NCCS

What NCCS does

Cancer Nation (formerly the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship / NCCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cancer survivorship advocacy organization founded in 1986 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and relocated to Washington, DC in 1992. The organization coined the term "cancer survivor" and established the widely-accepted definition of survivorship from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life, and it operates today as the oldest survivor-led cancer nonprofit in America. Its core programs include the Cancer Survival Toolbox (an award-winning audio self-advocacy program distributed 500,000+ times), the Cancer Survivorship Checklist (an interactive online navigation tool), the annual State of Survivorship Survey (conducted with Edge Research since 2020), the Cancer Nation Advocates program (formerly CPAT, 1,200+ trained advocates), the Cancer Nation Leadership Academy, and the semi-annual Cancer Policy Roundtable. Distribution occurs through the canceradvocacy.org website, a twice-monthly email newsletter, seven social platforms including newer TikTok and BlueSky accounts, a podcast (Cancer Convos), webinars, and annual summits.

The organization's underlying technology is intentionally minimal — it operates as a policy advocacy and survivor-empowerment organization rather than a technology developer, with digital infrastructure limited to website, email, and social media. Its most technology-adjacent product is Ina, an AI-powered personalized nutrition assistant delivered through a partnership with Savor Health that provides 24/7 text-based nutrition support to survivors free of charge. The organization holds no patents or proprietary technology assets and has no API, SDK, or in-house AI capabilities.

Cancer Nation's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: individual donations including the 1986 Club monthly giving program at $15+/month, federal and foundation grants (including a CDC grant exceeding $1.3 million over five years for hematologic cancers education), corporate sponsorships (gated by a strict non-endorsement policy), merchandise sales ($11.99-$54.99 range via an online store), vehicle donations through a partnership with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS, 80% of net proceeds), and fundraising events. Membership and all survivor-facing resources are free, with donations tax-deductible under EIN 85-0357897. The organization has been instrumental in passage of the ADA cancer provisions, HIPAA, Medicare cancer coverage improvements, oral chemotherapy coverage, and the introduction of the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, and it serves a stated constituency of 18.1 million+ US cancer survivors plus caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Name

NCCS

Legal name

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Website

https://canceradvocacy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cancer Nation (formerly NCCS) is a 501(c)(3) survivor-led cancer advocacy nonprofit, founded 1986, that drives federal policy on quality cancer care and provides free survivorship resources, navigation tools, and research to 18.1 million+ US cancer survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Healthcare Advocacy

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Communicable Disease Prevention & Chronic Disease Programs (BPAIAJAI)

Keywords

• Cancer survivorship advocacy
• Patient empowerment programs
• Nonprofit healthcare services
• Cancer policy advocacy
• Survivorship education

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Membership: The organization receives donations from individuals, including monthly giving through the 1986 Club membership program where donors contribute $15 or more monthly and receive a Cancer Nation mug.
2. Grants and Federal Funding: Cancer Nation receives grants including a CDC-funded grant for hematologic cancers education exceeding $1.3 million over five years for the Cancer Survival Toolbox program.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise including water bottles, tumblers, mugs, hoodies, tote bags, caps, and notebooks through its online store with prices ranging from $11.99 to $54.99.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships and sponsorships support programs and events, with the organization maintaining a strict corporate sponsor policy that prevents endorsement of specific products.
5. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS) for vehicle donations, with 80% of net proceeds supporting Cancer Nation operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NCCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer. Founded in 1986, it provides cancer survivorship advocacy, educational resources, and empowerment programs for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. The organization also conducts policy advocacy to advance survivorship-centered legislation and equitable cancer care.

Product overview

Cancer Nation (formerly the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship) operates as a cancer survivorship advocacy organization offering a portfolio of survivor-focused programs, resources, and events. The core offerings include the Cancer Survivorship Checklist (an interactive online tool), the Cancer Survival Toolbox (a free award-winning audio program), and the annual State of Survivorship Survey (research conducted with Edge Research). Additional programs include Cancer Nation Advocates (formerly CPAT) for policy advocacy engagement, the Cancer Nation Leadership Academy for training emerging survivor advocates, and the Cancer Policy Roundtable for convening stakeholders on cancer policy issues. The organization also provides access to Ina, an intelligent nutrition assistant through partnership with Savor Health. A merchandise shop supports fundraising efforts. The portfolio is unified by the organization's mission to advocate for quality cancer care for all people touched by cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cancer Survivorship Advocacy
• Survivorship Educational Resources
• Cancer Nation (Rebrand)

Quantifiable outcome

• 57 NCCN guideline adaptations for Sub-Saharan Africa endorsed by 9 ministries of health, downloaded over 120,000 times
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• African Cancer CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Care Award recipient for global partnership efforts. The African Cancer Coalition collaborated with NCCN and American Cancer Society to create 57 NCCN guideline adaptations for Sub-Saharan Africa, endorsed by 9 ministries of health and downloaded over 120,000 times.
• American Cancer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Care Award recipient for global partnership efforts. Collaborated on NCCN guideline adaptations for Sub-Saharan Africa and other international initiatives.
• MENA-NCCN Regional Coordinating CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in Care Award recipient for maintaining 13 MENA-adapted guidelines updated biannually, expanding quality cancer care resources to Middle East and North Africa region.
• Savor HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring Ina (The Intelligent Nutrition Assistant) to cancer survivors. Ina provides personalized nutrition support 24/7 via text message, with knowledge from registered dietitians, nurses, and doctors. Registration and access is free for cancer survivors.
• Cure TodayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for content distribution and awareness building around cancer survivorship topics.
• Your Cancer StoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership for amplifying cancer survivor stories and survivorship awareness.
• Edge ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership to conduct the State of Survivorship Survey, exploring the cancer patient and survivor journey. The survey captures perspectives to understand how Cancer Nation can support its mission, exploring topics like care inequities, metastatic cancer experiences, and caregiver needs.
• Cancer Leadership CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCS founded the Cancer Leadership Council in 1993, a patient-centered forum of national advocacy organizations addressing public policy issues in cancer. By 2020, the CLC grew to include 29 leading patient advocacy, professional, and volunteer organizations.
• Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation partnership allowing donors to contribute cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, or RVs. 80% of net proceeds support Cancer Nation operations.
• National Breast Cancer CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCS was one of five founding organizations of the National Breast Cancer Coalition in 1990, representing survivor voice in breast cancer advocacy.
• Cancer Quality AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCS co-founded the Cancer Quality Alliance with American Society for Clinical Oncology in 2005-2008, a collaboration of 28 organizations to encourage sharing and implementation of cancer quality measures into practice.
• Community Breast Reconstruction Alliance (CBRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CBRA led by Dr. Elisabeth Potter to advocate against CMS code changes for DIEP flap breast reconstruction. NCCS drafted a letter signed by 34 patient advocacy organizations, 12 medical societies, and 231 providers, resulting in CMS retaining procedure codes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Young Survival Coalition: Nonprofit advocating for young adults diagnosed with breast cancer through resources, community, and policy. Direct peer in cancer survivor advocacy and federal policy engagement.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing social and emotional support, education, and advocacy for people impacted by cancer. Closely aligned with NCCS in providing survivor resources, community programs, and policy advocacy.
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: National nonprofit focused on cancer prevention, early detection, and survivor advocacy. Comparable as a cancer advocacy organization conducting public policy work and survivor education.
• Livestrong Foundation: Cancer survivorship-focused nonprofit providing resources, advocacy, and patient navigation for survivors. Direct peer in survivorship advocacy mission and program offering, though historically more consumer-branded.
• National Breast Cancer Coalition: Breast cancer advocacy organization that NCCS helped co-found in 1990. Closely comparable as a national breast/cancer policy advocacy coalition with overlapping federal legislative focus.

Broad incumbents

• Stand Up To Cancer: Charitable program funding collaborative cancer research and patient awareness. Comparable as a high-profile cancer advocacy/awareness organization but primarily a research funder rather than policy advocacy peer.
• Susan G. Komen: A leading breast cancer-focused nonprofit that conducts research, advocacy, and patient support. Comparable as a major cancer advocacy organization; NCCS's CEO previously led public policy initiatives at Komen.
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Disease-specific cancer nonprofit conducting research, patient services, and federal advocacy. Comparable in combining patient services with national policy advocacy but focused on pancreatic cancer.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Large disease-specific cancer nonprofit funding research and providing patient services and advocacy for blood cancers. Comparable in federal policy advocacy and survivor support but focused on a narrower cancer segment.
• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, providing research funding, patient support, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a national cancer advocacy organization with overlapping policy and survivor-support missions, but materially larger in budget and brand reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/canceradvocacy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CancerSurvivorship
• Facebookfacebook.com/cancersurvivorship
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canceradvocacy
• Instagraminstagram.com/cancersurvivorship
• TikToktiktok.com/@cancer.nation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NCCS