Pluta Cancer Center Foundation

What Pluta Cancer Center Foundation does

Pluta Cancer Center Foundation, Inc. is a New York-incorporated 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered at 125 Red Creek Drive, Suite 205B, in Rochester/Henrietta, NY. Founded in 2012 to support cancer patients in the Rochester region, the foundation traces its lineage to the Pluta Cancer Center established in 1975 at Genesee Hospital by the Pluta family (Andy and Helen Pluta). The foundation's legal and operational predecessor merged with Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2012, joining the NCI-designated Wilmot Cancer Institute.

The foundation provides a coordinated suite of no-cost patient support programs to cancer patients of Pluta Cancer Center and the Wilmot Cancer Institute's Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care program. Core offerings are grouped into Patient & Family Support (financial assistance for non-medical expenses such as rent, utilities, and car payments; transportation; comfort bags and ponchos for chemotherapy/radiation patients; HUDDLE Packs for children of patients; holiday programs), Integrative Oncology (acupuncture, massage, yoga, nutrition counseling, and mindfulness delivered in-person and online at the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center), and Research & Clinical Support (the Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care program and the endowed Pluta Professor in Breast Care, established 2025 with Dr. Anna Weiss as inaugural holder). In its most recent disclosed year, the foundation supported 2,400+ patients, provided 700+ rides, distributed 600+ comfort bags and ponchos, and delivered 10,000+ integrative oncology appointments.

The foundation's revenue model is donor-funded: it raises capital through individual donations, planned/legacy gifts, stock donations, United Way workplace campaigns, community fundraising kits, and a tiered Corporate Partners Program (Title, Diamond, Core), with major annual events including the Emerald Ball (27th annual, September 12, 2026) and the Très Chic Luncheon and Fashion Show (December 3, 2026). Patients receive all services free of charge. The foundation operates with approximately five key staff (President & CEO Dawn A.M. Stever, Development Manager, Program and Community Manager, Donor Engagement Manager, Operations Coordinator) and is governed by a board on which the Pluta family maintains representation. Technology footprint is limited to third-party donation processing (Blackbaud) and website analytics (Google Analytics); no proprietary technology product exists.

Name

Pluta Cancer Center Foundation

Legal name

Pluta Cancer Center Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://plutacancerfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pluta Cancer Center Foundation is a Rochester, NY-based 501(c)(3) public charity that provides free financial assistance, transportation, comfort services, and integrative oncology therapies to cancer patients of Pluta Cancer Center and the Wilmot Cancer Institute. It funds programs through donations, corporate partnerships, and annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Patient Support Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hospital-Integrated Cancer Centers (Acute Oncology Programs) (HLAFAAAM)

Keywords

• Cancer patient support
• Integrative oncology services
• Nonprofit healthcare fundraising
• Patient financial assistance
• Community cancer care

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

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 and Fundraising: The foundation raises funds through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, stock donations, United Way campaigns, and community fundraising events. Services are provided free of charge to patients.
2. Event Sponsorships: Revenue generated through sponsorships of the annual Emerald Ball and Très Chic Luncheon and Fashion Show events. Sponsors receive prominent recognition at these premier events.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through estate planning, with the foundation encouraging donors to include Pluta in their estate plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pluta Cancer Foundation delivers free, donor-funded support services to cancer patients treated at Pluta Cancer Center and Wilmot Cancer Institute. Core offerings include the Patient Financial Assistance Program (covering rent, utilities, and car payments), the Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center (acupuncture, massage, yoga, nutrition counseling, mindfulness), Transportation Support rides to appointments, Comfort Bags and Ponchos for chemotherapy and radiation patients, Holiday Programs (Thanksgiving and Angel Program), and HUDDLE Packs for children of cancer patients.

Product overview

Pluta Cancer Foundation is a public charity that does not offer a single product but rather a coordinated suite of patient support programs and fundraising events. Its core offerings include: a Patient Financial Assistance Program providing gap support for non-medical household costs; the Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center (offering evidence-based therapies at no cost to patients); transportation support; Comfort Bags and Ponchos for chemotherapy and radiation patients; Holiday Programs (Thanksgiving and Angel programs); HUDDLE Packs for children of cancer patients; and the Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care program. The Foundation also runs annual fundraising events — the Emerald Ball and Très Chic Fashion Show — and a Corporate Partners Program for business sponsorship. Professional development funding for staff and an endowed professorship (Pluta Professor in Breast Care) round out its clinical support activities. The portfolio functions as a unified patient support ecosystem, with financial assistance, wellness services, and practical support interconnected to ensure no patient faces their cancer journey alone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patient Financial Assistance Program
• Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center
• Transportation Support
• Comfort Bags and Ponchos Program
• Holiday Programs (Thanksgiving and Angel Program)
• HUDDLE Pack
• Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care
• Pluta Professor in Breast Care
• Emerald Ball
• Très Chic Luncheon and Fashion Show
• Corporate Partners Program
• Amazon Wishlist / Comfort Bag Donations

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,400+ patients supported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship/title, core, flagship and minor.

• O'Connell Electric Companyflagship/titleGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025O'Connell Electric Company serves as the inaugural Title Partner (2025) with a $75,000 donation to support patient financial needs fund and professional development for Pluta Cancer Center staff. The Parkes family has been supporters for over 20 years. Walt Parkes was a founding board member when Pluta became New York's first independent not-for-profit cancer center in 2001. O'Connell receives prominent recognition at the Emerald Ball and Très Chic Fashion Show events.
• Alesco AdvisorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAlesco Advisors is a corporate partner supporting Pluta Cancer Foundation's patient support programs and integrative oncology services.
• Gilead SciencescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGilead Sciences is listed as a first corporate partner supporting the foundation's mission to provide hope and healing to cancer patients.
• Garber Automotive of RochestercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGarber Automotive of Rochester is a Diamond Sponsor for the 2026 Emerald Ball, supporting the foundation's fundraising efforts.
• University of Rochester MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Rochester Medicine is a Diamond Sponsor for the 2026 Emerald Ball and a strategic partner through the Wilmot Cancer Institute. In 2012, Pluta Cancer Center merged with Strong Memorial Hospital and URMC, providing access to cutting-edge research, innovative technology, and clinical trials.
• Wilmot Cancer InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn NCI-Designated Cancer Center and the region's only NCI-designated cancer center. Pluta Cancer Center merged with Wilmot in 2012, and the foundation supports Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care and other clinical programs at the institute.
• Dr. Anna WeisscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Anna Weiss serves as the inaugural Pluta Professor in Breast Care (appointed 2025). She is an associate professor of surgery and oncology, associate director of clinical research at Wilmot Cancer Institute, and nationally recognized expert in breast surgical oncology.
• Blue Door BoutiqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor participant in the 2025 Très Chic Luncheon and Fashion Show, providing outfits for the event.
• The Gem LabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVendor participant in the 2025 Très Chic Luncheon and Fashion Show, providing jewelry for the event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. nonprofit focused on cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. Directly comparable mission (financial assistance, transportation/Lodging, integrative support for cancer patients) but operates at national scale across many more program verticals than Pluta's regional focus.
• Susan G. Komen: The leading breast cancer-focused nonprofit, funding research, patient navigation, financial assistance, and community outreach. Comparable in mission overlap to Pluta's breast-care focus (Pluta Comprehensive Breast Care at Wilmot) and patient-support services, but at national scale.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Foundation: Fundraising arm of a leading NCI-designated cancer center, funding research, endowed chairs, and patient support programs. Comparable model (cancer-center-aligned foundation supporting clinical and research priorities) at far larger scale and national/international reach.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Major cancer nonprofit funding research and providing direct patient support (financial assistance, transportation, integrative services). Overlaps with Pluta in patient financial aid and supportive care models, but operates nationally across all blood cancers.

Direct peers

• Livestrong Foundation: Cancer-focused nonprofit providing direct patient services (financial navigation, emotional support, fertility preservation, integrative care). Highly comparable in delivering wraparound support to cancer patients at no cost, though historically larger and more nationally distributed.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Cancer research and clinical support nonprofit funding translational research and patient programs. Comparable in funding oncology research and clinical program support (e.g., Pluta's endowed professorship and clinical program funding at Wilmot), though primarily grantmaking rather than direct service delivery.
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: National nonprofit providing free mammograms, patient navigation, and support services to breast cancer patients. Comparable to Pluta's breast-care focus and no-cost support model, though more distributed nationally.
• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: Cancer research nonprofit funding high-impact early-career investigators and translational research. Comparable in endowing research talent and clinical breakthroughs, aligning with Pluta's endowed Pluta Professor in Breast Care strategy.
• Roswell Park Alliance Foundation: Fundraising arm of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCI-designated), funding research, patient programs, and integrative oncology. Closest structural analog: a hospital-affiliated cancer foundation that raises money for patient support, research chairs, and clinical program funding, much like Pluta's relationship with Wilmot.

Emerging players

• St. Baldrick's Foundation: Childhood-cancer-focused nonprofit funding research and supporting patients/families. Adjacent to Pluta's HUDDLE Pack program for children of cancer patients, but with a more research-oriented funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUi5UBJm-26pBJjk9JalUYQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlutaCancerCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pluta-cancer-center-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/plutacancerfoundation
• Xx.com/plutacancerfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Pluta Cancer Center Foundation