Cancer Research Society

What Cancer Research Society does

The Cancer Research Society (CRS) is a Canadian charitable non-profit organization founded in 1945 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Its sole function is to raise and deploy funds for cancer research across all cancer types through peer-reviewed grant programs. Over 80 years, CRS has invested more than $450 million in research grants and fellowships, supporting hundreds of researchers at all career stages from doctoral students to established investigators. The organization serves Canadian cancer researchers and, indirectly, cancer patients and families who benefit from advances in prevention, detection, and treatment.

CRS's core offering is a portfolio of funding programs rather than technology products. These include Operating Grants (two-year research grants), Doctoral Research Awards ($70,000 over two years), Next Generation of Scientists Awards ($170,000 over three years for postdoctoral fellows), and disease-specific programs in lung, prostate, ovarian, endometrial, and brain cancers. In April 2026, CRS launched a first-of-its-kind National Clinical Cancer Research Program in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society and Terry Fox Research Institute, providing grants of up to $2 million over five years for investigator-initiated clinical trials. The UpCycle drug repurposing program and the pan-Canadian DECRYPT-BABYBRAIN clinical trial for childhood brain cancers extend the portfolio into translational research.

CRS's business model is donation-driven. Revenue is generated through individual giving (one-time, monthly, securities, legacy, life insurance), signature fundraising events (Urban BBQ raised $850,000 in 2026 and $900,000 in 2025; Challenge Against Cancer raised $1 million in 2023), long-tenured corporate partnerships (RBC as Urban BBQ presenting sponsor for 12 consecutive years; Scotiabank, BMO, MTY Group, iA Financial Group), government co-funding ($41 million cancer prevention partnership in February 2026), and emerging channels such as the Lottery Against Cancer and eco-donation programs. Pricing is not applicable as CRS does not sell products or services. The organization employs 11–50 staff, is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Christian M. Paupe, and is led by President and CEO Manon Pepin (appointed August 2019).

Name

Cancer Research Society

Legal name

Cancer Research Society

Website

https://crs-src.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cancer Research Society is a Canadian non-profit founded in 1945 that has invested more than $450 million in cancer research grants and fellowships across Canada. It funds researchers at all career stages through peer-reviewed operating grants, doctoral awards, and disease-specific programs via donations, events, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Research Funding (Charitable Non-Profit)

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Research grant programs
• Charitable donations
• Fundraising events
• Postdoctoral fellowships

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or monthly gifts through the organization's donation portal, website, and fundraising events. The society offers various giving options including cash gifts, securities, legacy gifts, and life insurance donations.
2. Signature Fundraising Events: Major annual events including Urban BBQ (raised $850,000 in 2026, $900,000 in 2025, $790,000 in 2024), Challenge Against Cancer (raised $1 million in 2023), Christmas Carols for Research, and Accords Célestes generate significant revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and participant fundraising.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners including RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, MTY Group, iA Financial Group, and others provide event sponsorship, matching gift programs, and strategic partnerships that contribute funding and visibility.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cancer Research Society is a Canadian charitable non-profit that funds cancer research across all cancer types by soliciting donations from individuals and corporate partners and redistributing those funds as peer-reviewed research grants, scholarships, and fellowships. Its portfolio of funding programs includes Operating Grants, Doctoral Research Awards, Next Generation of Scientists Awards, and disease-specific competitions in lung, prostate, brain, ovarian, and childhood cancers, plus a National Clinical Trials Program. The organization also raises funds through signature events, a lottery, and a donation-planning tool (Giftabulator).

Product overview

The Cancer Research Society (CRS) is a charitable organization that has operated for over 80 years, investing more than $450 million in cancer research. CRS is not a technology product company but rather a research funding organization offering various grant programs. The core offering consists of funding programs including Operating Grants, Doctoral Research Awards, and Next Generation of Scientists Awards for researchers at different career stages. Specialized cancer-specific programs include Lung Cancer Research Grants, Prostate Cancer Research Partnership, Brain Cancer Research Program, and Ovarian Cancer Research Programs. Unique initiatives include the National Clinical Trials Program supporting investigator-initiated clinical trials, the UpCycle drug repurposing program, and the DECRYPT childhood cancer research initiative. Fundraising products include the Lottery Against Cancer, Challenge Against Cancer events, and the Giftabulator donation planning tool. These programs work together to fund innovative cancer research across all cancer types while supporting emerging researchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Operating Grants
• Doctoral Research Awards
• Next Generation of Scientists Awards (SNGS)
• National Clinical Trials Program
• Lung Cancer Research Grants Competition
• Prostate Cancer Research Partnership
• Brain Cancer Research Program
• Ovarian Cancer Research Programs
• UpCycle Program
• DECRYPT Research Grant
• Lottery Against Cancer
• Challenge Against Cancer
• Giftabulator

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $450 million invested in cancer research grants and fellowships over 80+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Ovarian Cancer CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2026Joint investment of $200,000 to support two projects focused on advancing prevention and treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers.
• Canadian Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Partnership with Canadian Cancer Society and Terry Fox Research Institute to launch first-of-its-kind national program supporting investigator-initiated clinical trials across Canada with $25 million multi-partner investment.
• Terry Fox Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Joint initiative to support independent clinical trials focused on rare, underserved, and low-survival cancers with grants up to $2 million over five years.
• PROCUREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026$3 million investment to support six innovative research projects on prostate cancer, combining forces to support translational research.
• Government of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Government investment of over $41 million with partners to advance cancer prevention research and improve early detection, supporting 19 research teams.
• Go ConsigneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 November 2025Quebec-based partnership offering eco-friendly way to support cancer research through beverage container donations.
• Car for Life (ARPAC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 May 2025Charitable initiative allowing donors to transform end-of-life vehicles into donations supporting cancer research.
• iA Financial GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2025Strategic partnership to fund innovative cancer research projects and support a matching gift initiative.
• Worldwide Cancer ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2024First international partnership providing Canadian researchers access to international competition for funding innovative cancer research projects.
• Génome QuébecmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in national clinical trials program bringing together major cancer research funders.
• SickKids Garron Family Cancer CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in national clinical trials program, contributing expertise in pediatric cancer research.
• Childhood Cancer CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in national clinical trials program supporting childhood and pediatric cancers.
• BioCanRxmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in national clinical trials program for cancer immunotherapy and treatments.
• Institut du cancer de MontréalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in national clinical trials program representing Montreal's cancer research expertise.
• Brain CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$2 million partnership for translational brain cancer research program; 2025 Translational Research Grants for Brain Cancer.
• RBC Royal Bank (Quebec)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Urban BBQ event for 12 consecutive years, key corporate partner for Quebec fundraising events.
• ScotiabankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Cyclo-Golf Classic event, supporting cancer research fundraising across Quebec cities.
• BMOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Cyclo-Golf Classic and supporter of Next Generation of Scientists Awards, including women in research initiatives.
• MTY GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Accords Célestes event for 8 years, raising record amounts for cancer research.
• La Vie en Rose (Roses of Hope Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting women's health and well-being initiatives and breast cancer research.
• TRANSCAN-3 NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research consortium supporting Canadian researchers involved in collaborative cancer research on transnational scale.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Cancer Society: Canada's largest national cancer charity, co-funding the National Clinical Cancer Research Program with CRS; competes for the same donors, corporate sponsors, and government grants, and operates a parallel research grant portfolio across all cancer types.
• Terry Fox Research Institute: National funder of cancer research in Canada, co-leading the new $25M investigator-initiated clinical trials program with CRS; both organizations fund peer-reviewed cancer research and run national multi-site programs.
• Ovarian Cancer Canada: Joint investor with CRS in a $200K ovarian and endometrial cancer research program; both fund disease-specific cancer research grants and patient-focused programs in Canada.
• Childhood Cancer Canada: Strategic partner in the national clinical trials program supporting pediatric cancers; both are Canadian cancer-focused grantmaking and advocacy nonprofits funding research and family support.
• Brain Canada Foundation: Co-funds CRS's $2M Translational Research Grants for Brain Cancer; both are Canadian health research grantmaking foundations that rely on peer review and partner capital.
• Worldwide Cancer Research: CRS's first international partner, providing Canadian researchers access to its international funding competition; both are grantmaking charities that fund innovative, peer-reviewed cancer research globally.

Emerging players

• PROCURE: Partnered with CRS on a $3M prostate cancer research initiative; both organizations fund Canadian prostate cancer research and run awareness and fundraising campaigns around the disease.
• BioCanRx: Network Centre of Excellence partner in the national clinical trials program for cancer immunotherapy; both fund translational and clinical cancer research in Canada through peer-reviewed grants.

Regional players

• LUNGevity Foundation: US-based lung cancer-specific research funder; parallels CRS's dedicated lung cancer research grants competition but operates primarily in the US market and runs a larger disease-specific research portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Stand Up To Cancer (US): Large US-based cancer research grantmaking charity funding collaborative "Dream Teams" and investigator-initiated trials; comparable in mission and grant model to CRS but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SRC_CRS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CRScommunications/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/recherchecancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cancer-research-society-soci-t-de-recherche-sur-le-cancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/recherchecancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cancer Research Society