Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

What Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation does

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) is a US nonprofit foundation founded in 1976 (per firmographics; the company history records 1978) that funds cancer research through philanthropic donations and event-based fundraising. Over a roughly 48-year operating history, the foundation has distributed more than $120 million to over 200 scientists globally, with a thematic focus on reprogramming cancer cells and, more recently, on the intersection of aging biology and oncology. Its headquarters is located at 1350 Avenue of the Americas in New York City, and it operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees.

In April 2026, SWCRF completed a merger with The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, under which it now operates as a subsidiary. Its primary operating vehicle is the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer, the first private institute established to study aging and cancer together, which has committed $15 million in research grant funding over three years, including $2.5 million already distributed in 2026 to five multidisciplinary teams in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Research Institute. The foundation's commercial model is a donation-based nonprofit revenue structure: small-dollar online donations at $25-$500 tiers, larger contributions from high-net-worth philanthropists engaged through private receptions hosted by individuals such as Jean Shafiroff, and proceeds from high-profile annual events like the 28th 'Collaborating for a Cure' gala and an annual golf outing. There is no proprietary technology product, platform, or AI capability; the foundation's "product" is grant funding, scientific convening, and dissemination of research outcomes.

Name

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

Legal name

Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

Website

https://waxmancancer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is a New York-based nonprofit that funds cancer research globally, with a 48-year history of distributing over $120 million to more than 200 scientists and now operating as a subsidiary of The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Research Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Aging biology research
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Oncology research grants
• Philanthropic fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

New City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: The foundation raises funds through individual donations from philanthropists, with suggested donation tiers of $25, $50, $100, and $500. Donations are the primary revenue stream supporting the organization's cancer research grantmaking activities.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including the 'Collaborating for a Cure' gala generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and direct appeals. Proceeds are doubled through partnership with The Mark Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that funds cancer research by distributing grants to scientists and research institutions worldwide. Its core activity is grantmaking focused on the intersection of aging biology and oncology, channeling philanthropic donations into research exploring how aging processes influence cancer risk, progression, recurrence, and treatment response.

Product overview

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation operates as a cancer research funding organization with a 48-year history of distributing over $120 million to more than 200 scientists globally. Following the merger with The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (which has awarded $300 million in grants since 2017), the organization now encompasses the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer as its primary research subsidiary. The Institute represents the first private institute established specifically to study aging and cancer together, addressing the biological mechanisms by which aging processes influence cancer risk, progression, and treatment response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer: A research institute focused on studying the biological links between aging and cancer, supporting innovative research to understand how aging processes influence cancer risk, progression, recurrence, and treatment response. Awarding $15 million over its first three years to research teams.

Products and services

• Aging & Cancer Research Grant Program A multi-year grantmaking program for researchers and institutions studying the biological links between aging and cancer. Each funded multidisciplinary team receives $500,000 over three years to investigate how aging influences cancer development, progression, recurrence, and treatment response. The program is delivered in partnership with American Cancer Society and Cancer Research Institute.
• Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer A dedicated research institute that studies the biological links between aging and cancer, supporting innovative research that deepens scientific understanding and drives new approaches to extending health and longevity. Established as a subsidiary of The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research following the merger with Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• $120 million distributed to more than 200 scientists globally over 48-year history
• +2 more outcomes

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Partnership with American Cancer Society and Cancer Research Institute as part of a $2.5 million funding initiative for five collaborative research grants at the intersection of aging biology and cancer.
• Cancer Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Partnership with American Cancer Society and Cancer Research Institute as part of a $2.5 million funding initiative for five collaborative research grants at the intersection of aging biology and cancer. Each multidisciplinary team receives $500,000 over three years starting January 2026.
• The Mark Foundation for Cancer ResearchflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Merger completed in 2026 formalizing a partnership that began in 2022 with $4 million in collaborative grants. The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research has awarded $300 million in grants since 2017. SWCRF's 48-year history of distributing over $120 million to more than 200 scientists globally is now combined with The Mark Foundation's resources. The Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer operates as a subsidiary under The Mark Foundation.
• Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & CancerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025A Partnership with the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. The Institute is the first private institute established to study aging and cancer together, addressing the significant funding gap in age-related cancer research. Affiliated with The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: Damon Runyon is a nonprofit that funds early-career cancer researchers through fellowship and innovation grants, maintaining a similar lean operating model focused on identifying and supporting promising scientists. Both foundations fund individual cancer investigators and compete for high-net-worth donor support.
• Stand Up To Cancer: Stand Up To Cancer funds collaborative, multi-institutional cancer research 'Dream Teams' through a high-profile entertainment-industry-backed fundraising model. It shares SWCRF's emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: Prevent Cancer Foundation funds cancer prevention and early-detection research through grants and community programs, with a similar small-staff operating model and competitive grantmaking process. Both organizations engage high-net-worth donors through galas and target cancer researchers as grantees.
• Lustgarten Foundation: Lustgarten Foundation is the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research, distributing grants to academic researchers through a dedicated grantmaking program. While disease-specific, it operates the same nonprofit grantmaking model and competes for cancer-focused philanthropic dollars.
• Cancer Research Institute: Cancer Research Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to funding immune-based cancer research, distributing grants to scientists globally. CRI is a current co-funding partner with SWCRF on the $2.5M aging-cancer collaborative grants and operates a comparable grantmaking model targeting academic research labs.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: The V Foundation funds cancer research through competitive grants to investigators at major research institutions, with a similar event-driven fundraising model built around a high-profile annual gala. Both foundations compete for cancer research philanthropic dollars and pursue translational research outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• National Cancer Institute: The National Cancer Institute is the US federal government's primary cancer research funding agency, distributing billions annually in grants and contracts. NCI sets the competitive context in which private foundations like SWCRF operate and is a benchmark for research funding scale and priorities.
• American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is the largest voluntary health organization in the US, funding billions in cancer research grants across all cancer types and stages. SWCRF partners with ACS on its $2.5M aging-cancer grant program, and both compete for the same philanthropic donor base while distributing cancer research grants to academic institutions.

Others

• The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research: The Mark Foundation is SWCRF's parent organization following the April 2026 merger and had awarded $300M in cancer research grants since 2017 prior to the combination. It is included as an ecosystem participant rather than a peer given the parent-subsidiary relationship, though historically the two operated as comparable grantmaking foundations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WaxmanCancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/WaxmanCancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation