La Ligue contre le cancer

What La Ligue contre le cancer does

La Ligue contre le cancer is a French nonprofit association (loi 1901), founded in 1918, that operates as the country's leading independent charitable cancer organization. It pursues four missions: funding cancer research, supporting patients and caregivers, running prevention and screening campaigns, and advocating for health democracy. The organization operates a federated model of 103 departmental committees and more than 300 physical Espaces Ligue across metropolitan France and overseas territories, supported by an estimated 11,800 to 12,000 volunteers and a national headquarters in Paris (14 Rue Corvisart).

The Ligue delivers a comprehensive portfolio of programs including the Ligue Soutien Cancer telephone helpline (0 800 940 939), adapted physical activities, dietary counseling, socio-aesthetic care, financial assistance, return-to-work support, and personalized accompaniment through the 'Au fil de la Ligue' pathway. It funds cancer research through national and regional grant programs supporting labeled teams, young researchers, and doctoral fellowships, with €50.5 million allocated to research in 2025 and over €394 million invested over the past decade. National awareness sub-brands (Octobre Rose, Mars Bleu, Juin Vert, Septembre en Or) anchor its public engagement, complemented by the quarterly Vivre magazine and an online discussion forum.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through donations, legacies, and corporate philanthropy, with approximately 90% of prevention and screening mission costs funded by private generosity and the remaining from other sources. Individual donations benefit from a 66% tax deduction and corporate contributions from a 60% deduction up to 0.5% of annual revenue. Key corporate partnerships include a multi-decade relationship with E.Leclerc (€2.45M collected in both 2022 and 2025), Unicancer, Mutualité Française, and recurring charity-streaming event ZEvent. The organization is Don en Confiance certified, was rebranded in April 2024, and is led by president Dr Philippe Bergerot, who was appointed in May 2024 and re-elected in June 2025.

Name

La Ligue contre le cancer

Legal name

Ligue nationale contre le cancer

Website

https://ligue-cancer.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Ligue contre le cancer, founded in 1918, is France's leading independent cancer charity, funding cancer research (€50.5M in 2025), supporting patients and caregivers, running national prevention campaigns, and advocating for health democracy through 103 departmental committees and 300+ Espaces Ligue nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Support and Research Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB)

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Patient support services
• Cancer prevention campaigns
• Health democracy advocacy
• Cancer caregiver support

Headquarters

HQ city

Colmar

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations from general public: Individual donations represent the primary revenue stream, with 90% of the prevention, information, and screening mission funded by donations and legacies. Tax deduction of 66% for individual donors.
2. Corporate partnerships and philanthropy: Companies engage through financial donations (mécénat), with 60% corporate tax deduction up to 0.5% of revenue. Product-sharing arrangements and employee giving programs also contribute.
3. Bequests and legacies: Legs and testamentary donations are explicitly mentioned as vital to sustaining the association's missions, representing a significant long-term funding mechanism.
4. Membership subscriptions: First annual donation includes 8€ membership fee, granting member participation in democratic governance of the association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Ligue contre le cancer is a French nonprofit association that funds cancer research through competitive grant programs, delivers free patient and caregiver support services (psychological listening, adapted physical activity, dietary advice, financial aid, socio-aesthetic care, return-to-work support), runs nationwide cancer prevention and screening campaigns, and advocates for patients' rights through health democracy initiatives. These activities are funded primarily by voluntary public donations and delivered through 103 departmental committees and over 300 physical Espaces Ligue locations across France.

Product overview

La Ligue contre le cancer operates as a unified nonprofit association organized around four core missions: research funding, patient support and care services, prevention and screening promotion, and health democracy advocacy. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including the Ligue Soutien Cancer telephone hotline providing psychological support, care support services (soins de support) such as adapted physical activities, dietary counseling, socio-aesthetic care, and return-to-work assistance, as well as the Magazine Vivre publication, an online discussion forum, and the Plus vite que le cancer solidarity race. The association funds research through calls for projects supporting labeled research teams and young researchers, maintains local presence through 103 departmental committees, and provides digital tools including donation platforms and personalized accompaniment programs like 'Au fil de la Ligue'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plus vite que le cancer: A solidarity race event organized by the Ligue contre le cancer.
• Juin Vert
• Octobre Rose
• Mars Bleu
• Septembre en Or
• Vivre
• Au fil de la Ligue
• ProxiLigue
• Ligue Entreprise
• Prix Axel Kahn

Products and services

• Ligue Soutien Cancer (telephone helpline) Free, anonymous, and confidential telephone listening and psychological support service (Numéro vert 0 800 940 939) delivered by qualified psychologists for cancer patients, their relatives, and healthcare professionals.
• Activités physiques adaptées (adapted physical activities) Adapted exercise programs designed to help cancer patients improve physical capacities and reduce fatigue and anxiety, delivered through departmental committees.
• Conseils en diététique (dietary counseling) Nutritional counseling provided by nutrition experts to help patients adapt their diet throughout the care journey and manage treatment side effects.
• Aides sociales et financières (financial and social aid) Financial assistance and social support services helping patients navigate administrative procedures, assert their rights, and limit the financial impact of illness; 8,500 families were assisted in 2025.
• Soins socio-esthétiques (socio-aesthetic care) Well-being and self-esteem care adapted for cancer patients, delivered by specialized socio-aesthetic professionals.
• Retour à l'emploi (return-to-work support) Support services helping cancer survivors anticipate and prepare for return to work under good conditions and facilitating job retention after illness.
• Magazine Vivre Magazine publication providing quality information about cancer for people directly or indirectly affected by the disease, distributed via vivre-cancer.fr and through members.
• Plus vite que le cancer (solidarity race) Annual solidarity race event bringing together participants nationwide to raise funds and awareness for cancer research and prevention.
• Boutique solidaire (solidarity boutique) Charity online boutique selling solidarity products whose proceeds support La Ligue contre le cancer's missions.
• Appels à projets de recherche (cancer research grants) National and regional competitive grant programs funding academic cancer research, including labeled teams, doctoral fellowships, research chairs, clinical research, and equipment subsidies; 210 new projects funded in 2024 with a €48.43 million research support budget.
• Soutien aux équipes labellisées (labeled research teams funding) Program supporting cancer research teams recognized by the Ligue for excellence in cancer research.
• Soutien aux jeunes chercheurs (young researcher funding) Funding program supporting emerging researcher talent dedicated to cancer research.
• Au fil de la Ligue (personalized accompaniment) Personalized support pathway program providing customized accompaniment for cancer patients and their relatives throughout their care journey.
• Prévention et dépistage des cancers (prevention and screening) Cancer prevention and screening programs including public awareness campaigns, school interventions (reaching 122,000 students in 2025), and promotional activities for organized screening.
• Démocratie en santé (health democracy and advocacy) Health democracy initiative covering user representation, mobilization studies, and collective advocacy for cancer patients and caregivers, including the Observatoire sociétal des cancers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €100 million allocated to social missions annually from public donations
• +4 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

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Une Rose un EspoirminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 June 2025Motorcycle association organizing annual solidarity flower campaign. 2026 collection reached a record €2.8 million, with proceeds supporting Ligue's departmental committees.
• E.Leclerc (Mouvement E.Leclerc)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 March 2025Long-standing partnership since 2003 through the annual 'Tous unis contre le cancer' operation. E.Leclerc stores collect donations for the Ligue, generating record results of €2.45 million in 2022 and €2.45 million in 2025. The 22nd consecutive partnership year in 2025 demonstrates sustained collaborative engagement.
• UnicancercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2023National partnership signed to fight inequalities in healthcare access. Joint efforts to improve patient pathways between city and hospital care, particularly for support care services delivered near patients' homes.
• Collectif 'Je t'Aide'coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2023Partnership in favor of caregivers, joining the collective of organizations working daily to support cancer caregivers. Participation in annual National Caregivers Day (JNA) on October 6th.
• Mutualité FrançaisecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2023Partnership to deploy support care services nationwide through Mutualité Française member organizations. Aims to increase access to supportive care across France by 72% through coordinated deployment.
• Prix Axel Kahn 'Douleurs et cancers'minorOthers · 7 July 2022Named research prize created to recognize and reward researchers working on pain management in cancer care. Awarded annually to three researchers. Named after former Ligue president Axel Kahn.
• onCOGITEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2022Partnership to engage cancer patients and caregivers in collective initiatives and advocacy activities through the patient and caregiver collective.
• ZEventminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 November 2021Annual French charity streaming event mobilizing gamers and streamers to raise funds for the Ligue. ZEvent 2025 featured the Ligue as beneficiary of the largest French charitable streaming event.
• foodwatch and YukaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2021Coalition advocacy partnership for nitrite additives in food. Joint petitions and campaigns calling for government action on nitrites in processed meat, citing cancer risk evidence from ANSES.
• Orange and FFR (France Rugby)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 October 2020Association to prevent isolation of sick children, leveraging Orange's connectivity resources and FFR's rugby network to provide support and connection for young cancer patients.
• TikTokminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2020Social media partnership for October Rose breast cancer awareness month, utilizing TikTok's platform to reach younger audiences with prevention messages.
• France 2023minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 September 2020Partnership announced in preparation for Rugby World Cup 2023 hosted by France, with joint activities related to cancer awareness and prevention campaigns.
• TKT THINKING TECHNOLOGYminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite development and design firm responsible for the ligue-cancer.net website, located at 18 rue Soleillet, 75020 Paris.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cancer Research UK: UK's flagship independent cancer charity. Closest international equivalent — combines research funding, prevention campaigns, and patient information at national scale with a donation-led model.
• Fondation ARC pour la recherche sur le cancer: France's other major independent cancer research charity. Highly comparable as another nonprofit funder of cancer research relying on donations and legacies, with overlapping donor base and mission scope.
• Fondation Gustave Roussy: France's leading cancer hospital-affiliated foundation. Comparable as a French cancer-focused nonprofit combining research funding, patient support, and prevention advocacy within a unified brand.

Emerging players

• Sidaction: French health-focused nonprofit using a comparable federated event-driven donation model (annual televised fundraiser, recurring giving). Closely mirrors Ligue's donation-centric funding structure but focused on HIV/AIDS.

Broad incumbents

• Union for International Cancer Control (UICC): Global membership organization convening cancer charities across advocacy, policy, and knowledge sharing. Comparable in its federation-of-committees governance model and pan-stakeholder advocacy function.
• Fondation de France: Largest French philanthropic umbrella. Operates as a grantmaking intermediary over health and social causes including cancer; overlaps with Ligue's fundraising architecture and donor base.
• Croix-Rouge française: France's largest humanitarian nonprofit, operating a federated departmental branch structure analogous to Ligue's 103 committees. Comparable governance and field-service distribution model despite a broader health/social mandate.
• American Cancer Society: US national cancer nonprofit operating in research funding, patient support, and prevention. Overlaps in mission architecture but operates at materially larger scale within the US healthcare system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/laliguecancer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/laliguecontrecancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/laliguecontrelecancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ligue-contre-le-cancer/?originalSubdomain=fr
• Instagraminstagram.com/liguecontrelecancer
• TikToktiktok.com/@liguecontrelecancer

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 La Ligue contre le cancer