Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund

What Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund does

The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund is a Washington State public endowment established in 2015 under Chapter 43.348 RCW (Senate Bill 6096) that channels state and private capital into cancer research conducted within Washington. The fund operates as a public-private partnership: Washington State is authorized to appropriate up to $10 million annually for 10 years, with each public dollar required to be matched 1:1 by private or other non-state resources before it can be deployed as a grant. CARE Fund does not develop technology products; its "offerings" are grant programs covering the research continuum — Distinguished Researchers (recruitment matching up to $500,000 per investigator), Breakthrough Research, Scientific Discoveries Research ($250K–$1.5M), Implementation and Outcomes Research (up to $1.5M), Life Science Start-Up and Development, Population Health, Inclusion and Diversity in Clinical Trials, Shared Resources Infrastructure, and the Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Award for ovarian cancer.

Grants are awarded through biannual competitive RFP cycles (January and June) and evaluated by independent third-party scientific peer review (notably AAAS). CARE Fund has awarded more than $68 million in grants across major Washington research institutions — primarily Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Institute for Systems Biology, and Washington State University — alongside a portfolio of early-stage life science companies (e.g., Aptevo Therapeutics, Talus Bioscience, Wayfinder Biosciences, Phase Genomics, Orlance, VisionGate, Dotquant, ConnectMyVariant). Reported outcomes include 500+ peer-reviewed publications, 459 jobs created in Washington, and an independent economic impact analysis showing $1.95 of Washington economic activity generated per $1 of grant.

The organization is governed by an 11-member Governor-appointed Board of Directors and operated by a fully remote staff of approximately 7–10 employees led by a founding Executive Director (transitioning in 2026). Empire Health Foundation served as Program Administrator from 2017 through September 2025, when Washington Cancer Impact Foundation was selected to assume that contracted role overseeing fund finances, grant procedures, award distribution, and fundraising support. CARE Fund is not a traditional revenue-generating enterprise; its inflows are state appropriations and tax-deductible private donations, which it disburses as cancer research grants.

Name

Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund

Legal name

Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund

Website

https://wacarefund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund is Washington State's cancer research endowment that awards grants to public and private entities conducting cancer research in Washington, leveraging up to $10M in annual state appropriations 1:1 with private matching funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Research Grant Endowment

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Cancer research grants
• Biomedical research funding
• Public health endowment
• Scientific grant programs
• Translational research grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Bothell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: Washington State appropriates up to $10 million annually for 10 years (authorized in 2015 via Senate Bill 6096). All state funding must be matched dollar-for-dollar by private or non-state resources.
2. Private Donations: Individual and corporate donations are matched 1:1 with Washington State funds. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CARE Fund is a public endowment that invests in public and private entities to promote cancer research in Washington State through competitive grant programs requiring 1:1 non-state matching funds. Its core offerings are grant mechanisms (Distinguished Researchers, Breakthrough Research, Scientific Discoveries Research, Implementation and Outcomes Research, Population Health, Life Science Start-Up and Development, Inclusion and Diversity in Clinical Trials, Shared Resources and Infrastructure, and the Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Award) that channel state appropriations and private donations to researchers and institutions across Washington. Grant applications undergo independent scientific peer review, and awards are reimbursed based on actual expenditures.

