U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation

What U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation does

U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Highland, Michigan, that raises and deploys funds exclusively for cancer research grants within the State of Michigan. Founded in 2014 by siblings Ryan and Kelley LaFontaine and formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in February 2016 (Tax ID 81-1127156), the foundation was inspired by Ryan's 2008 diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 29. The foundation operates entirely on a volunteer basis with no paid staff, governed by a board and committee structure spanning events, ecommerce, marketing, grant funding, and financial oversight functions. Since 2016 it has raised over $5 million (some sources cite $6 million) cumulatively for cancer research, deploying grants to Michigan-based institutions including Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health System, Children's Hospital of Michigan, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center / C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Beaumont Health, and Ascension Healthcare.

The foundation's revenue model is multi-channel and donor-driven rather than transactional. Income is generated through signature fundraising events (Evening for the Cure gala, Golf Fore the Cure, Run for the Cure 5K, Drive for the Cure, Comfy for the Cure, UR My Valentine, Fit for the Cure, Pickleball for the Cure, Cooking for the Cure, plus the Belle Isle New Year's Eve Run partnership), individual donations accepted via website and mail, branded merchandise sold through an e-commerce storefront (shopucancervive.com), corporate sponsorship packages (including round-up programs at LaFontaine Automotive Group dealerships), and passive giving via the Kroger Community Rewards program (Organization VB688). The foundation's central value proposition is that 100% of profits are directed to cancer research grants — a claim enabled by the absence of paid staff — with grant selection overseen by a dedicated board committee that conducts site visits to research facilities.

In 2023 the foundation raised $1.5 million (exceeding its stated 'Million Dollar Year' goal) and deployed nearly $560,000 to Michigan hospitals across blood, lung, and breast cancer research. Individual grant awards have scaled materially, from a $50,000 urology research grant at Beaumont in 2018 to a $459,010 grant to Karmanos in April 2025 supporting TheraBionic P1 radiofrequency electromagnetic field device trials for liver, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Beyond research funding, the foundation runs patient-facing programs such as UR My Valentine and Comfy for the Cure, delivering nearly 1,000 gifts to cancer patients in Michigan hospitals in 2023. The organization has no software products, technology platforms, AI/ML capabilities, or patent portfolio; its competitive identity rests on its volunteer-driven cost structure, founder credibility, and entrenched Michigan community network.

Name

U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation

Legal name

U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation

Website

https://ucancervive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and deploys funds exclusively for cancer research grants at Michigan-based hospitals, having raised over $5 million since 2016 through signature events, donations, merchandise sales, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Research Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Nonprofit charitable foundation
• Cancer research grants
• Fundraising events
• Community philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Highland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising Proceeds: The foundation raises 100% of profits through donations, event fundraising, merchandise sales, and community partnerships. All proceeds are directed to Michigan-based cancer research grants.
2. Merchandise and E-commerce Sales: Operates an online store (shopucancervive.com) selling branded apparel and merchandise, with proceeds going to cancer research funding.
3. Kroger Community Rewards: Community members link their Kroger shopper cards to the organization; Kroger donates a portion of qualifying purchases back to the foundation.
4. Corporate Partnership Programs: Engages corporate partners (automotive group, local businesses) through sponsorship packages, round-up programs at point-of-sale, and employee giving campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that raises funds through community events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and branded merchandise sales, then directs 100% of profits to cancer research grants at Michigan-based hospitals and research institutions. The foundation funds pediatric, pancreatic, breast, blood, and other cancer research projects that often serve as bridge funding for larger NIH grant applications.

