The Jimmy Fund

What The Jimmy Fund does

The Jimmy Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising organization founded in 1948 and headquartered in Brookline, Massachusetts. It operates as the principal community-facing fundraising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, channeling individual, corporate, and event-driven donations exclusively into cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber. The organization is best known for the longevity and visibility of its event portfolio and its long-standing institutional partnership with the Boston Red Sox, which has anchored donor engagement since 1953.

The Jimmy Fund's core product is a diversified portfolio of signature fundraising events, including the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC), the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, the Jimmy Fund Walk, the Scooper Bowl, the WEEI/NESN Telethon, CowParade New England, and corporate campaigns such as Dunkin' Dogs for Joy and the HomeGoods in-store program. PMC has cumulatively raised more than $1 billion since 1980, the Red Sox channel has produced more than $172 million since 1953, the Marathon Challenge has exceeded $140 million since 1990, and the WEEI/NESN Telethon has surpassed $80 million since 2002. The organization has been recognized as the #4 cancer charity by Forbes and holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, with a published efficiency of 88 cents of every dollar directed to research and patient care.

The business model is donation-driven and event-mediated: the Jimmy Fund mobilizes a volunteer network of more than 2,050 individuals across 22 states to execute recurring events, secures corporate co-sponsorships, and deploys small in-house staff (11-50 employees) to convert community participation into restricted and unrestricted contributions to Dana-Farber. It currently serves as the anchor fundraising channel for a broader $2 billion multi-year Dana-Farber philanthropic campaign, positioning it as the primary unrestricted-giving gateway into the institute.

Name

The Jimmy Fund

Legal name

The Jimmy Fund / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc.

Website

https://jimmyfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Jimmy Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1948 that serves as the primary community fundraising arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising restricted and unrestricted donations through signature events, corporate partnerships, and a 2,000-plus volunteer network to support cancer research and patient care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Cancer Fundraising

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)

Keywords

• Cancer research fundraising
• Charitable giving programs
• Community event fundraising
• Nonprofit philanthropy services
• Signature fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookline

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online portals, mail-in donations, and recurring monthly giving programs. The Jimmy Fund processes donations directly with options for one-time or ongoing monthly contributions.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: Participants raise funds through organized events including walks, runs, golf tournaments, ice cream festivals, and cycling events. 100% of funds raised benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
3. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support through event sponsorships, cause marketing campaigns, and workplace giving programs. Notable sponsors include Arbella Insurance (Radio-Telethon), Herb Chambers (CowParade), and others.
4. Planned Giving & Bequests: Donors can include the Jimmy Fund in their wills or estate plans. The President's Circle recognizes donors giving $1,500 or more.
5. Specialty License Plates: The Red Sox Foundation/Jimmy Fund Massachusetts specialty license plate costs $40, with proceeds split evenly between the Red Sox Foundation and Dana-Farber/Jimmy Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Jimmy Fund is the official fundraising arm of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising money through individual donations, planned giving, corporate partnerships, and a portfolio of signature fundraising events such as walks, runs, bike-a-thons, golf tournaments, ice cream festivals, and a radio-telethon. 100% of funds raised support Dana-Farber's cancer research and patient care programs for children and adults.

Product overview

The Jimmy Fund is a nonprofit fundraising organization (501(c)(3)) supporting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's mission to prevent, treat, and defy cancer. Rather than a technology product company, The Jimmy Fund operates a portfolio of signature fundraising events and programs including the Jimmy Fund Walk for Dana-Farber (the nation's largest single-day cancer walk), the Pan-Mass Challenge bike-a-thon, Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl ice cream festival, Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge running team, WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon broadcast, Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway, Rally Against Cancer, ASICS Falmouth Road Race participation, Run Any Race program, Jimmy Fund Golf tournaments, CowParade New England art installation, and an Online Donation Platform. The organization also manages a Volunteer Program connecting supporters with event opportunities. All funds raised directly benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's research and patient care, with 100% of donations going to the Institute. Jimmy Fund holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jimmy Fund Walk for Dana-Farber: The nation's largest single-day cancer walk, held annually on the Boston Marathon course.
• Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl
• Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon
• Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge
• Jimmy Fund Little League
• Rally Against Cancer

