Prevent Cancer Foundation

What Prevent Cancer Foundation does

The Prevent Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered at 333 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria, Virginia. It is the only U.S.-based nonprofit solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection, operating across four pillars: research funding, public education, advocacy, and community outreach. Its mission—"Stopping Cancer. Saving Lives."—is delivered through educational content covering nine cancer types (breast, cervical, colorectal, liver, lung, oral, prostate, skin, and testicular), downloadable resources localized into 11 languages, an interactive Cancer Screening Quiz, a directory of free and low-cost screening services, and the annual Early Detection Survey (7,500+ respondents in 2026). The Foundation supports medically underserved communities, young adults, young women, and congressional families as primary audiences.

The product portfolio includes cancer-type educational resources, the "Early Detection = Better Outcomes®" national awareness campaign, the Community Grants Program (130+ grants since 2007 across 38 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Washoe Tribe), Research Grants and Fellowships ($8.1M awarded to 83 grantees between 2014–2023 across 59 institutions), the Congressional Families® Program (180+ congressional spouses), the Global Impact Program spanning dozens of countries, and the Prevent Cancer Community Exchange network. The Foundation does not develop proprietary technology; it distributes content through its website, email newsletters, social media (Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, YouTube), webinars, and annual events including the Prevent Cancer Dialogue conference and Advocacy Workshop.

Revenue is generated through diversified streams: individual donations (including tribute, monthly, and birthday fundraisers), corporate sponsorships from 15+ named pharmaceutical and biotech partners (AstraZeneca, Lilly, Merck, Bayer, Genentech, Guardant Health, Exact Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Aflac, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Grail, Hologic, Oracle), event fundraising (Annual Gala having raised $32M+ since 1994, Awesome Games Done Quick at $2.5M in 2025 and $2.44M in 2026, No Shave November with a $250K goal), and planned giving/bequests. The Foundation has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no institutional investors or PE/VC ownership, and is governed by a Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board, and Congressional Families Program committees under CEO Jody Hoyos. A bold goal targets a 40% reduction in cancer deaths by 2035, supported by a $40M programmatic commitment ($20M research, $10M underserved access, $10M education).

Name

Prevent Cancer Foundation

Legal name

Prevent Cancer Foundation

Website

https://preventcancer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Prevent Cancer Foundation, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is the only U.S.-based nonprofit solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. It funds prevention research, delivers public education across nine cancer types, advocates for screening access (including the 2026 MCED Coverage Act), and supports community-based navigation programs in medically underserved areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Prevention Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Non-Communicable Disease Prevention & Chronic Disease Programs (BPAIAJAI)

Keywords

• Cancer prevention education
• Early detection research
• Community health grants
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Patient navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The Foundation receives donations from individual supporters through its website, tribute giving (honor/memory), monthly giving programs, and birthday/celebration fundraisers.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies including AstraZeneca, Lilly, Merck, Bayer, Genentech, Guardant, Exact Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Aflac, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Grail, Hologic, Oracle, and others sponsor events and programs.
3. Annual Gala: Annual black-tie fundraising event in Washington D.C. that has raised over $32 million since 1994. Attracts over 1,000 guests from business, diplomatic, government, medical, and philanthropic communities.
4. Awesome Games Done Quick: Annual live-streamed video game marathon organized by Games Done Quick that raises funds for the Foundation. AGDQ 2025 raised $2.5 million and AGDQ 2026 raised $2,443,414.
5. No Shave November: Annual campaign encouraging people to forgo shaving and grooming, donating money to the Foundation. The campaign has its own $250,000 fundraising goal.
6. Planned Giving and Bequests: Donors can make the Foundation a beneficiary of their will or trust, creating lasting impact on cancer prevention.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Prevent Cancer Foundation delivers evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection education covering nine cancer types, funds innovative cancer prevention research through grants and fellowships, advocates for policy improvements including multi-cancer early detection screening coverage, and supports community-level cancer screening and vaccination programs through grants to local organizations. All educational resources, screening tools, and informational content are provided free of charge to the public and partner organizations.

