What The DeGregorio Family Foundation does

The DeGregorio Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2006 by Lynn DeGregorio after multiple family members died from Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer. It is the only public foundation in the United States solely dedicated to funding peer-reviewed scientific research in both gastric and esophageal cancers (gastroesophageal cancers). The foundation does not develop technology products; its core activity is grant-making to academic researchers and physician-scientists at institutions including Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dana-Farber, MD Anderson, Weill Cornell Medicine, Columbia, Mayo Clinic, University of Pennsylvania, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, MD Anderson and others.

Over a 20-year operating history (2006–2026), the foundation has awarded approximately $10 million across 38 research grants and documented $56 million+ in follow-on funding from the NIH, Department of Defense, the Starr Foundation, and other institutional sources — a 1:12 leverage ratio. Grant selection is managed by an external Scientific Advisory Board chaired by Dr. Manish Shah. The operating principle commits 100% of donated funds directly to research.

Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible donations, sourced across multiple channels: an annual gala held at the New York Yacht Club (minimum $275 ticket, plus patron and table sponsorship tiers); the “Run With Us” program fielding guaranteed-entry fundraising teams in the TCS New York City Marathon ($3,500 commitment per runner) and United Airlines NYC Half ($1,500); direct online donations via degregorio.org; legacy and estate gifts; and co-branded grants underwritten with co-funders including the Torrey Coast Foundation (via GEMINI, with grants up to $1 million), the Price Family Foundation, and the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association. The foundation operates from New York, NY (HQ) and Pleasantville, NY (mailing), with 1–10 employees and no parent company, equity backing, or disclosed institutional investors.

Name

The DeGregorio Family Foundation

Legal name

DeGregorio Family Foundation Inc.

Website

https://degregorio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The DeGregorio Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that funds peer-reviewed gastric and esophageal cancer research grants at academic and cancer-center institutions in the U.S. and abroad, supported by an annual gala, marathon fundraising, online donations, and co-funders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Research Foundation

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Cancer research grants
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Gastroesophageal cancer research
• Charitable foundation grants
• Medical research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Pleasantville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The foundation raises funds through individual donations (online portal), annual gala ticket sales and contributions, event-based fundraising (marathon runners commit to raise minimum amounts), and legacy/estate gifts. All funds are designated as 501(c)(3) charitable contributions and go entirely to research grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The DeGregorio Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that raises donations from individuals, gala attendees, marathon fundraisers, and planned/legacy givers, and awards peer-reviewed research grants to academic researchers and physician-scientists studying gastric and esophageal cancers. It also convenes a Scientific Advisory Board that selects grant recipients and operates fundraising events including an annual gala and running programs to support its grant-making mission.

