Griffith Family Foundation

What Griffith Family Foundation does

The Griffith Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, founded in 2010 by Cathy Griffith following her husband Greg's stage IV pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The foundation operates the unified "Sideline Cancer" brand, which uses sports — primarily basketball, golf, softball, and flag football — as a platform to raise awareness and funding for pancreatic cancer research while providing direct financial assistance to cancer patients. Its programs include the core Sideline Cancer initiative, the Sideline Cancer TBT basketball team (competing in The Basketball Tournament since 2014), the Patient Assistance Program (launched 2022, serving 75+ patients with over $250,000 in aid), the annual Sideline Cancer Golf Tournament (running 15 years as of 2026), Sideline Cancer Athletics AAU youth basketball, and the ICAN Classic AAU NIL competition.

Name

Griffith Family Foundation

Legal name

The Greg & Cathy Griffith Family Foundation

Website

https://griffithfamilyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Griffith Family Foundation is a Hollidaysburg, PA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Sideline Cancer brand, which uses school and youth sports events to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research and provide direct financial assistance to cancer patients across Central Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Advocacy

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Pancreatic cancer research
• Nonprofit patient assistance
• Cancer awareness fundraising
• Community sports events
• Charitable foundation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hollidaysburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The foundation accepts one-time and monthly donations through its website. Donors can make online contributions with the option to notify someone about their gift and receive an acknowledgment from the foundation.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Sideline Cancer branded merchandise including T-shirts. From each item sold, $5 is earmarked for the Patient Assistance Program, including $1 from each bracelet sale. Merchandise is sold through school partnerships and online channels.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: Revenue generated through organizing and hosting events including golf tournaments, basketball games, softball games, flag football tournaments, and other sports-related fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Griffith Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds for pancreatic cancer research and provides direct financial assistance to cancer patients through its Sideline Cancer® brand. It generates revenue via individual donations (one-time and monthly), branded merchandise sales, and community fundraising events including basketball games, golf tournaments, softball games, and school-based initiatives. Programs include the Patient Assistance Program, the Sideline Cancer TBT basketball team competing in The Basketball Tournament, the annual Sideline Cancer Golf Tournament, Sideline Cancer Athletics AAU youth basketball, and the ICAN Classic NIL tournament.

Product overview

The Griffith Family Foundation operates Sideline Cancer® as its primary unified brand encompassing multiple programs: the core Sideline Cancer movement for pancreatic cancer advocacy; Sideline Cancer TBT (basketball team competing in The Basketball Tournament since 2014); the Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program providing direct financial aid to cancer patients; the annual Sideline Cancer Golf Tournament fundraiser; Sideline Cancer Athletics AAU youth basketball program; the ICAN Classic NIL competition; and Sideline Cancer merchandise sales. These initiatives collectively use sports as a platform to connect patients, doctors, and communities while raising awareness and funding for pancreatic cancer research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sideline Cancer Patient Assistance Program Community-driven program that provides direct financial assistance to cancer patients and families in Central PA and beyond, helping cover medical bills, travel for treatment, and daily living expenses during treatment.
• Sideline Cancer TBT Basketball Team Basketball team competing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), an open-application 5-on-5 winner-take-all tournament broadcast on ESPN. The team raises pancreatic cancer awareness at a national platform.
• Sideline Cancer Golf Tournament Annual fundraising golf tournament held at Scotch Valley Country Club to support pancreatic cancer research and the Patient Assistance Program.
• Sideline Cancer Athletics (AAU Program) Youth basketball AAU teams representing the Sideline Cancer mission and competing in regional and national tournaments while raising awareness.
• ICAN Classic First-of-its-kind AAU NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) tournament hosted at Nittany Valley Sports Centre in State College, PA, blending youth competition with brand/NIL opportunities.
• Sideline Cancer Merchandise Sideline Cancer branded T-shirts, bracelets, and apparel sold to raise funds. $5 from each item sold supports the Patient Assistance Program, including $1 from each bracelet sale.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $250,000 donated to support 75+ patients through Patient Assistance Program since 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Purple Fever HoopsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019A 501(c)3 nonprofit basketball organization established in 2019 serving girls and boys in West-Central Pennsylvania. Partners with Griffith Family Foundation/Sideline Cancer for community service projects and youth basketball programs.
• The Basketball Tournament (TBT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Sideline Cancer has been a participant in The Basketball Tournament since its inaugural debut in 2014, being the ONLY team to have participated in all 8+ TBTs. The partnership provides a national platform through ESPN broadcasts to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. The TBT is a 5-on-5, winner-take-all tournament with a grand prize of $1+ million.
• World Pancreatic Cancer CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSideline Cancer is a member of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, spreading awareness for victims and families affected by pancreatic cancer globally.
• Penn State AltoonacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing partnership including student chapters of Sideline Cancer, pancreatic cancer symposiums, campus events, and collaboration with Penn State Altoona Hockey for Purple Puck Night events.
• Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCathy Griffith served in leadership roles (former Vice-Chair, Secretary, & Member at Large) for the DDNC. The foundation participates annually in DDNC's Public Policy Forum in Washington DC.
• Dr. A. James Moser - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Dr. Moser, Co-Director of Pancreas and Liver Institute at BIDMC/Harvard Medical School. The foundation has donated over $200,000 for Dr. Moser's pancreatic cancer research efforts since 2010.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN): The largest pancreatic cancer-focused nonprofit in the United States, funding research, providing patient services, and advocating for federal funding. Directly comparable as a pancreatic cancer nonprofit but operates at vastly larger scale with national infrastructure.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Major cancer research funding nonprofit founded by Jim Valvano with strong sports/NBA ties. Comparable as a sports-identity-driven cancer nonprofit that uses athletics as a fundraising platform, though it funds all cancer types and operates at massive scale.
• Livestrong Foundation: Iconic cancer nonprofit founded by cyclist Lance Armstrong, originally focused on cancer survivorship. Comparable as a sports-identity-driven cancer nonprofit that has historically used athletic events and athletic identity for fundraising and awareness, though operating at much larger scale with broader cancer focus.

Direct peers

• Lustgarten Foundation: The largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research in the US, founded in memory of Marc Lustgarten. Directly comparable mission focused on pancreatic cancer research funding and patient outcomes, with substantially larger research grant capacity.
• Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation: Chicago-based pancreatic cancer nonprofit founded in memory of Michael Rolfe that funds research and provides patient support. Comparable as a family-founded, pancreatic-cancer-specific nonprofit though operating in a different regional market.
• Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research: Family-founded pancreatic cancer research and patient support nonprofit established in 1997. Highly comparable as a family-driven pancreatic cancer foundation funding research at UCLA and providing patient support, though operating at larger scale.
• National Pancreas Foundation: Nonprofit dedicated to providing hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer through research, education, and advocacy. Comparable as a disease-specific nonprofit focused on pancreatic conditions with national reach.
• Project Purple: Pancreatic cancer nonprofit that uses running, athletic events, and community fundraising to support research and patient financial assistance. Directly comparable in both disease focus and athletic-event fundraising model.

Emerging players

• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Youth-focused cancer research nonprofit that uses sports and community events as fundraising platforms. Comparable as a sports-event-driven cancer nonprofit, though focused on childhood cancers rather than pancreatic cancer specifically.

Others

• Purple Stride / PurpleStride Foundation: PanCAN's signature community fundraising walk/run series for pancreatic cancer. Comparable as a community event-based pancreatic cancer fundraising platform, though operated as a program of a much larger parent organization.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sideline_cancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/sidelinecancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/sideline_cancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greg-and-cathy-griffith-family-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Griffith Family Foundation