Lungevity Foundation

What Lungevity Foundation does

LUNGevity Foundation is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 (with first research grants issued in 2002) that operates as the largest nonprofit funder of lung cancer research in the United States. Since 2002, the foundation has invested over $55 million in more than 200 research projects spanning 69 institutions across 24 states and the District of Columbia, funding work in early detection, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, interception of pre-cancerous cells, and health equity. It maintains a national footprint with headquarters in Chicago (332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 900) and a secondary office in Bethesda, MD, supported by 11-50 employees and a board of directors.

The foundation's service portfolio covers both research and direct patient support. Patient-facing offerings include a toll-free Lung Cancer HELPLine (833-797-5800), a peer-to-peer mentoring program, online communities, virtual meetups, survivorship conferences, downloadable educational materials, and six subtype-specific Patient Gateways (NSCLC, ALK, SCLC, EGFR, KRAS, and Rare Mutations). Operational centers include the Early Lung Cancer Center, the Patient-Focused Research Center (with its Citizen Scientist Program training patients to work alongside researchers), and the Cancer Precision Medicine Commons. The foundation also funds a translational research award portfolio — Career Development Awards, VA Research Scholar Awards, Health Equity and Inclusiveness Awards, Early Detection Awards, and Partner Awards — and operates the LUNGevity Action Network for legislative and regulatory advocacy.

LUNGevity generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, supplemented by gifts of appreciated securities and merchandise sales through its online store (breathe-deep.checkoutstores.com). All patient services and educational resources are provided free of charge; the foundation does not sell products to patients. Notable funding and research partners include the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), The Hamoui Foundation, ALK Positive, EGFR Resisters, Stand Up To Cancer, the American Lung Association, the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS), and the CHEST Foundation. The organization also deploys an AI-powered Intelligent Nutrition Assistant (Ina) for 24/7 patient support, and is referenced alongside AI imaging tools such as Sybil (CT-scan lung cancer prediction) being deployed through partner health systems. Andrea Ferris serves as CEO.

Name

Lungevity Foundation

Legal name

LUNGevity Foundation

Website

https://lungevity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LUNGevity Foundation is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest nonprofit funder of lung cancer research, funding over $55M in grants across 200 projects at 69 U.S. institutions while providing free patient education, support, and advocacy services to people affected by lung cancer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Lung cancer research
• Patient support services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Cancer advocacy
• Biomedical research grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: LUNGevity Foundation generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations who support lung cancer research and patient programs.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells merchandise through its online store (https://breathe-deep.checkoutstores.com/) including branded items for supporters.
3. Gifts of Stock: Donors can make meaningful contributions through gifts of appreciated securities, which also provide the donor a charitable income tax deduction.

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LUNGevity Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds lung cancer research and delivers free patient support, education, and advocacy services. Its offerings include translational research grant programs, a toll-free Lung Cancer HELPLine, peer-to-peer mentoring, type-specific Patient Gateways (NSCLC, ALK, SCLC, EGFR, KRAS, rare mutations), survivorship events, an AI-powered Intelligent Nutrition Assistant (Ina), and the LUNGevity Action Network for policy advocacy. Since 2002, it has invested over $55 million across 200+ research projects at 69 institutions in 24 states and DC.

Product overview

LUNGevity Foundation is a nonprofit organization operating as a single, unified service platform focused on transforming how people are diagnosed with and live with lung cancer. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of patient support services including the Lung Cancer HELPLine, Peer-to-Peer Mentoring, Survivorship Events, Online Communities, and Virtual Meetups. It offers specialized Patient Gateways for different lung cancer types (NSCLC, ALK, SCLC, EGFR, KRAS, Rare Mutations), an AI-powered Intelligent Nutrition Assistant (Ina), and operates research centers including the Patient-Focused Research Center with its Citizen Scientist Program, the Cancer Precision Medicine Commons, and the Early Lung Cancer Center. The foundation also funds Translational Research Award Programs and hosts the LUNGevity Action Network for advocacy. Since 2002, LUNGevity has invested over $55 million in more than 200 research projects at 69 institutions across 24 states and the District of Columbia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LUNGevity: Primary brand name for the foundation's lung cancer research and patient support programs.
• LUNGevity Action Network
• Early Lung Cancer Center
• Patient-Focused Research Center
• Cancer Precision Medicine Commons
• Citizen Scientist Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $55 million invested in lung cancer research since 2002
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and historical.

• The Hamoui FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for RET-positive lung cancer research awards supporting research focused specifically on RET-positive non-small cell lung cancer treatment and resistance mechanisms.
• ALK PositivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient-led advocacy group partner supporting research focused specifically on ALK-positive lung cancer, selecting and funding research priorities for this specific NSCLC subtype.
• EGFR ResisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient-led advocacy group partner supporting research focused on EGFR-mutant lung cancer, providing infrastructure and scientific guidance for research funding.
• Stand Up To CancermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Lung Cancer Interception Research Awards taking a novel approach to finding lung cancer early by catching precancerous cells and blocking them from turning into cancer cells.
• American Lung AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Lung Cancer Interception Research Awards and historical partner for lung cancer research funding. Previously co-funded research awards together.
• National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for VA Research Scholar Award focusing on lung cancer screening awareness for Black Veterans. NABVETS provides trusted community access for distributing culturally relevant LCS awareness toolkit.
• The CHEST FoundationhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical co-funding partner (philanthropic arm of American College of Chest Physicians) that co-funded early research projects starting in 2002.
• Joan’s LegacyhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical co-funding partner that co-funded specific lung cancer research projects, including the 2007 research award with LUNGevity.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer: Formed by the merger of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the Lung Cancer Foundation of America, GO2 is a lung-cancer-specific nonprofit funding research and providing patient support — directly competing with LUNGevity for the same donor and patient segments.
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: Cancer-focused nonprofit emphasizing prevention and early detection — overlapping directly with LUNGevity's Early Lung Cancer Center mandate and lung-cancer screening advocacy.
• Lung Cancer Research Foundation: Dedicated lung cancer research funder running grant programs and patient education — the closest direct comparator to LUNGevity's research-funding core mission.
• National Foundation for Cancer Research: Cancer-focused nonprofit funding translational research globally, with overlapping award mechanisms and donor demographics to LUNGevity's translational research awards.

Broad incumbents

• American Lung Association: Larger, broader lung-health nonprofit that also funds lung cancer research (LUNGevity's co-funder on Lung Cancer Interception Research Awards) and runs patient support programs — competes for corporate sponsorships and federal-advocacy influence.
• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, with a lung cancer research portfolio and 24/7 helpline (similar to LUNGevity's HELPLine). Overlaps significantly on research funding and patient navigation, but at much greater scale.
• Stand Up To Cancer: Major cancer research funding collaborative that co-funds the Lung Cancer Interception Research Awards with LUNGevity. Competes for high-profile donor attention and celebrity-driven fundraising in the same cancer research space.
• Cancer Research Institute: Focused funder of cancer immunology research, with overlapping interest in LUNGevity's immunotherapy and translational research award programs — competes for scientific grant-making prestige and donor mindshare.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Major cancer research grantmaker (founded by Jim Valvano) with substantial lung-cancer portfolio. Competes for high-net-worth donors, corporate sponsorships, and translational research grant applications.

Others

• Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): Federal funder that awarded LUNGevity a July 2025 grant; an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but represents an institutional funding channel relevant to LUNGevity's patient-focused research model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/lungevity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LUNGevity
• Facebookfacebook.com/LUNGevity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/225184
• Instagraminstagram.com/lungevity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Lungevity Foundation