American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

What American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network does

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan advocacy organization founded in 2001 and headquartered at 655 15th Street NW, Suite 503, Washington, D.C. It is the wholly-controlled advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, Inc., and operates as a volunteer-driven policy organization that mobilizes cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and trained volunteer advocates to influence evidence-based public policy at the federal, state, and local levels. The organization maintains a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam, with a staff of 251-500 employees supporting a national volunteer network.

ACS CAN's core offering is a web-based advocacy platform (fightcancer.org) that combines petition tools, email and SMS communications, donor and volunteer management, and data analytics to enable constituent mobilization. Major program areas include cancer research funding advocacy (targeting NIH and NCI appropriations), tobacco control (regulation, smoke-free laws, tobacco taxes, prevention and cessation), access to healthcare (Medicaid protection, health insurance affordability, biomarker testing coverage, breast/cervical and colorectal cancer screening), the Cancer Votes nonpartisan voter engagement initiative, and the ACSí Se Puede Hispanic-Latino Defense Alliance focused on health equity. Branded media campaigns include "Fight Cancer Make Time" (research funding), "Affordable Cancer Care" (healthcare access), and "Lights of Hope" (annual fundraising). Distribution is through direct grassroots mobilization, digital self-serve tools, state-level field staff, and an annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.

The business model is nonprofit advocacy fundraising: contributions and membership dues from individuals and supporters, with payments not tax-deductible as charitable contributions per IRC §170(c). Supporting revenue infrastructure includes a Wiland data cooperative for prospect modeling, Google Analytics for web engagement, and OneTrust for privacy compliance. ACS CAN has no venture capital, private equity, or public equity investors, and reports no disclosed revenue figures; it is governed as a controlled affiliate of the American Cancer Society.

Name

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Legal name

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.

Website

https://fightcancer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan advocacy organization that mobilizes cancer patients, survivors, and volunteers across all 50 states to influence federal and state policy on cancer research funding, healthcare access, and tobacco control.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Cancer policy advocacy
• Nonprofit advocacy organization
• Grassroots lobbying services
• Healthcare policy reform
• Tobacco control advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Contributions and Donations: ACS CAN receives contributions from individuals who support the organization's mission to advocate for evidence-based cancer policies. Contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing supporters with benefits and ongoing engagement opportunities with the organization's advocacy campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization that mobilizes cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and volunteers to advocate for evidence-based public policies at the federal, state, and local levels. Its core offering is volunteer-driven advocacy focused on increasing cancer research funding, expanding healthcare access, advancing tobacco control, and reducing health disparities, delivered through a digital advocacy platform, state-level volunteer networks, and direct legislative engagement.

Product overview

ACS CAN operates as a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization (not a technology product company) offering an advocacy platform that enables volunteers to advocate for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden. The core offering consists of multiple interconnected advocacy programs: the ACS CAN Advocacy Platform (providing petition tools, story collection, and legislative engagement), the Cancer Votes voter engagement initiative, the Tobacco Control Program (covering regulation, smoke-free policies, and cessation), and Access to Healthcare advocacy (focused on insurance, Medicaid, and biomarker testing). These are supported by branded media campaigns including 'Fight Cancer Make Time' (research funding), 'Affordable Cancer Care' (policy access), and 'ACSí Se Puede' (Hispanic-Latino outreach). The organization does not offer a software product or SaaS platform but rather uses its website and digital tools for advocacy mobilization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cancer Votes: Voter engagement initiative to make cancer a priority in elections
• ACSí Se Puede
• Lights of Hope