Product overview

The Prevent Cancer Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection, offering a portfolio of educational programs, grant funding initiatives, research fellowships, and advocacy campaigns. The core offerings include cancer type-specific educational resources covering nine cancer types, the "Early Detection = Better Outcomes®" awareness campaign, and the annual Early Detection Survey. The Foundation supports communities through its Community Grants Program funding local screening initiatives, the Congressional Families® Program for bipartisan advocacy, and the Global Impact Program for international projects. Research funding is provided through Research Grants and Fellowships supporting scientists at academic institutions. Additional resources include the Breast Health Education Guide, Cancer Screening Quiz tool, and the Prevent Cancer Community Exchange network platform. The Foundation also runs the Prevent Cancer Dialogue conference and Advocacy Workshop, and leads policy initiatives like the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Congressional Families Program: A bipartisan, non-political network of members of Congress and their spouses/partners who share an interest in advancing cancer prevention and early detection through outreach and education. Includes more than 180 congressional spouses.
• Prevent Cancer Community Exchange
• Too Young for This Sh*t
• Early Detection Survey
• Awesome Games Done Quick
• No Shave November

Products and services

• Cancer Screening Education by Cancer Type Comprehensive educational resources covering nine cancer types (breast, cervical, colorectal, liver, lung, oral, prostate, skin, and testicular) with information on prevention, screening guidelines, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options, available free to the public in 11 languages.
• Early Detection = Better Outcomes® Campaign National awareness campaign with a registered trademark, emphasizing the importance of routine cancer screenings before symptoms appear, providing resources to help individuals understand their screening needs.
• 2026 Early Detection Survey Annual survey of U.S. adults assessing knowledge and behaviors around routine cancer screening, providing data on screening trends and barriers across 7,500+ respondents.
• Community Grants Program Program supporting local cancer awareness education, screening, and vaccination programs across the United States for medically underserved communities. Includes Patient Navigation Grantees receiving $100,000 each over two years. Since 2007, 130+ grants have been awarded across 38 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Washoe Tribe.
• Congressional Families® Program Bipartisan, non-political network of members of Congress and their spouses/partners (180+ congressional spouses) who advance cancer prevention and early detection through outreach, education, community site visits, and the annual Action for Cancer Awareness Awards since 1993.
• Global Impact Program Global grants and technical fellowships supporting innovative cancer prevention and early detection projects in low- and middle-income countries, territories, and commonwealths, with reach spanning dozens of countries.
• Research Grants and Fellowships Funding for promising scientists conducting innovative projects in cancer prevention and early detection at academic institutions. Between 2014 and 2023, the Foundation issued $8.1 million in research funding supporting 83 grants and fellowships across 59 institutions.
• Prevent Cancer Community Exchange Network platform of organizations working at the community level to advance cancer prevention, early detection, and vaccination access, providing a resource library, webinars, discussion forums, and member-only trainings.
• Breast Health Education Guide Facilitator's guide designed to increase young women's knowledge about breast health and breast cancer, available in English and Spanish, used in communities across the U.S. and around the world.
• Cancer Screening Quiz Personalized interactive screening plan tool that provides users with recommended cancer screenings based on their age, with results emailed directly to their inbox.
• Free and Low-Cost Screening Resources Directory of resources to help individuals locate free and low-cost medical care, including partner organizations for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, and skin cancer screenings, as well as vaccinations.
• Multi-Cancer Early Detection Initiative Advocacy effort supporting the MCED Screening Coverage Act (Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act), signed into law on February 3, 2026, to enable Medicare coverage of multi-cancer early detection tests.
• Too Young for This Sh*t! Campaign addressing rising colorectal cancer rates in younger adults under 50, providing education about symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of screening starting at age 45.
• Prevent Cancer Dialogue Annual in-person conference featuring presentations from subject matter experts and moderated discussions on cancer prevention and early detection topics.
• Prevent Cancer Advocacy Workshop Annual workshop bringing together patient advocacy organizations, individual advocates, and experts to discuss topics like patient navigation and cancer screening.
• Family Health History Tool Family history worksheet and genetic testing information to help individuals understand their personal cancer risk based on family health history.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of U.S. adults are behind on at least one routine cancer screening (2026 Early Detection Survey)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AstraZenecacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor of Prevent Cancer Foundation events and educational programs supporting cancer awareness initiatives.
• LillycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor supporting Foundation events and programs related to cancer awareness and early detection.
• MerckcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor of Foundation events and cancer prevention awareness programs.
• BayercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Prevent Cancer Foundation's cancer prevention and early detection initiatives.
• GenentechcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBiotechnology sponsor supporting cancer awareness and early detection programs.
• Guardant HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Foundation events and cancer screening awareness programs.
• Exact SciencescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting colorectal cancer screening awareness and early detection initiatives.
• Johnson & JohnsoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare sponsor of Foundation events and cancer prevention education programs.
• PfizercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical sponsor supporting cancer awareness and early detection initiatives.
• Games Done QuickcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual charity gaming marathon that raises significant funds for the Foundation. AGDQ 2025 raised $2.5M and AGDQ 2026 raised $2,443,414 for cancer prevention.
• Cizzle BiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiotechnology company developing biomarker blood tests for early detection of lung and gastric cancers. Sponsored the Foundation's 40th Anniversary Gala in September 2025.
• Fight Colorectal CancerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on No Shave November campaign. Fight CRC acquired the campaign and completed a full rebrand, with proceeds funding cancer research and early-onset colorectal cancer awareness.
• Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization addressing HPV and cervical cancer. The Foundation is a member and participant in this global initiative.
• Global Lung Cancer CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational coalition dedicated to lung cancer awareness and advocacy. The Foundation participates as a member organization.
• International Early Lung Cancer Action ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization focused on early lung cancer detection. The Foundation collaborates on global initiatives.
• Union for International Cancer ControlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cancer control organization. The Foundation is a member and participates in global cancer awareness initiatives.
• Congressional ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with since 1991 to establish the Congressional Families Program, a bipartisan effort to increase cancer prevention awareness through congressional outreach.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, supporting cancer research, patient support, screening, and prevention/early detection programs. Directly comparable mission overlap with Prevent Cancer Foundation, but at materially larger scale and broader scope (treatment plus prevention).
• LIVESTRONG Foundation: A well-known cancer nonprofit supporting survivors, research, and advocacy. Comparable in advocacy and awareness programming, though its mission centers on survivorship rather than prevention/early detection.
• Susan G. Komen: A leading breast cancer nonprofit running research funding, community grants, advocacy, and patient navigation — directly comparable to Prevent Cancer Foundation's grantmaking, navigation, and advocacy model, though focused on a single cancer type.

Direct peers

• Stand Up To Cancer: A peer cancer research and awareness nonprofit collaborating with entertainment/media partners and running high-profile fundraising campaigns. Highly comparable fundraising model and research-grantmaking focus to Prevent Cancer Foundation.
• Colorectal Cancer Alliance: A leading colorectal cancer nonprofit running screening advocacy, patient navigation, and community grants — closely mirrors Prevent Cancer Foundation's patient navigation and 'Too Young for This Sh*t' early-onset CRC programs.
• Cancer Research Institute: A nonprofit funding cancer immunology research and patient education. Comparable as a peer cancer research funder with patient-outreach programming similar to Prevent Cancer's research grants and educational resources.
• American Institute for Cancer Research: A nonprofit focused on cancer prevention research, diet/lifestyle education, and policy — directly overlapping with Prevent Cancer Foundation's prevention-and-early-detection mission and its research grantmaking.
• World Cancer Research Fund International: An international nonprofit funding cancer-prevention research and policy advocacy. Directly comparable mission focus on prevention, research grantmaking, and global advocacy.

Emerging players

• CDC Foundation: A nonprofit mobilizing public-health partnerships and funding for CDC priorities, including cancer screening. Comparable grantmaking and public-health education model, though broader across infectious and chronic disease.

Others

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network: An alliance of leading cancer centers setting screening/treatment guidelines. Adjacent ecosystem participant that informs and overlaps with Prevent Cancer Foundation's screening-guidance and provider-education work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/preventcancer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/PreventCancerFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/preventcancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prevent-cancer-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/preventcancer
• TikToktiktok.com/@preventcancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Prevent Cancer Foundation