Product overview

The DeGregorio Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization focused exclusively on funding innovative research to cure gastric and esophageal cancers (gastroesophageal cancers). Founded in 2006 after multiple family members died from Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, the foundation awards research grants to academic researchers at institutions worldwide, supports early-stage projects to foster clinical advancements, and hosts fundraising events including annual galas and running events. The foundation has awarded nearly $10 million through 38 grants over 20 years, with a model where 100% of funds go directly to research, and has generated over $56 million in follow-on funding for completed grants. The organization does not offer commercial products or technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Grant Program Peer-reviewed research grants awarded to academic researchers and physician-scientists at cancer centers and universities for gastric and esophageal cancer research. Funds early-stage, high-impact projects intended to attract follow-on funding from sources such as the NIH and Department of Defense.
• Annual Gala Ticketed annual fundraising gala held at the New York Yacht Club featuring patron levels and table sponsorships; minimum ticket price $275 per person. Combines fundraising with community building among donors, board members, and researchers.
• Run With Us — TCS New York City Marathon Team Marathon fundraising program offering guaranteed race entry into the TCS New York City Marathon to runners who commit to raise a minimum of $3,500 for the foundation by October 31, 2026.
• Run With Us — United Airlines NYC Half Team Half-marathon fundraising program offering guaranteed race entry into the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon to runners who commit to raise a minimum of $1,500 for the foundation by March 15, 2026.
• Legacy Giving / Planned Giving Program Planned giving program for high-net-worth donors that accepts bequests in wills, life insurance policy donations, retirement plan beneficiary designations, and charitable remainder trusts to support the foundation's research mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every $1 donated, $12 is generated in follow-on funding from NIH, Department of Defense, Starr Foundation, and other institutional sources.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GuideStar (Candid)minorOthersGuideStar Platinum Seal认证 (2026) recognizes DFF's nonprofit transparency, operational disclosure, and financial accountability. The Platinum seal is the highest level of GuideStar's Candid platform.
• Charity NavigatorminorOthersCharity Navigator 4-star rating (2026) for DFF (EIN 83-0465493), indicating strong financial health and accountability. This third-party rating enhances donor trust and confidence.
• GEMINI (Gastro Esophageal Investigator Network Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEMINI is an initiative of the Torrey Coast Foundation that partners with DFF to award collaborative research grants in gastroesophageal cancer. GEMINI brings together a network of investigators and co-funds grants of up to $1 million, including grants to Dr. Joseph Caster at University of Iowa, Dr. Saar Gill at UPenn, and Dr. Eric Smith at Dana-Farber.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lustgarten Foundation: Large pancreatic cancer research foundation operating a similar grantmaking + co-funding model with a distinguished Scientific Advisory Board, marathon programs, and notable leverage of donor dollars into follow-on NIH funding. Direct architectural peer in disease-specific cancer research philanthropy.
• Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF): Patient-and-research-focused nonprofit serving the esophageal cancer community, supporting research grants and family education. Comparable to DFF in disease subset (esophageal cancer), small-team operating model, and event-based fundraising.
• SALGI Foundation: Nonprofit focused on raising awareness and funding research for esophageal and gastric cancers through community events (primarily running-based). Highly comparable to DFF in disease focus, fundraising channel mix (marathons/gala-style events), and grant-funded research model.
• No Stomach for Cancer: Nonprofit foundation raising funds to support hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) and gastric cancer research, with an emphasis on CDH1 mutation awareness. Most direct peer to DFF given overlapping focus on HDGC research and the gastroesophageal cancer patient/family community.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. nonprofit funder of cancer research and patient support, funding gastroesophageal cancer among many other cancer types. Compares as a broad incumbent with overlapping patient and research missions but vastly larger scale, scope, and donor base.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Nationally recognized cancer research grantmaking organization funding 'translational' and 'bench-to-bedside' oncology research across many cancer types. Broader incumbent operating a similar grant-and-SAB model as DFF, but at much larger scale and across all cancer types.
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: Nonprofit funding cancer prevention and early-detection research across multiple cancer types. Relevant peer because DFF explicitly funds early-diagnosis research (e.g., Barrett's esophagus screening, GERD-related esophageal cancer), but Prevent Cancer operates at significantly broader scope and scale.
• Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: Established cancer research grantmaker funding early-career investigators across solid tumors including GI cancers. Comparable peer in research-grantmaking-with-SAB-curation model, but operating across many cancer types at meaningfully larger scale.
• Cancer Research Institute: Nonprofit funding immunotherapy research across cancers, including CAR-T/CAR-NK/CAR-macrophage approaches that DFF is also funding (Saar Gill, Katy Rezvani, Eric Smith grants). Comparable peer in funding-immunotherapy angle of gastroesophageal cancer but operates across all oncology.

Regional players

• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancers: Childhood-cancer-focused research foundation using an event-led, donor-driven grantmaking model similar to DFF. Compares on operational archetype (small foundation, named research grants, marathon/community events) rather than disease focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/degregorioff
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeGregorioFF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/degregorio-family-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/degregoriofamily
• Pinterestpinterest.com/degregoriofamily

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 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 The DeGregorio Family Foundation