Products and services

• ACS CAN Advocacy Platform
• Cancer Votes A voter engagement and advocacy initiative that encourages cancer patients, survivors, and advocates to make cancer a priority in elections. The program helps voters register, engages with candidates, and builds advocacy skills through ambassador programs.
• Tobacco Control Program An advocacy initiative focused on tobacco regulation, smoke-free policies, prevention and cessation programs, and tobacco taxes. The program works at local, state, and federal levels to reduce tobacco use and its cancer-related health impacts.
• Cancer Research Funding Advocacy An advocacy program focused on securing increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). The initiative includes grassroots mobilization, direct lobbying, and media campaigns to protect and increase federal cancer research investments.
• Access to Healthcare Advocacy An advocacy initiative addressing health insurance affordability, Medicaid access and protection, biomarker testing coverage, and breast/cervical cancer screening access. Works to reduce barriers to healthcare for cancer patients and at-risk populations.
• ACSí Se Puede - Hispanic-Latino Defense Alliance A Spanish-language advocacy initiative working to reduce health disparities in Hispanic-Latino communities through increased knowledge, alliances, policy influence, diversity in messaging, and volunteer participation reflecting Hispanic heritage and culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62.3% of U.S. population protected from secondhand smoke exposure through smoke-free laws advocated by ACS CAN
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Fight CRC and ACS CAN partner on colorectal cancer awareness and policy initiatives. Fight CRC installed over 27,000 blue flags on the National Mall in March 2026 to raise awareness of rising colorectal cancer mortality rates among Americans under 50. ACS CAN supports this awareness campaign as part of broader cancer early detection and screening advocacy efforts.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free KidsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign for Tobacco-Free Kids collaborates with ACS CAN on youth tobacco prevention advocacy, including joint participation in state-level rallies and policy initiatives. The partnership focuses on advocating for increased tobacco cessation funding and stronger tobacco control policies at state and federal levels.
• American College of PhysiciansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican College of Physicians joined with ACS CAN and HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute to oppose restrictive Medicaid work requirement definitions, warning these would create barriers for cancer patients and other vulnerable populations. Collaboration focuses on protecting healthcare access for medically frail individuals.
• HIV+Hepatitis Policy InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute partnered with ACS CAN and American College of Physicians to advocate against restrictive Medicaid eligibility rules that would harm patients with serious medical conditions including cancer and HIV.
• AARPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARP joined with ACS CAN and Families USA in submitting critical comments opposing CMS' proposed 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters, which would reduce Marketplace enrollment and cut premium tax credit spending.
• Families USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamilies USA partnered with ACS CAN and AARP in unified opposition to proposed healthcare policy changes that would reduce Marketplace enrollment by up to 2 million people and cut federal premium tax credit spending.
• Leading Public Health Organizations CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS CAN joined with other leading public health organizations to release a January 2026 report recommending states significantly increase tobacco taxes, which could prevent 231,600 youth from smoking and 275,400 premature deaths while generating over $6 billion in new revenue.
• Research!AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch!America collaborated with ACS CAN and Endocrine Society to praise the bipartisan FY26 HHS/NIH funding bill for increasing research funding and blocking controversial OMB policies on indirect costs and multi-year grant funding.
• Endocrine SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndocrine Society partnered with ACS CAN and Research!America in supporting increased NIH funding in the bipartisan FY26 appropriations bill, advocating for sustained cancer research investment.
• American Cancer Society (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS CAN is the nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. ACS CAN leverages ACS's research, patient services, and brand reputation while sharing data and resources. ACS provides health information and referral services (1-800-ACS-2345) while ACS CAN focuses on policy advocacy.
• Utah Cancer Action Network (UCAN)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Utah Cancer Action Network, a state-level affiliate, advocates for tobacco tax increases including House Bill 337 which would raise tobacco tax by $2 per pack, working in coordination with ACS CAN's national tobacco control priorities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Heart Association: Large disease-specific nonprofit that combines research funding, patient services, and an affiliated advocacy arm (You're the Cure) pursuing federal and state policy on prevention, access, and research funding — directly comparable GTM and revenue model.
• Susan G. Komen: Disease-specific cancer nonprofit that combines research grants, patient navigation, and federal/state advocacy (including biomarker testing coverage) — directly comparable mission and policy portfolio.
• American Diabetes Association: Disease-specific nonprofit that funds research and operates an advocacy platform pursuing insulin affordability, Medicaid access, and prevention policy — a closely analogous GTM and mission structure.
• American Lung Association: Disease-specific nonprofit with overlapping tobacco-control, smoke-free policy, and research funding advocacy agendas, and a comparable donor- and membership-supported operating model.
• Families USA: National nonprofit advocacy organization focused on healthcare access, Medicaid, and ACA marketplace affordability — a recurring coalition partner of ACS CAN on health-insurance and coverage policy.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Dedicated 501(c)(3) advocacy organization focused on tobacco taxes, smoke-free laws, and youth prevention, frequently co-advocating with ACS CAN at state and federal levels on overlapping policy goals.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Cancer-focused nonprofit funding research and patient services with an active policy arm pushing for NIH appropriations, oral parity, and insurance access — overlapping advocacy priorities and donor-driven funding model.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Parent 501(c)(3) of ACS CAN and the largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit, providing research, patient services, and the brand under which ACS CAN conducts advocacy. Closest comparable given shared mission, donor base, and brand identity.
• AARP: Large membership-based advocacy organization that regularly partners with ACS CAN on Medicare, ACA marketplace, and Medicaid policy, with a comparable federal-state advocacy footprint.

Emerging players

• National Patient Advocate Foundation: Patient-centered policy and advocacy nonprofit focused on financial toxicity, clinical trials access, and equitable cancer care — partial overlap with ACS CAN's access-to-healthcare agenda and a useful comparable for advocacy-only scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acscan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ACSCAN
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACSCAN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/659070
• Instagraminstagram.com/acscan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network