Product overview

Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund is Washington State's cancer research endowment that provides grant funding programs to promote cancer research. The organization does not offer commercial technology products or software. Its offerings consist entirely of grant programs including Distinguished Researchers (recruitment matching funds up to $500,000 per researcher), Breakthrough Research (innovative cross-disciplinary research grants), Scientific Discoveries Research (early discovery and breakthrough idea funding), Implementation and Outcomes Research (translational research supporting tools, devices, technologies, or therapeutics), Life Science Start-Up and Development, Population Health, and the Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Award (ovarian cancer research partnership). These are public-private partnership grant mechanisms, not commercial products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Distinguished Researchers Program Recruitment matching funds of up to $500,000 per researcher to help Washington institutions attract world-class cancer scientists; leveraged with private matching dollars.
• Breakthrough Research Grants Innovative cross-disciplinary cancer research grants supporting breakthrough science at Washington institutions.
• Scientific Discoveries Research Grants Early discovery and breakthrough-idea cancer research grants ranging from $250,000 to $1,500,000, requiring 1:1 non-state matching funds.
• Implementation and Outcomes Research Grants Translational research grants of up to $1,500,000 supporting tools, devices, technologies, or therapeutics that move cancer scientific discoveries toward effective interventions.
• Life Science Start-Up and Development Grants Non-dilutive funding for Washington-based start-up and early-stage companies developing cancer-related therapeutics, devices, and tools.
• Population Health Grants Grants funding cancer prevention and population-level health research in Washington, including health disparities and occupational risk research.
• Inclusion and Diversity in Clinical Trials Grants Grants supporting research that increases inclusion and diversity of participants in cancer clinical trials in Washington.
• Shared Resources and Infrastructure Grants Grants funding shared cancer research resources and infrastructure across Washington institutions.
• Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards Joint awards of up to $200,000 over 2 years for Washington State ovarian cancer researchers, funded jointly by CARE Fund and the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.95 return to Washington's economy for every $1 in CARE Fund grants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• WittKiefferminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 May 2026Executive search firm contracted by CARE Board to conduct comprehensive recruitment process for the position of Executive Director following Laura Flores Cantrell's planned departure in fall 2026.
• Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Rivkin Center combined with OCRA (national grantmaker) on April 1, 2025. CARE Board looks forward to future collaboration opportunities.
• Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 September 2023First-of-its-kind public-private partnership investing $1M in ovarian cancer research in Washington State. Rivkin Center demonstrates 1:1 non-state match to CARE Fund's investment. Partnership creates a replicable model for other states. Includes annual Rivkin Center/CARE Fund Awards of up to $200,000 over 2 years for Washington State ovarian cancer researchers.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 January 2018Conducts independent scientific and technical evaluation of grant proposals for cancer research. Reviews applications and recommends grants to be made by CARE Fund.
• Washington Cancer Impact FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 June 2017Selected by CARE Fund Board of Directors as Program Administrator beginning October 1, 2025. Responsible for overseeing fund finances, creating and managing grant procedures, distributing awards to grantees, and supporting fundraising efforts. Previously administered by Empire Health Foundation.
• Empire Health FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 June 2017Served as CARE Fund's Program Administrator from inception through September 30, 2025. Responsible for administering grants and working with expert scientific review panels to provide independent evaluation of grant applications. Private health foundation with philanthropic assets totaling approximately $76-80 million.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor recipient of CARE Fund grants. Home to many Distinguished Researchers and Breakthrough Research awardees. Merged with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on April 1, 2022 to form unified cancer center.
• University of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research institution receiving CARE Fund grants across multiple programs including Distinguished Researchers, Scientific Discoveries Research, and Implementation and Outcomes Research.
• Seattle Children's Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor recipient of CARE Fund grants supporting pediatric cancer research and immunotherapy development.
• Institute for Systems BiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Breakthrough Research grants and Breakthrough Seed Funding for cancer immunotherapy research.
• Washington State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Distinguished Researchers grants and Population Health grants including night shift work and cancer risk research.
• Evergreen Social ImpactminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted for design services including annual reports and strategic plan development.
• King County Employee Giving CampaignminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCARE Fund included in King County Employee Giving Campaign starting October 2023. County employees can make workplace donations matched 1:1 by Washington's public investment.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: National nonprofit funding pediatric cancer research grants. Comparable in cancer research grantmaking, though narrower pediatric focus and national rather than state-specific scope.

Regional players

• Washington Research Foundation: Washington-based foundation funding university research with technology transfer focus. Comparable as a state-bounded research grantmaking foundation supporting Washington institutions, though broader in scope than cancer-specific.

Direct peers

• V Foundation for Cancer Research: National cancer research grantmaking foundation using peer review to fund high-impact cancer research. Comparable in grantmaking structure, scientific peer review process, and cancer research focus, though operates nationally rather than state-bounded.
• Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C): Charitable program funding translational cancer research through Dream Teams and Innovative Research Grants. Comparable in funding high-impact, peer-reviewed cancer research with industry and philanthropic matching support.
• Susan G. Komen Foundation: Major breast cancer research grantmaking foundation funding peer-reviewed research grants. Comparable grantmaking approach and cancer-specific mission, though narrower disease focus and nationally (not state-) chartered.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest voluntary health organization in the US, funding cancer research grants, patient support, and advocacy. Comparable as a cancer-focused grantmaking organization using competitive peer review, though vastly larger in scale and operating nationally.
• California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM): California's state-funded stem cell research agency established by Proposition 71 (2004). Most directly comparable to CARE Fund as a state-legislated public endowment funding biomedical research with significant annual appropriations and matching requirements.
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): Federal government's primary agency for cancer research and training, with extensive grant programs and peer review infrastructure. Comparable in funding cancer research via competitive peer review, though operates nationally with vastly larger appropriations.

Others

• Empire Health Foundation: Washington-based private health foundation that served as CARE Fund's Program Administrator from 2017 to September 2025. Comparable as a Washington health-focused grantmaking entity with overlapping cancer research funding programs.
• Mary Kay Ash Foundation: Corporate-affiliated foundation funding cancer research grants with translational focus. Comparable as a peer-reviewed cancer research grantmaking entity, though funded by corporate giving rather than state appropriations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wacarefund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund