What Sohn Conference Foundation does

The Sohn Conference Foundation is a New York-based non-profit (legal name: Ira Sohn Conference Foundation, Inc.) founded in 1993 following the death of Wall Street trader Ira Sohn from cancer. The Foundation's core activity is hosting annual investment conferences in New York and globally (Hong Kong, Montreal, Monaco, San Francisco, Australia, London, Tel Aviv), where successful hedge fund managers and institutional investors present high-conviction investment ideas to audiences of more than 1,000 attendees per event. Revenue is generated through presenter fees, attendee fees, sponsor commitments, and charitable donations.

The Foundation's philanthropic arm operates through a four-pronged grant-making approach: inspiring scientific research collaborations, investing in state-of-the-art lab technologies (e.g., microscopes, DNA sequencers), funding early-career physician-scientist fellowships, and supporting patient quality-of-care initiatives. Its flagship program is the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance (a partnership with the Pershing Square Foundation), which in 2026 awarded $9 million in $750,000 grants to 13 early-career cancer researchers, building on a 13-year track record of $58 million to 90 scientists at 24 institutions. The Foundation also co-funds the Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award.

In 2026, the Foundation introduced an Emerging Company Pavilion at the flagship New York conference, curating 8-10 high-growth public companies for direct investor exposure. Over its 30-year history, the Foundation has raised more than $150 million and holds no equity, debt, or traditional ownership structure, operating as a 501(c)-style charity under New York State governance.

Name

Sohn Conference Foundation

Legal name

Ira Sohn Conference Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://sohnconference.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sohn Conference Foundation is a New York-based non-profit, founded in 1993, that hosts annual global investment conferences to raise funds for cancer research. It directs grants through partnerships like the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance and Damon Runyon-Sohn Fellowship, having awarded over $58M to early-career scientists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Investment conferences
• Cancer research grants
• Pediatric cancer funding
• Philanthropic foundation
• Nonprofit healthcare

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The Foundation receives cash charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting its mission to fund cancer research and public health initiatives.
2. Conference Fees: The Foundation receives fees from presenters, sponsors, and participants who attend the Sohn Investment Conferences.
3. Event Sponsorships: Initial sponsor commitments for annual global conferences generate revenue to support foundation operations and grant-making.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Sohn Conference Foundation is a nonprofit that hosts annual investment conferences globally, where leading institutional investors present high-conviction investment ideas. Conference fees, sponsorships, and donations fund cancer research grants through programs such as the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize, the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance, and the Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award.

Product overview

The Sohn Conference Foundation is a philanthropic organization that hosts annual investment conferences globally (New York, Hong Kong, Montreal, Monaco, San Francisco, Australia, London, and Tel Aviv) and funds cancer research initiatives. The Foundation's core offerings include the Sohn Investment Conferences where leading investors present investment ideas, the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize supporting early-career cancer researchers with $750,000 grants, the Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award, and the Emerging Company Pavilion showcasing high-growth companies. Over $150 million has been raised in 30 years, with the Foundation's four-pronged approach focusing on inspiring cutting-edge research collaborations, investing in state-of-the-art technology, developing the next generation of physician scientists, and promoting quality of care for patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance: A research alliance that awards the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize to early-career cancer researchers, providing $750,000 grants for innovative cancer research projects.

Products and services

• Sohn Investment Conferences Annual investment conferences held globally in New York, Hong Kong, Montreal, Monaco, San Francisco, Australia, London, and Tel Aviv, bringing together leading institutional investors to present investment ideas and support the Foundation's mission.
• Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize Annual prize awarding $750,000 grants to early-career cancer researchers for innovative cancer research projects. In 2026, 13 winners received $9 million in total funding.
• Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award Fellowship program awarding nearly $500,000 to $1 million per recipient to fund innovative pediatric cancer research projects by young scientists.

Quantifiable outcome

• $9 million awarded in 2026 through Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize with $750,000 grants to 13 innovators
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Pershing Square FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance is a collaboration between the Pershing Square Foundation and the Sohn Conference Foundation. In 2026, the Alliance doubled its funding commitment, awarding 13 winners of the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize with $750,000 grants each for early-career cancer research. Over its 13-year history, the Alliance has awarded $58 million to 90 scientists at 24 institutions, supporting research in immunotherapy, AI-driven protein design, RNA-targeting therapies, and novel cancer drug development.
• Damon Runyon Cancer Research FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award supports outstanding young scientists addressing critical funding shortages in pediatric cancer research. Awards commit nearly $500,000 to $1 million per recipient to fund innovative research projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Milken Institute: Global nonprofit that convenes major investor, policy, and health conferences (including the Milken Conference). Comparable hybrid model combining marquee conferences with philanthropic and research programs.
• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit with broad research, patient support, and advocacy mandates. Comparable as a far larger incumbent in the same cancer research grantmaking space.

Direct peers

• Tiger 21: Membership-based peer learning and investment idea community for ultra-high-net-worth investors. Comparable as a community of wealthy investors consuming curated investment content, though without the philanthropic mission.
• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: Direct partner via the Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Cancer Fellowship Award. Compares as a fellow cancer research grantmaker focused on early-career scientists and innovative research.
• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: Large disease-specific research foundation that funds high-risk, high-reward early-stage research and adjacent technology. Comparable as a similarly positioned single-disease research funder with substantial annual grantmaking and brand-driven fundraising.
• Robin Hood Foundation: New York-based poverty-fighting foundation that convenes Wall Street and finance leaders to raise funds for nonprofit programs. Comparable as a New York-based foundation that monetizes finance-community engagement for charitable impact.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Major U.S. cancer research grantmaker founded in memory of Jim Valvano. Comparable as a similarly scaled disease-specific research funder that channels donations from sports and entertainment audiences into cancer research grants.
• Stand Up To Cancer: Media-driven cancer research funder that raises large sums through high-profile entertainment-industry events and funds collaborative research teams. Comparable event-driven, mission-aligned fundraising model.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: Pediatric cancer research and support foundation. Comparable as a smaller, pediatric-cancer-focused peer with a similar grantmaking and research-funding model.
• Pershing Square Foundation: Co-funder of the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance and a New York-based philanthropic foundation. Directly comparable as a strategic funding partner in the Foundation's largest grantmaking program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sohnconf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sohn Conference Foundation