Cancer Legal Care

What Cancer Legal Care does

Cancer Legal Care is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 and headquartered in Oakdale, Minnesota, that provides free legal services to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers across the state. The organization addresses health-harming legal needs including health insurance denials and appeals, estate planning (wills, healthcare directives, power of attorney), Social Security disability applications, employment rights, and medical debt resolution, serving clients who meet income and asset eligibility guidelines. As of 2023 it had helped a cumulative 16,013 Minnesotans, recovered $4.3M for clients facing insurance denials, and delivered $26.3M in pro bono legal services across 80 Minnesota counties; 633 clients were served in 2023, a record. Service delivery relies on a small paid staff of 1-10 employees augmented by a volunteer attorney network, with referrals sourced from oncology care teams, community organizations, churches, sororities, and direct outreach (a medical-legal partnership model).

The organization's technology footprint is modest and operational rather than differentiated: Clio Grow for online intake, Vimeo for a webinar library, and standard client-management tooling. Programmatic expansion has been the principal form of growth, including the COLLABS pilot study (a research partnership with the University of Minnesota's Dr. Arjun Gupta, published in JCO Oncology Practice), the LEGACY CARE study extending services to caregivers, The Cookout initiative serving Black breast cancer survivors with funding from the American Cancer Society's Addressing Barriers to Care grant, and healthcare directive workshops co-delivered with Hospice Minnesota and Gilda's Club.

Revenue is derived from individual donations, recurring donor programs, foundation grants (Minnesota Colon Cancer Research Foundation, Colon Cancer Coalition, American Cancer Society), and event-based peer-to-peer fundraising such as the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile charity partnership, which raised over $27,000 in 2025. The organization also engaged in successful state-level advocacy contributing to passage of the 2024 Minnesota Debt Fairness Act. In June 2025 the organization executed a full operational pause from June 9-23 in response to federal administration actions affecting nonprofit funding, then resumed services, highlighting exposure of the funding base to federal policy shifts.

Name

Cancer Legal Care

Legal name

Cancer Legal Care

Website

https://cancerlegalcare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cancer Legal Care is a Minnesota-based nonprofit providing free legal services to cancer patients and caregivers across 80 counties, including health insurance appeals, estate planning, Social Security disability assistance, and employment rights support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Free legal services
• Estate planning assistance
• Health insurance advocacy
• Medical debt help
• Social security disability

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakdale

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, recurring donations, and event fundraising (e.g., Twin Cities 10 Mile team). The organization runs annual campaigns like 'Spring Into Action'.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: Funded by foundations including Minnesota Colon Cancer Research Foundation, American Cancer Society (Addressing Barriers to Care grant), and other institutional funders. EIN 02-0736402.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cancer Legal Care provides free legal care services to income-eligible Minnesota residents affected by cancer. Service areas include estate planning (wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives), health insurance denials and medical debt advocacy, Social Security disability applications, and employment rights guidance. Services are delivered through staff attorneys and a volunteer attorney network statewide, with clients accessing support via online intake and referrals from oncology providers and community organizations.

Product overview

Cancer Legal Care is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization providing free legal care services for individuals and families affected by cancer. The organization offers a suite of service modules including estate planning, health insurance and medical debt advocacy, Social Security disability assistance, and employment legal support. These services are delivered through direct attorney consultations, educational webinars, written guides, and community workshops. The organization also conducts research initiatives including the COLLABS pilot study and ongoing LEGACY CARE study in partnership with the University of Minnesota, and operates community engagement programs like The Cookout initiative to reduce barriers to access for underserved populations. CLC Insights blog provides ongoing educational content on legal topics relevant to cancer patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Legal Care Services Core offering providing free legal advice and representation to income-eligible Minnesota cancer patients and caregivers across estate planning, health insurance, medical debt, Social Security disability, and employment matters.
• Estate Planning Services Free estate planning assistance including wills, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate avoidance guidance for income-eligible cancer patients.
• Health Insurance and Medical Debt Assistance Advocacy and navigation services addressing health insurance denials, coverage problems, medical billing disputes, and medical debt; organization has recovered $4.3 million for clients facing insurance denials.
• Social Security Disability Assistance Free assistance preparing Social Security disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications and Requests for Reconsideration for eligible clients.
• Employment Legal Assistance Legal guidance on employment rights for cancer patients including Family Medical Leave Act, Minnesota's Paid Leave Law, earned sick and safe time, and workplace accommodations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61% of clients came to first meeting with a defined legal concern; 72% had additional needs discovered during checkup
• +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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Minnesota (Dr. Arjun Gupta, MBBS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Partnership with gastrointestinal oncologist Dr. Arjun Gupta and University of Minnesota for COLLABS pilot study on early legal intervention for colorectal cancer survivors. Study provides 'Legal Care Checkups' as part of standard treatment plan. Findings published in JCO Oncology Practice.
• American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ACS CAN on Minnesota Debt Fairness Act advocacy. Cancer Legal Care clients shared their medical debt stories at townhalls and press conferences organized in partnership.
• LaShaune P. Johnson, PhDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Dr. Johnson, a three-time cancer survivor and public health professor, to conduct exploratory conversations with Black breast cancer survivors through 'The Cookout' project. Funded by American Cancer Society's Addressing Barriers to Care grant.
• African American Breast Cancer AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for The Cookout project, helping Cancer Legal Care better serve Black breast cancer survivors through culturally appropriate outreach.
• Breast Cancer Gaps ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for The Cookout initiative focused on reducing disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
• Flow FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership formed through The Cookout initiative, focused on community engagement with Black breast cancer survivors.
• Minnesota Cancer AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancer Legal Care sits on the Steering Committee, Policy Committee, and Leadership Team. Contributed to development of Cancer Plan Minnesota 2030, ensuring financial toxicity of cancer is recognized in state cancer planning.
• Minnesota HospicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2023 on healthcare directive workshops, providing 'one stop shop' events where attendees can learn about and complete healthcare directives with legal, medical, and spiritual experts.
• Gilda's Club MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner since 2023 on healthcare directive workshops, co-hosting events with Gilda's Club to help attendees complete healthcare directives.
• Medtronic Twin Cities 10 MileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity Partner for the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile race. 40+ runners on Team Cancer Legal Care raised over $27,000. Great opportunity for community engagement and fundraising.
• Immigrant Law Center of MinnesotaminorOthersReferral resource for clients needing immigration legal support, particularly during government shutdown periods.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Triage Cancer: National nonprofit providing free education, resources, and legal services on cancer-related legal and financial issues. Most direct comparable — operates a similar medical-legal model but at national scope, validating Cancer Legal Care's underlying thesis.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: National nonprofit providing case management, insurance denials appeals, and financial aid for patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses including cancer. Directly comparable mission and service mix, particularly on health insurance navigation and medical debt resolution.
• LegalHealth: New York-based medical-legal partnership that integrates free legal services into healthcare settings for low-income patients. Operates the same medical-legal partnership model Cancer Legal Care uses, in a different geography.
• National Cancer Legal Services Network: Consortium of organizations providing cancer-related legal services. Cancer Legal Care is a member organization; the network represents both peer and ecosystem overlap.

Emerging players

• Family Reach: National nonprofit addressing the financial burden of cancer treatment by providing direct financial assistance, resource navigation, and financial coaching. Complementary focus on financial toxicity of cancer.
• The Samfund: Nonprofit providing financial support, education, and advocacy for young adult cancer survivors. Comparable in mission of mitigating cancer's financial and legal impact, though focused on a younger demographic.
• Lazarex Cancer Foundation: Nonprofit helping cancer patients access clinical trials, including covering travel and trial participation costs. Adjacent in addressing financial barriers to cancer care.
• Dream Foundation: National nonprofit providing end-of-life support and resources for terminally ill adults. Adjacent in serving cancer patients navigating serious-illness legal and financial planning needs.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit, providing research, patient support, advocacy, and some direct services. Overlaps with Cancer Legal Care's mission but at vastly larger scale and broader scope; a partner (ACS CAN) and potential competitive funder.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing social and emotional support, education, and resources to cancer patients and families. Comparable patient-support mission; Cancer Legal Care has partnered with affiliated Gilda's Club Minnesota.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CancerLegalCare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cancer-legal-care
• Instagraminstagram.com/cancerlegalcare
• Xx.com/cancerlegalcare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Cancer Legal Care