Product overview

U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, not a technology product company. The foundation's offerings consist of fundraising events for cancer research (such as Run for the Cure 5K, Golf Fore the Cure, Evening for the Cure gala, Drive for the Cure, Comfy for the Cure blanket-making, UR My Valentine gift deliveries, and Fit for the Cure community events), cancer research grant funding to Michigan medical institutions, and merchandise sales through its online shop. The foundation does not offer software products, technology platforms, or SaaS offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Fundraising Events Community fundraising events including galas, golf outings, 5K runs, and themed community events held across Michigan to raise money for cancer research grants. Participants register, attend, and donate through these events.
• Cancer Research Grants Direct research grants awarded to Michigan-based hospitals and cancer research institutions including Karmanos Cancer Institute, Henry Ford Health System, Children's Hospital of Michigan, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Beaumont Health, and Ascension Healthcare. Grants support studies in pancreatic, breast, lung, blood, pediatric, and other cancers.
• Branded Apparel and Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5 million raised for Michigan cancer research since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2025Primary research partner receiving multiple grants. U CAN-CER VIVE has funded Karmanos for radiofrequency electromagnetic field cancer treatment (TheraBionic P1 device trials), DLBCL stem cell transplantation research, hematological malignancies biomarker research, and more. Karmanos is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and the first in the world to prescribe the FDA-approved TheraBionic P1 device for advanced liver cancer.
• University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center / C.S. Mott Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2020Funding for pediatric brain tumor research using nanopore genetic sequencing technology to analyze cerebrospinal fluid for tumor DNA monitoring in high-grade gliomas. Supported Dr. Carl Koschmann's team and Dr. Amy Bruzek's research at Michigan Medicine's Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center.
• Henry Ford Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2019Grant recipient for pancreatic cancer research including genomic sequencing platform development and natural product compound anti-cancer studies. Two grants totaling over $440,000 awarded. Total committed to Henry Ford was $780,260 in the 2019/2020 grant cycle across the organization.
• Children's Hospital of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2019Pediatric cancer research grants supporting acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) coagulation studies and AML/Neuroblastoma treatment development. Initial $172,000 contribution funded two grants. Additional $90,400 grant for APL coagulation research.
• Beaumont Health / Beaumont Urology Research LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2018Funding for urology/radiation cystitis research including biomarker development for pelvic cancer survivors. Multiple grants totaling $150,000 over two years supporting work of Dr. Laura Lamb, Dr. Michael Chancellor, and Dr. Bernadette Zwaans.
• LaFontaine Automotive GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent/affiliated automotive group that spawned the foundation. The philanthropic arm of the automotive group provides corporate sponsorship, employee fundraising, round-up programs at dealerships, and operational support. Founded by siblings Ryan and Kelley LaFontaine who are executives at the company.
• KrogersecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Kroger Cards to the foundation (Organization Number VB688). Kroger donates a portion of qualifying purchases to the foundation based on shopping activity.
• ECO FentonsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner hosting the annual 'Fit for the Cure' event at Freedom Center Church in Fenton, MI on the last Saturday of July. ECO Fentan's mission aligns with the foundation's community-building and cancer awareness goals.
• T&T Turf ToolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Michigan business that donates 100% of profits from hand-crafted decorative items (boxes, birdhouses) to U CAN-CER VIVE.
• Urban Wick Candle BarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBirmingham, MI candle shop that donates 25% of October 'Think Pink' signature candle sales to U CAN-CER VIVE for breast cancer awareness month.
• Ascension HealthcaresecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived blood cancer research funding as part of the foundation's 2023 research grant deployment of nearly $560,000 across Michigan hospitals.
• Epic Races / Ugly Dog TriathlonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Epic Races for the Ugly Dog Triathlon charity event. LaFontaine Automotive Group and Ugly Dog Distillery co-sponsored the triathlon with U CAN-CER VIVE as the designated charity.
• Belle Isle New Year's Eve RunminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with the 51st Annual Belle Isle New Year's Eve Run. The event raised nearly $5,000 for U CAN-CER VIVE, with nearly 600 participants choosing between a 5K run or one-mile option.
• Nino SalvaggiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the 'Cooking for the Cure' video series by providing all cooking ingredients for episodes featuring healthy recipes and foundation updates.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stand Up To Cancer: Major cancer research funding collaborative supporting translational research through large grants. Comparable grantmaking focus, though structured as a national entertainment-industry-backed collaborative rather than volunteer community model.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Large national nonprofit funding blood cancer research. Directly comparable as the organization U CAN-CER VIVE's founders worked with previously (raising $1M+ for LLS through Team LaFontaine). Operates at significantly larger scale with paid staff.
• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer-focused nonprofit funding research, patient support, and advocacy. Comparable mission scope (cancer research funding) but operates as a broad incumbent with extensive paid staff, infrastructure, and national reach.

Direct peers

• V Foundation for Cancer Research: National cancer research grantmaking foundation that funds research across institutions. Closely comparable as a grantmaking-focused cancer research nonprofit with similar mission of distributing funds to researchers, though at significantly larger scale.
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Pancreatic cancer-specific research grantmaking and advocacy organization. Directly comparable as U CAN-CER VIVE has funded pancreatic cancer research at Henry Ford ($440K+); similar single-cancer research funding model.
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Dedicated breast cancer research grantmaking foundation funding researchers globally. Comparable in cancer-specific research grantmaking mission, with U CAN-CER VIVE funding breast cancer research at Karmanos (TheraBionic P1 trials).
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: National pediatric cancer research funding foundation. Comparable to U CAN-CER VIVE in funding pediatric cancer research (including Children's Hospital of Michigan recipients) and addressing the underfunded NCI pediatric cancer gap.
• Susan G. Komen: Breast cancer-specific research and community health grantmaking foundation. Comparable in its single-cancer focus, event-driven fundraising (Race for the Cure), and grant distribution model, though at vastly larger scale.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Pediatric cancer research grantmaking foundation with strong volunteer and event-driven fundraising model. Comparable to U CAN-CER VIVE in its grantmaking structure, focus on childhood cancers, and grassroots volunteer-driven approach.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Pediatric cancer research funding nonprofit. Comparable to U CAN-CER VIVE's pediatric cancer grantmaking (Children's Hospital of Michigan AML/neuroblastoma and C.S. Mott brain tumor grants) in targeting underfunded childhood cancer research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHjwTUN0uXIEiT4tADLTUJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ucancervivefoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucancervive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation