moderated meetings, Facebook groups, and the Stomach Cancer Sisters program for young women.
• Dr. Dan's Gastroesophageal Cancers Video Library Educational video library of 40+ topics on gastroesophageal cancers created by Dr. Dan Catenacci, available to patients, caregivers, and medical professionals.
• Stomach Cancer Biomarkers Initiative Educational initiative providing resources on stomach cancer biomarkers and molecular profiling to help patients understand tumor analysis and treatment options.
• Data Sharing Program Partnership with the Esophageal and Stomach Cancer Project (Count Me In) that enables patients to contribute their tumor data to advance stomach cancer research.
• Nutrition Guide for Stomach Cancer Patients Nutrition booklet providing practical guidance on dietary needs before, during, and after stomach cancer treatment, complemented by Hope Webcasts video content on dietary interventions.
• Mental Health and Wellness Programs Holistic wellness offerings for women fighting stomach cancer, including acupuncture services, yoga, mindfulness sessions, and the Healing with Hannah program.
• Financial and Insurance Assistance Resources Resources connecting stomach cancer patients with financial assistance, medication help, transportation, lodging, co-pay assistance, and legal guidance through partner organizations.
• NCCN Treatment Guidelines Distribution Distribution of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) stomach cancer treatment guidelines in multiple languages, including English (2026) and Spanish (2025), to patients through Hope In A Bag and online.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• M&C CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 October 2025M&C Communications has been appointed as the public relations agency for Hope for Stomach Cancer. The partnership focuses on storytelling, advocacy, education, and community engagement efforts to improve awareness and care for stomach cancer patients.
• Bag-ItcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope In A Bag was created in collaboration between Hope For Stomach Cancer and Bag-It, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization from Tucson, Arizona. Bag-It provides the resource bags that are shipped to newly diagnosed stomach cancer patients.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope For Stomach Cancer supports NCCN's Stomach Cancer Treatment Guidelines which are available in multiple languages (English 2026, Spanish 2025). Hope distributes these guidelines to patients through Hope In A Bag.
• Count Me In / Esophageal And Stomach Cancer ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope For Stomach Cancer is an advocacy partner of the Esophageal And Stomach Cancer Project. The organization encourages patients to share their gastric and stomach cancer data to advance treatment options nationwide.
• GI Cancers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope For Stomach Cancer is a founding member organization of the GI Cancers Alliance. Together they created the Treatment & Survivorship Care Plan for Gastrointestinal Cancers.
• Imerman AngelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope For Stomach Cancer has partnered with Imerman Angels to match mentors with those facing stomach cancer. The partnership provides free one-on-one support connecting patients and caregivers with mentor angels who have faced similar cancer experiences.
• Esophageal Cancer Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope For Stomach Cancer partners with the Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation to host monthly Stage IV support meetings featuring GI oncologists. These meetings are specifically for Stage IV patients and caregivers facing esophageal, GE Junction, or stomach cancers.
• FamGenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamGenix is a software platform recommended by Hope For Stomach Cancer for hereditary cancer risk assessment. The free app helps patients identify hereditary disease risk and share information with clinicians.
• Stand Up To CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope For Stomach Cancer collaborates with Stand Up To Cancer on webinars and educational content about clinical trials and gastric cancer research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Susan G. Komen: Komen is the archetype US disease-specific cancer advocacy organization, combining patient support, research funding, and policy advocacy — directly comparable as a model Hope For Stomach Cancer follows, albeit at vastly greater scale.
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: PanCAN is the leading US disease-specific advocacy nonprofit for pancreatic cancer, operating research grants, clinical-trial databases, patient services, and Capitol Hill advocacy — the closest operational analog to Hope For Stomach Cancer in a more mature cancer vertical.
• LUNGevity Foundation: LUNGevity is a disease-specific lung cancer advocacy and research organization with patient support, education, and policy advocacy programs — directly comparable in mission, structure, and target audience.
• Colorectal Cancer Alliance: Colorectal Cancer Alliance is a disease-specific GI cancer nonprofit offering patient support, screening advocacy, and research funding — directly comparable as a fellow GI cancer-focused advocacy organization.
• Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance: OCRA is a disease-specific ovarian cancer research and advocacy nonprofit combining patient support, scientific grantmaking, and federal policy work — directly comparable in mission and program mix.
• National Brain Tumor Society: National Brain Tumor Society is a disease-specific cancer advocacy nonprofit funding research and providing patient support — closely comparable in structure and niche-disease advocacy focus.

Broad incumbents

• Stand Up To Cancer: Stand Up To Cancer is a broad cancer research and awareness nonprofit that collaborates with Hope For Stomach Cancer on webinars and clinical-trial content; a broader incumbent in the same awareness/research space.
• American Cancer Society: ACS is the largest US cancer nonprofit, covering all cancer types including stomach cancer with research, patient support, and policy programs — a broad incumbent that competes for donor mindshare and corporate sponsorship.

Emerging players

• Imerman Angels: Imerman Angels is a cancer mentor-matching nonprofit and an active strategic partner of Hope For Stomach Cancer; it provides the backbone of the org's mentor program and shares the cancer patient-support mission.
• Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation: Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation is a partner organization that co-hosts Stage IV support meetings with Hope For Stomach Cancer — a closely adjacent disease-specific advocacy peer with overlapping patient populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/StoCANcer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCO78U45EsZtjqx6uKegMzwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/StomachCancerAwarenessNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hope-for-stomach-cancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/hope4stomachcancer

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hope For Stomach Cancer