Alberta Cancer Foundation

What Alberta Cancer Foundation does

Alberta Cancer Foundation is a Canadian registered charitable nonprofit organization, established in 1985 (variously cited as 1986) and headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. It serves as the official fundraising partner for all 17 cancer centres across Alberta under Alberta Health Services, raising and deploying donor capital to fund cancer research, clinical trials, patient support, and care infrastructure. The Foundation operates from offices in Edmonton (provincial headquarters and Cross Cancer Institute) and Calgary (Foothills and Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre), with a staff of 51-100. Its mission is framed as creating 'more moments' for Albertans facing cancer — a population in which 1 in 2 residents are diagnosed in their lifetime and 24,000 new diagnoses occur annually.

The Foundation's offering is a portfolio of interconnected donation programs and patient-facing services rather than a discrete product. Core donation vehicles include the More Hope Movement, monthly giving (from $5/month), one-time gifts ($25–$250+ tiers), major gifts ($10,000+), securities donations, and legacy/planned giving. Fundraising events include the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer (signature cycling fundraiser, $123M+ cumulative since 2010), community-led fundraisers, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery. Patient programs include the Patient Financial Assistance Program and Cancer Patient Navigation Program. Research initiatives include the Game Changer Competition, clinical trials support (200+ active trials at any time), Alberta's Tomorrow Project, and the Precision Analytics program — which applies AI/ML to 300M+ patient data points in partnership with Alberta Health Services. Technology is not the core asset; the Foundation's digital infrastructure is primarily donation processing, event registration, and content systems rather than proprietary software products.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving mechanisms: individual donations (one-time, monthly, major gifts, legacy bequests), corporate partnerships (workplace giving, sponsorship, matching gifts), event-based fundraising, and lottery proceeds. FY revenue sits at approximately $53M CAD against $21.4M in operating costs, with prior-year disbursements to cancer research, treatment, and care exceeding $55M. The Foundation has cultivated strategic corporate and institutional partnerships with Enbridge (title sponsor since 2010), Siemens, Pfizer, Roche Canada, Alberta Innovates, and high-net-worth donors such as the Owerko Family. It has no parent company and is governed by a Board of Trustees under CEO Wendy Beauchesne.

Name

Alberta Cancer Foundation

Legal name

Alberta Cancer Foundation

Website

https://albertacancer.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Alberta Cancer Foundation is a Canadian charitable nonprofit serving as the exclusive fundraising partner for all 17 cancer centres in Alberta, raising ~$53M CAD annually to fund cancer research, clinical trials, and patient support programs for Albertans facing cancer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Charity and Healthcare Fundraising Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Cancer fundraising services
• Cancer research funding
• Patient support programs
• Charitable donation programs
• Cancer clinical trials

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual Albertans supporting cancer research, treatment, and care. Donors can give one-time gifts, become monthly donors (as little as $5/month), or make major gifts ($10,000+).
2. Lottery Program: Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery (formerly Cash & Cars Lottery) generates revenue through ticket sales for chance to win prizes, with proceeds supporting cancer care across Alberta.
3. Securities Donations: Donors can gift publicly traded securities and mutual funds, which provides tax advantages by eliminating capital gains tax while supporting the foundation.
4. Legacy Giving: Planned giving options including gifts in wills, estate planning vehicles that allow donors to leave lasting legacies for future generations of cancer patients.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorships, cause marketing, workplace giving programs, matching gift campaigns, and direct charitable giving from corporate partners. Title sponsor Enbridge has contributed over $10 million cumulatively since 2010.
6. Community Fundraising Events: Third-party events organized by community members including golf tournaments, galas, athletic events, and creative fundraisers. The foundation provides toolkit resources and handles receipting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Alberta Cancer Foundation is the official fundraising partner for all 17 cancer centres across Alberta. It raises charitable donations through monthly giving, one-time gifts, major gifts, securities transfers, legacy bequests, corporate partnerships, signature events such as the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery, then disburses funds for cancer research (including clinical trials, the Game Changer Competition, Alberta's Tomorrow Project, and Precision Analytics) and patient support programs (Patient Financial Assistance and Cancer Patient Navigation). All proceeds stay in Alberta to support local patients, researchers, and care providers.

Product overview

The Alberta Cancer Foundation operates as a comprehensive cancer charitable foundation serving as the official fundraising partner for all 17 cancer centres across Alberta. Rather than a unified software product, the foundation offers a portfolio of interconnected donation programs and patient support services. The core More Hope Movement donation program funds innovation across detection, treatment and care. Supporting services include the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer cycling fundraiser, the Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery, community fundraising event support, and various giving options (monthly donations, major gifts, legacy bequests, securities transfers, tax-saving seminars). Patient-facing programs include the Patient Financial Assistance Program and Cancer Patient Navigation Program. Research initiatives encompass the Game Changer Competition for research funding, Precision Analytics (using AI on patient data), clinical trials support, and Alberta's Tomorrow Project. The Leap Magazine publication shares impact stories. All components work together to create more moments for Albertans facing cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leap Magazine: Biannual publication featuring stories of Albertans touched by cancer and innovations in research, treatment and care.
• More Hope Movement
• Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery

Products and services

• More Hope Movement Donation Campaign Primary ongoing donation campaign that funds innovation in detection, treatment, and care across Alberta's 17 cancer centres. Open to individual donors, corporate partners, and community fundraisers.
• Online Donation Processing Platform Secure online portal for one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations (starting at $5/month), tribute dedications, major gifts, legacy bequests, and dedicated program giving for Albertan donors.
• Securities Donation Program Donation service that allows donors to gift publicly traded stocks and mutual funds, providing tax advantages by eliminating capital gains tax while supporting the Foundation's cancer research and care programs.
• Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer Alberta's largest cycling fundraiser bringing together riders, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners. The 2026 event raised a record-breaking $12.5 million, with cumulative Tour proceeds exceeding $123 million for cancer care since 2010.
• Alberta Cancer Foundation Lottery Formerly Cash & Cars Lottery, Alberta's only lottery for cancer. Tickets are sold online and through retail partners, with all proceeds supporting cancer research, treatment, and care across Alberta.
• Game Changer Competition Annual competitive research funding program for Alberta researchers and clinicians, awarding grants of $500,000 to $5 million per project for up to five years to drive innovative cancer research.
• Patient Financial Assistance Program Funded patient support service helping Alberta cancer patients cover non-medical costs such as travel, accommodations, and medications during treatment.
• Cancer Patient Navigation Program Funded service that connects Alberta cancer patients with registered nurses who help coordinate complex care needs across the cancer journey.
• Community Fundraising Event Hosting Self-serve program providing toolkits, resources, and receipting support for Albertans who organize their own third-party fundraisers (golf tournaments, galas, athletic events) for the Foundation.
• Tax-Saving Charitable Giving Seminars Free educational seminars teaching Albertan donors charitable planning strategies from financial experts to maximize impact and reduce tax obligations through vehicles such as securities and legacy gifts.
• Leap Magazine Publication Biannual magazine featuring inspirational Albertans touched by cancer and donor-funded innovations in research, treatment, and care across the province.

Quantifiable outcome

• Alberta has achieved one of the lowest cancer mortality rates in Canada
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• SiemensflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Partnership between Alberta and Siemens focused on advancing cancer care technology and innovation in Alberta.
• EnbridgecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2010Enbridge has served as title sponsor of the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer since 2010. Team Enbridge (composed of employees and associates) has raised over $10 million cumulatively since the partnership began. Total Tour proceeds exceed $123 million for cancer care in Alberta.
• F2F Direct ConsultingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party fundraising consultancy assisting not-for-profit organizations in building stronger brand awareness and dramatically growing their monthly support base. Manages face-to-face fundraising ambassadors for the Foundation.
• PfizerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPfizer partnered with the Alberta Cancer Foundation as part of a $4.5M initiative with Roche Canada and Alberta Innovates to turn world-class cancer data into a roadmap for a faster, more sustainable cancer care system.
• Roche CanadaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoche Canada partnered with the Alberta Cancer Foundation as part of a $4.5M initiative with Pfizer and Alberta Innovates to advance cancer care through data-driven approaches.
• Alberta InnovatesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Innovates partnered with the Alberta Cancer Foundation as part of a $4.5M initiative with Pfizer and Roche Canada to leverage cancer data for system improvements.
• NOV (National Oilwell Varco)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNOV is a corporate partner whose employees participate in events like the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer and demonstrate corporate social responsibility through workplace giving and team fundraising.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Cancer Society: National Canadian cancer charity funding research and support across all provinces. Directly comparable as a cancer-focused grantmaking and patient support organization, but operates at a national scale with a broader, less regionally concentrated mandate than Alberta Cancer Foundation.
• SickKids Foundation: Major Canadian hospital foundation raising funds for The Hospital for Sick Children, including oncology research. Comparable hospital-affiliated fundraising model with diverse giving programs (monthly, major gifts, events, lottery) and strong corporate partnership strategy.

Direct peers

• BC Cancer Foundation: Provincial fundraising partner for BC Cancer, the province's sole cancer care provider. Closest direct peer to Alberta Cancer Foundation — same exclusive provincial fundraising model for all cancer centres, similar donor programs, events, and research funding focus.
• Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation: Fundraising arm of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, one of the world's leading cancer research hospitals. Comparable as a single-institution/hub-focused cancer foundation with major-gift cultivation, signature events, and research funding programs.
• Terry Fox Foundation: Iconic Canadian cancer research fundraiser through the Terry Fox Run and Marathon of Hope. Directly comparable as an event-driven, donor-funded cancer research grantmaker with national reach and strong brand recognition.

Regional players

• Fondation québécoise du cancer: Quebec's provincial cancer foundation providing information, support, and lodging for cancer patients. Similar provincial-scope cancer charity model serving Francophone patients, though with more emphasis on direct services than research funding.
• VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation: British Columbia hospital foundation raising funds for Vancouver General Hospital including oncology programs. Comparable regional health foundation with lottery, major gift, and event fundraising — operates in a different province but with similar model and scale.

Emerging players

• Wellspring Cancer Support: Canadian nonprofit providing emotional, social, and practical support to cancer patients and families across multiple provinces. Comparable mission-adjacent organization though focused on patient support services rather than research funding.
• Cancer Research Institute: U.S.-based nonprofit funding immunology and immunotherapy cancer research with global grant programs. Comparable research-grantmaking cancer foundation with focus on cutting-edge clinical research funding.

Others

• Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance: U.S. disease-specific cancer research grantmaking foundation. Comparable as a disease-specific grantmaking foundation funding research and patient programs, though focused on a single cancer type rather than all cancers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/albertacancer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZDfKR_7jdjFeLmmJiprU9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/albertacancerfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alberta-cancer-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/albertacancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Alberta Cancer Foundation