GIST Cancer

What GIST Cancer does

GIST Cancer Research Fund (GCRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001 by Tania Stutman, herself a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patient, to direct charitable dollars exclusively toward GIST cancer research. The organization operates with an all-volunteer board and a publicly stated policy that 100% of donations go to research; it has no paid staff. Grants flow to a defined set of five U.S. cancer research institutions: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Brigham and Women's Hospital / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. A Scientific Advisory Board drawn from these institutions provides grant-review credibility.

GCRF generates revenue through individual donations, merchandise sales (bracelets at $12, ribbons at $12, and t-shirts at $25), and signature fundraising events including Walk For A Cure events held in Oregon, California, Washington, and (from 2026) New York, plus Ride For A Cure cycling events. Corporate partnerships have historically centered on Novartis (developer of Gleevec/imatinib, the first-line GIST therapy) and Pfizer (developer of Sutent/sunitinib, the second-line therapy), with Cogent Biosciences added in 2025 in connection with positive Phase 3 PEAK study results. Since inception, cumulative donations are reported at approximately $13 million.

Operational signals from the input data include the 2025 James Ewing Layperson's Award to founder Tania Stutman, placement on the MSK donor wall, a U.S. Senate proclamation, post-Covid walk attendance decline from 500–600 to 250–300 participants, and the loss of board member Angelo Turano in April 2025. The organization remains a small, volunteer-run entity with tax ID 13-4182988 and a mailing footprint in New York and Miami.

Name

GIST Cancer

Legal name

GIST Cancer Research Fund

Website

https://gistinfo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The GIST Cancer Research Fund (GCRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001 that funds gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cancer research at major U.S. cancer centers through individual donations, merchandise sales, and signature Walk and Ride fundraising events across multiple states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Research Nonprofit Fundraising

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Cancer research funding
• Patient advocacy services
• Rare disease awareness
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Gastrointestinal oncology grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami Beach

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: 100% of donations go directly to GIST Cancer Research. The organization is a recognized Non-Profit 501(c)(3) charity (Tax ID: 13-4182988). All donations are tax-deductible.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of GIST Cancer awareness merchandise including bracelets, magnetic ribbons, and t-shirts. Products available: Find The Cure Bracelets ($12.00 for two), Magnetic Ribbon ($12.00 including postage), T-shirts ($25.00 including postage).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GCRF is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit that raises donations and channels 100% of funds to gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cancer research at leading U.S. cancer centers. It supplements fundraising with annual Walk For A Cure and Ride For A Cure events, awareness merchandise sales (bracelets, ribbons, t-shirts), educational conferences for patients and caregivers, and corporate partnerships with pharmaceutical sponsors.

Product overview

The GIST Cancer Research Fund (GCRF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) cancer research organization, not a technology product company. GCRF operates as a fundraising foundation that supports GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) cancer research. The organization has raised over $13 million since its inception in 2001, with 100% of donations directed to research. The main programs include the Walk For A Cure events (held in Oregon, California, Washington and New York), merchandise sales (bracelets, ribbons, t-shirts) for awareness, and annual educational conferences at cancer research institutions. GCRF provides grants to leading cancer research centers including Memorial Sloan Kettering, Fox Chase, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Brigham & Women's/Dana Farber, and University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Walk For A Cure Annual community-driven fundraising walk events held in multiple U.S. states, serving as the primary fundraising engine for GCRF and the largest annual gathering of GIST patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical company representatives worldwide. For GIST patients, families, donors, and corporate sponsors.
• Ride For A Cure Periodic multi-day, 1,000-mile bicycle fundraising ride held every three years in memory of Peter Thomas, supporting GIST cancer research. For donors, supporters, and the GIST community.
• GIST Cancer Awareness Merchandise (Bracelets, Ribbons, T-Shirts) Branded awareness merchandise including Find The Cure GIST Cancer Bracelets ($12 for two), Magnetic Ribbon ($12 including postage), and T-shirts ($25 including postage). For individual supporters, patients, caregivers, and community donors.
• GIST Education Conference Annual educational conferences held at cancer research institutions featuring presentations from leading GIST researchers and doctors on advancements in treatment. For GIST patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers.
• GIST Cancer Research Grant Program Annual research grant program funding GIST cancer research at leading institutions including Brigham & Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber, Fox Chase, Memorial Sloan Kettering, OHSU, and University of Miami, with 100% of donations directed to research. For principal investigators and cancer research institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gleevec (imatinib) was the first targeted therapy approved for GIST, revolutionizing treatment. Since then, additional drugs including sunitinib, regorafenib, avapritinib, and ripretinib have been developed.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovartis is a global healthcare company that provides generous support to GCRF. They work to improve understanding of rare diseases including GIST. Novartis developed Gleevec (imatinib), the first targeted therapy for GIST, which has revolutionized treatment for this rare cancer.
• PfizercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPfizer Oncology is committed to the discovery, investigation and development of innovative treatment options for cancer patients including those with GIST. Pfizer developed SUTENT (sunitinib), used to treat GIST when imatinib doesn't work or isn't tolerated.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSKCC has been a major beneficiary of GCRF funding since 2002, receiving $1.6 million. GCRF supports the work of Dr. Cristina Antonescu and Dr. Ping Chi. MSK honored GCRF on its donor wall in 2012. Dr. Antonescu's lab focuses on genomic biomarkers for GIST recurrence risk.
• Fox Chase Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFox Chase Cancer Center receives GCRF funding to support research by Dr. Margaret von Mehren and Dr. Lori Rink on novel therapies for GIST and soft tissue sarcomas. Focus includes tumors that don't respond well to standard targeted therapies.
• Oregon Health Sciences University Knight Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHSU Knight Cancer Institute has received over $2 million from GCRF to support the labs of Dr. Michael Heinrich, Dr. Christopher Corless, and Dr. Brian Druker. Research focuses on understanding mechanisms of resistance to new GIST drugs and developing improved therapies.
• University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center receives GCRF funding to support Dr. Jonathan C. Trent II's GIST research program, which has developed into the largest GIST center in the southeastern United States. Research includes PAC-1 drug development and liquid biopsy biomarkers.
• Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCRF supports the research lab of Dr. Jonathan A. Fletcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Research focuses on immune markers and biomarkers for response to immunotherapy in GIST.
• University of Pittsburgh Cancer CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a recipient of GCRF annual grants for GIST cancer research.
• Cogent BiosciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCogent Biosciences announced positive top-line results from the Global Phase 3 PEAK study for bezuclastinib (CGT9486) in combination with sunitinib for second-line GIST treatment. GCRF shares updates about new drug developments with the GIST community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gist-cancer-research-fund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GIST Cancer