Products and services

• Jimmy Fund Walk for Dana-Farber The nation's largest single-day cancer walk, held on the historic Boston Marathon course, where thousands of walkers raise funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
• Pan-Mass Challenge A two-day bike-a-thon across Massachusetts where thousands of riders raise funds for Dana-Farber, making it the Institute's largest single donor, having raised over $1 billion since 1980.
• Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl Boston's largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, featuring over 40 flavors and 4,000 gallons of ice cream annually, supporting cancer research and care at Dana-Farber.
• Jimmy Fund Little League A baseball program extending the Little League season to help strike out cancer, allowing young players to fundraise while participating in baseball activities.
• Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge A charity team running the Boston Marathon to benefit the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, having raised over $140 million since 1990.
• WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon A 36-hour broadcast from Fenway Park featuring Dana-Farber patients, doctors, nurses, and celebrity friends, having raised over $80 million since 2002.
• Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway An annual event giving Dana-Farber patients the opportunity to bat and field at Fenway Park, having raised over $9 million since 1992.
• Rally Against Cancer A fundraising initiative celebrating Red Sox Opening Day where supporters form teams to strike out cancer, having raised over $8 million since 2006.
• ASICS Falmouth Road Race A 7-mile race along Cape Cod coastline where Dana-Farber's team fundraises, with runners having raised over $12.7 million since 2003.
• Jimmy Fund Golf Golf tournaments and fundraising events supporting Dana-Farber's cancer research and patient care programs.
• Run Any Race A flexible program allowing runners of any age to participate in any race while fundraising for Dana-Farber without application or basic fundraising commitment.
• CowParade New England A public art event featuring 75 life-size cow sculptures painted by local artists, displayed throughout Greater Boston to benefit the Jimmy Fund, having raised over $1 million in 2023.
• Online Donation Platform A digital donation system allowing supporters to make one-time or recurring gifts, direct donations to specific areas, and make gifts in honor or memory of loved ones.
• Jimmy FundRaiser An online platform allowing individuals to create personal fundraising pages to support Dana-Farber's mission.
• Volunteer Program A program connecting volunteers with Jimmy Fund events including the Walk, Radio-Telethon, Scooper Bowl, and Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, with over 2,050 volunteers participating in 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to research and patient care
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Expect Miracles FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Received the 2025 Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award. A dedicated supporter of Dana-Farber, Expect Miracles Foundation is an annual donor of $1 million+ in support of the Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science. Has donated over $14.3 million cumulatively to Dana-Farber.
• Herb Chambers CompaniesmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Presenting sponsor of CowParade New England, a public art event featuring 75 life-size cow sculptures to benefit the Jimmy Fund. Herb Chambers is the largest automobile dealership group in New England with over $2.7 billion in annual sales.
• Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sponsor of CowParade New England presented by Herb Chambers.
• fairlifeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sponsor of CowParade New England presented by Herb Chambers.
• HomeGoodsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sponsor of CowParade New England and annual in-store fundraising campaign benefiting the Jimmy Fund featuring pediatric cancer patient-designed reusable shopping bags.
• OOFOSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sponsor of CowParade New England presented by Herb Chambers.
• Bond BrothersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sponsor of CowParade New England presented by Herb Chambers.
• Dunkin' Joy in Childhood FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018The Dogs for Joy program places highly trained facility dogs in healthcare settings. Funded the first in-residence facility dog (Opry) at Dana-Farber's Jimmy Fund Clinic. Has granted $16,288,861 to Dana-Farber since 1991.
• '47 BrandminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2015Sponsor of Rally Against Cancer, Red Sox Nation's fundraising initiative celebrating Opening Day to strike out cancer.
• Red Sox FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2002Official charity of the Boston Red Sox founded in 2002. The Red Sox Foundation has made the Jimmy Fund its Core Partner. Together they offer a specialty Massachusetts license plate with proceeds split evenly between organizations.
• Arbella Insurance GroupmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2002Presenting sponsor of the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. The Arbella Insurance Foundation also received the 2019 Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award for their corporate partnership support.
• WEEI/NESNmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2002Media partners for the annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon broadcast from Fenway Park. WEEI 93.7 FM and NESN (New England Sports Network) air the 36-hour broadcast.
• Boston Athletic AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1987Established as a sports club in 1887, the B.A.A. partners with Dana-Farber to raise millions through athletic events including the Boston Marathon and Boston Half. Dana-Farber was among the first organizations in the Boston Marathon Official Charity Program in 1990.
• Pan-Mass ChallengecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1980PMC is Dana-Farber's largest donor, reaching the milestone of $1 billion raised since 1980. Thousands of riders participate in the annual bike-a-thon across Massachusetts with a common mission to raise funds for Dana-Farber.
• Boston Red SoxcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1953The longest-standing philanthropic partnership in professional sports. The Red Sox support the Jimmy Fund through year-round events and programs including Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway, WEEI/NESN Radio-Telethon, and the Jimmy Fund Captain program. Have raised more than $172 million for Dana-Farber since 1953.
• Massachusetts Chiefs of Police AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1953Jimmy Fund has been the primary charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association since 1953.
• Variety Children's Charity of New EnglandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1948Helped launch the Jimmy Fund in 1948 and continues as an official charity.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Susan G. Komen: Major breast cancer-focused nonprofit that built a signature multi-event fundraising model (Race for the Cure). Highly comparable GTM motion — community walks/runs, corporate sponsors, and direct donor fundraising — competing for cancer-cause giving.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Cancer research grantmaking foundation founded by Jim Valvano. Comparable as a research-focused grantmaking charity competing for major-donor and event-driven contributions, with a similar celebrity-sports heritage (ESPN coverage, Jimmy V Classic).
• American Cancer Society: The largest US voluntary health organization focused on cancer. Directly comparable as a national donor-funded charity funding cancer research, patient support, and awareness, competing for the same donor dollar as the Jimmy Fund.
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN): Leading pancreatic cancer charity combining research funding, patient services, and advocacy. Comparable as a single-disease cancer nonprofit running signature community events (PurpleStride walks) and competing for cancer-philanthropy donor dollars.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Voluntary health organization funding blood cancer research and patient services. Comparable as a donor-funded charity raising money through signature events (Light The Night Walk, Man & Woman of the Year) that directly overlap Jimmy Fund's fundraising model and disease focus.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Leading pediatric cancer research and treatment charity. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) raising donations to fund pediatric oncology research and patient care — directly overlapping the Jimmy Fund's pediatric cancer mission through Dana-Farber.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Philanthropy): Top-ranked US cancer hospital with an active fundraising arm supporting cancer research and patient care. Comparable as a hospital-affiliated philanthropy operation funding oncology breakthroughs — similar donor model and research-impact narrative.

Emerging players

• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Pediatric cancer charity that grew from a child's front-yard lemonade stand into a national research grantmaker. Comparable as a grassroots, community-driven pediatric cancer fundraising organization with overlapping donor and event-base profile, though smaller in scale.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Pediatric cancer research-focused nonprofit using community fundraising and events. Comparable as an emerging player in pediatric cancer philanthropy, sharing the Jimmy Fund's child-cancer focus but operating with a national rather than regional footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: The parent institution the Jimmy Fund exclusively supports. Listed as a peer because the relationship is symbiotic — Dana-Farber runs the research/clinical mission while the Jimmy Fund runs fundraising — and they jointly compete for cancer philanthropy share in the same donor pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thejimmyfund
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JimmyFund48
• Facebookfacebook.com/thejimmyfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/the-jimmy-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/thejimmyfund

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Jimmy Fund