TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance

What TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance does

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in January 2022 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland. The organization is focused on eradicating Black Breast Cancer, defined by TOUCH as the constellation of exposures, experiences, and lack of science that drives disproportionately worse breast cancer outcomes among Black women — including a 41% higher mortality rate versus white women and less than 3% representation in clinical trials. Its primary constituents are Black women diagnosed with breast cancer (including triple negative breast cancer, or TNBC), with secondary audiences including caregivers, HBCU students, and global populations of African descent. The organization frames Black Breast Cancer as a distinct disease state and operates survivor-led programs across patient education, clinical trial navigation, support groups, and policy advocacy.

TOUCH's product portfolio centers on digital platforms and community programs rather than commercial software. Core programs include the When We Tri(al) clinical trial movement (over 23,000 Black women sent to trial matching), TOUCH Care (a 24/7 Black woman survivor-led nurse navigation program), BlackTNBCSanctuary.org (a TNBC resource hub co-launched with AACR and the TNBC Foundation), and the #BlackDataMatters movement for clinical research participation. Underlying technology is built around digital portals (touchbbca.org, WhenWeTri(al).org, BlackTNBCSanctuary.org) integrated with Ciitizen for patient-controlled health records, and most recently with Massive Bio's SYNERGY-AI for AI-powered trial matching (May 2026). Content distribution runs through weekly web series The Doctor Is In (3M+ weekly viewers on BlackDoctor.org), monthly SAMBAI Speaks (10,000+ viewers across 8 countries), Pink Table Talk, TOUCH Talk support groups, and an HBCU internship pipeline.

The organization's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: tax-deductible individual donations processed via Classy.org, corporate sponsorships from AstraZeneca, Gilead, and Daiichi Sankyo for the Care for HER program, and grants including the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Impact Grant. All patient programs are free of charge. TOUCH monetizes its influence through board representation and advisory positions across Pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, Xeris Biopharma, the FDA Patient Engagement Collaborative, ACS National Breast Cancer Roundtable, and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, and as Co-Investigator on the $25M Cancer Grand Challenges Team SAMBAI award. Go-to-market is community-led, event-driven (SABCS, Day of Beauty, fashion shows), and direct-to-consumer via digital channels and a staffed phone line (443-758-1924).

Name

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance

Legal name

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance

Website

https://touchbbca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that drives collaborative efforts among Black breast cancer patients, survivors, healthcare professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies to eradicate Black Breast Cancer through clinical trial navigation, survivor-led education, nurse navigation, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Community Health (Breast Cancer)

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care (BPAGACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oncology Remote Symptom Monitoring & Care Navigation (HLALAFAD), Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

Keywords

• Patient advocacy services
• Clinical trial matching
• Breast cancer awareness
• Nurse navigation program
• Community health education

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission to eradicate Black Breast Cancer. The organization is a 503(c) nonprofit.
2. Pharmaceutical Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Gilead, and Daiichi Sankyo supporting programs like Care for HER
3. Grants: Grant funding from foundations including Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Impact Grant

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free patient advocacy, education, clinical trial matching, and nurse navigation services to Black women affected by breast cancer. Its core offerings include the When We Tri(al) clinical trial matching portal, the 24/7 TOUCH Care nurse navigation program, the BlackTNBCSanctuary.org TNBC resource hub, the For The Love of My Gurls awareness campaign, and the #BlackDataMatters movement. All programs are provided at no cost to patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Product overview

TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in January 2022, focused on eradicating Black Breast Cancer through collaborative efforts of patients, survivors, advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies. The organization operates multiple programs including the #BlackDataMatters movement, When We Tri(al) clinical trial portal, and For The Love of My Gurls campaign. Core programs include The Doctor Is In web series, TOUCH Care nurse navigation, TOUCH Talk support groups, and BELONG leadership development. The organization also leads the Team SAMBAI Cancer Grand Challenge research initiative and manages the BlackTNBCSanctuary.org resource hub. TOUCH BBCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Annapolis, MD.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• When We Tri(al): Movement to change the game on Black women participating in clinical trials to improve outcomes for Black women with breast cancer
• For The Love of My Gurls
• BELONG
• The Doctor Is In
• Pink Table Talk
• TOUCH Talk
• SAMBAI Speaks
• BlackTNBCSanctuary.org
• Love Your Bones
• TOUCH Care
• #BlackDataMatters
• Blessties

Products and services

• When We Tri(al) Movement A clinical trial matching and education movement/portal that has directed over 23,000 Black women to targeted clinical trial matching services in support of breast cancer outcomes; offered free of charge to Black women with breast cancer.
• TOUCH Care Nurse Navigation The first and only Black-woman-survivor-led 24/7 nurse navigation program supporting breast cancer clinical trials; provided free to Black women navigating diagnosis, treatment, and trial enrollment.
• For The Love of My Gurls Campaign An awareness and action campaign focused on breast health for young Black women, reaching over one million young Black women with education on breast health, prevention, and clinical trial participation.
• BlackTNBCSanctuary.org Resource Hub A comprehensive online resource hub for Black and Afro-Latina triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and their families to navigate diagnosis and treatment; offered in collaboration with AACR, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, and Nueva Vida.
• #BlackDataMatters Movement A movement founded in June 2020 to mobilize the Black community to participate in clinical trial research and put Black patients in a position of power to change clinical research and catalyze change in the medical system.
• BELONG Program Blesstie Empowering Leadership and Opportunity and Nurturing Growth — a leadership development program providing education and support for Black-led grass-roots organizations, support groups, ministries, and community leaders.
• Care for HER Program A sponsored program providing free integrative therapies and culturally tailored nurse navigation to Black breast cancer patients; supported by AstraZeneca, Gilead, and Daiichi Sankyo, with reported 75% reduction in treatment side effects and 85% lower distress among 57 participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of participants reported reduced treatment side effects; 85% reported lower distress through Care for HER program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and major.

• Massive BiocoreTechnology or Integration · 29 May 2026Partnership to integrate Massive Bio's AI-powered SYNERGY-AI clinical trial matching platform into TOUCH's digital platforms, providing cancer patients with seamless access to personalized trial options. TOUCH BBCA has facilitated over 35,000 patient searches. The collaboration targets underrepresented communities facing barriers to clinical trial access.
• Navigating TrialscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2026Navigating Trials will follow up with matched patients to guide them through the enrollment process. Navigating Trials launched as a dedicated diversity-focused platform in February 2026.
• Morehouse School of MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of #BlackDataMatters movement. Dr. Melissa Davis at Morehouse leads Cancer Grand Challenges Team SAMBAI ($25M award). Research partnership on Black breast cancer disparities using community-based participatory research approach.
• CiitizencoreTechnology or IntegrationFounding partner of #BlackDataMatters. Platform enables patients to collect, digitize and organize medical records, empowering patients with health data to drive change and access clinical trial matching through touchclinicaltrials.
• Breastcancer.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in When We Tri(al) movement addressing breast cancer clinical trial disparities. Co-published research in Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
• Center for Healthcare InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of #BlackDataMatters. Collaboration on community-based participatory research and health equity initiatives.
• BlackDoctor.orgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner hosting 'The Doctor Is In' weekly web series reaching 3+ million viewers. Platform for health education and breast cancer awareness content.
• Triple Negative Breast Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley serves on Board of Trustees. Joint launch of BlackTNBCSanctuary.org as comprehensive resource hub. Collaboration on AACR Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation initiatives.
• Unite for HERcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Care for HER program providing free integrative therapies and navigational support to Black breast cancer patients. TOUCH named Community Partner of the Year 2023.
• Cancer Grand Challenges (SAMBAI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner$25 million Cancer Grand Challenges Award to Team SAMBAI led by Dr. Melissa Davis at Morehouse School of Medicine. First African-American woman-led group to win. TOUCH leads Patient Advocacy Work Package. Research on cancer disparities in populations of African descent spanning US, Canada, UK, Africa.
• AACR (American Association for Cancer Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on BlackTNBCSanctuary.org launch alongside Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and Nueva Vida.
• Xeris BiopharmaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley serves on Board of Xeris Biopharma.
• PfizermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley serves on Pfizer Breast Cancer Advocacy Steering Committee.
• NovartismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmbassador for Novartis 'More Than Just Words' Campaign. Serves on Novartis US Breast Patient Insight Panel.
• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley serves on ACS National Breast Cancer Roundtable Steering Committee and co-leader for Clinical Trials Work Group.
• FDA Patient Engagement CollaborativecoreOthersRicki Fairley is a member of FDA Patient Engagement Collaborative providing patient perspective on regulatory decisions.
• Black in CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley serves on Board of Trustees for Black in Cancer organization.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley is in the Executive Group of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance.
• Nueva VidacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on BlackTNBCSanctuary.org launch alongside AACR and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.
• National Minority Quality ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicki Fairley serves on Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative Scientific Advisory Board.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sisters Network Inc. Founded in 1994 and the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization, Sisters Network is the most direct peer to TOUCH — Valarie Worthy herself organized a Sisters Network local chapter in 2003 before co-founding TOUCH. Both focus exclusively on Black women facing breast cancer.
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer: National education and support organization for those impacted by breast cancer; awarded TOUCH the Donna Noce Colaco Going Beyond Honoree recognition. Comparable as a peer-support, education, and survivorship-focused nonprofit serving the breast cancer community.
• Breastcancer.org: Lead partner in TOUCH's When We Tri(al) Movement and co-publisher in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Both are digital-first breast cancer education and clinical-trial access platforms serving patients across the diagnosis-to-survivorship continuum.
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance: Coalition of 50+ nonprofit, advocacy, and industry members addressing metastatic breast cancer. Ricki Fairley sits on its Executive Group. Directly comparable as a multi-stakeholder advocacy coalition, though focused on the metastatic subtype.
• Nueva Vida: Latina-focused cancer support organization that co-launched BlackTNBCSanctuary.org alongside TOUCH, AACR, and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. Comparable as a culturally-tailored cancer advocacy organization serving communities of color.
• Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation: Co-launch partner of BlackTNBCSanctuary.org with TOUCH. Ricki Fairley sits on its Board of Trustees. Closely aligned on the TNBC subtype specifically — a particularly aggressive form disproportionately affecting young Black women.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer nonprofit; Ricki Fairley serves on its National Breast Cancer Roundtable Steering Committee and co-leads its Clinical Trials Work Group. Functions as both a competitor for cancer-focused funding and a convener for breast cancer equity initiatives TOUCH participates in.
• Susan G. Komen: The largest breast cancer nonprofit globally; Komen has begun targeted diversity initiatives (e.g., African American health equity programs) that increasingly overlap with TOUCH's mission. Comparable as a fundraising/advocacy organization in breast cancer, though orders of magnitude larger in budget and headcount.
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: Major breast cancer education and early-detection nonprofit with national reach. Comparable in mission (education, navigation, support) but with broader demographic targeting and substantially larger funding base.

Emerging players

• FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered): National nonprofit focused on hereditary breast, ovarian, and related cancers. Comparable in patient-advocacy model, clinical-trial engagement, and navigation services, though focused on the hereditary cancer subset rather than racial disparities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/touchbbca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQwzFWCpWY-CsagdrOAQzcQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TouchBBCA
• Instagraminstagram.com/touchbbca/?igshid=cdlukxqj9acm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/touchbbca

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance