Desert Cancer Foundation

What Desert Cancer Foundation does

Desert Cancer Foundation (DCF) is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1994 by Dr. Sebastian George and Art & Cory Teichner, headquartered at 42600 Cook Street, Suite 203, Palm Desert, California. The organization's sole mission is to pay for cancer care — including treatment, insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions, chemotherapy, radiation, and diagnostic testing — for Coachella Valley residents who lack health insurance or sufficient funds. Since inception, DCF reports delivering nearly $115 million in cancer care to over 8,900 local residents at a cumulative cost of only $12 million to the foundation, a roughly 10:1 leverage ratio between funds raised and care delivered.

DCF generates revenue through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and a portfolio of annual fundraising events that function as both community-engagement vehicles and donation capture mechanisms. The active event calendar includes Paint El Paseo Pink (signature community walk), MCC Pink Week (multi-day sporting event at Monterey Country Club), Dr. George Charity Car Show (run by the Palm Springs Cruisin' Association with 1,000+ show cars and 6,000 spectators), The Galleri Classic beneficiary designation, golf tournaments (Fairways for the Future, PVCC Lady Niners), pickleball and cycling fundraisers, bowling (Strike Out Cancer II), and an art-focused Call for Art event. Non-event revenue includes memorial ribbons (PEPP Memorial Ribbons), volunteer-driven office support, and a Resource Directory for patients. Patient access flows through referrals from a network of healthcare providers (Eisenhower Health, Desert Care Network, Desert Healthcare District, DOHC), social workers, case workers, and community advocates, with DCF paying cancer care expenses directly to medical providers.

The organization has no disclosed proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, no app or API platform, and no formal headcount. Its competitive position rests on three decades of community brand equity, an embedded healthcare-referral ecosystem, four regional chamber-of-commerce partnerships (Palm Desert Area, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Greater Coachella Valley), and a recurring base of supporting foundations and corporate sponsors (Houston Family Foundation, Tweten Foundation, BRP, H.N. Berger). DCF carries tax ID 33-0648823, operates without parent-company or PE/VC ownership, and is governed by a board and staff.

Name

Desert Cancer Foundation

Legal name

Desert Cancer Foundation

Website

https://desertcancerfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Desert Cancer Foundation is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pays for cancer care — treatment, insurance premiums, co-pays, and prescriptions — for uninsured and underinsured Coachella Valley residents, funded via donations, sponsorships, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Desert

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. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to the foundation to support cancer care for local residents. The organization states that every dollar donated translates to over $10 in cancer care.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations sponsor events and contribute to the foundation's mission.
3. Event Fundraising: Multiple annual fundraising events including Paint El Paseo Pink, golf tournaments, car shows, pickleball tournaments, cycling rides, and art events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Desert Cancer Foundation provides direct financial assistance to pay for cancer treatment and related medical expenses (insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions, chemotherapy, radiation, and testing) for Coachella Valley residents who lack health insurance or sufficient funds. The foundation is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and a portfolio of community fundraising events, delivering over $10 in cancer care for every $1 donated.

Product overview

Desert Cancer Foundation operates as a California 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to paying for cancer care for local Coachella Valley residents who lack health insurance or sufficient funds. The organization offers a core Financial Assistance Program that has provided nearly $115 million in cancer care to over 8,900 residents since inception. The foundation's activities are supported through a portfolio of fundraising events including Paint El Paseo Pink (annual community walk), MCC Pink Week (multi-day sporting event), Dr. George Charity Car Show, pickleball tournaments, cycling rides, golf tournaments, and art events. The organization also provides volunteer opportunities, a resource directory for patients, and memorial merchandise (ribbons) for purchase. Each event listed serves as both a community engagement vehicle and a fundraising mechanism for the core patient assistance mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cancer Care Financial Assistance Program Direct financial assistance program that pays for cancer treatment, insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions, chemotherapy, radiation, testing, and other cancer-related medical care for qualified Coachella Valley residents who lack health insurance or sufficient funds.
• Paint El Paseo Pink

Quantifiable outcome

• $115M+ in cancer care provided to 8,900+ residents at a cost of only $12M to the foundation

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Eisenhower Health (Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing cancer care services. Eisenhower Health is a major healthcare provider in the Coachella Valley with a comprehensive cancer center.
• Desert Healthcare DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal healthcare district providing support for healthcare initiatives in the Coachella Valley region.
• Desert Care Network (Comprehensive Cancer Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization with comprehensive cancer center providing treatment services to foundation patients.
• Houston Family FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation providing financial support and partnership for cancer care programs.
• Tweten FoundationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation recognized as a partner in supporting cancer care for local residents.
• Palm Springs Cruisin' AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizes the Dr. George Charity Car Show, with all proceeds going to Desert Cancer Foundation. Founded over 30 years ago with 300 current members.
• Palm Desert Area Chamber of CommercesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber providing community connections and support for the foundation's mission.
• Palm Springs Chamber of CommercesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber providing community connections and support for the foundation's mission.
• Rancho Mirage Chamber of CommercesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber providing community connections and support for the foundation's mission.
• Greater Coachella Valley ChambersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional chamber providing community connections and support for the foundation's mission.
• BRPsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting the foundation's cancer care mission.
• H.N. Berger (HN Berger)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing support for cancer care programs.
• DOHCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization partner supporting comprehensive cancer care services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: Major breast cancer-focused nonprofit combining research funding, community outreach, and direct patient financial assistance. Comparable to DCF in delivering direct patient support and running signature community fundraising events (e.g., Race for the Cure).
• LIVESTRONG Foundation: Cancer-support nonprofit providing direct services to cancer patients and survivors. Comparable in patient-navigation and financial-assistance mission, though operating nationally with broader program portfolio.
• American Cancer Society: Large national nonprofit focused on cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. Comparable to DCF in mission (supporting cancer patients) but operates at national scale and funds research as well as direct patient services.
• Cancer Research Institute: Nonprofit funding immunology-focused cancer research and supporting patient education. Comparable as a cancer-focused grantmaking nonprofit but oriented to research rather than direct patient care payments.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Cancer research grantmaking organization founded in honor of Jim Valvano. Comparable grantmaking and fundraising-event-driven model, though primarily focused on research rather than direct patient financial assistance.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: National voluntary health organization funding blood cancer research and providing patient financial assistance. Comparable in grantmaking/financial-assistance model for cancer patients and event-based fundraising.

Direct peers

• CancerCare: Nonprofit providing direct financial assistance, counseling, and support services to cancer patients. Highly comparable to DCF in offering co-pay, transportation, and insurance premium assistance to underinsured cancer patients.
• Patient Advocate Foundation: Nonprofit providing direct financial assistance, case management, and co-pay relief to patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses including cancer. Closely comparable model to DCF in paying for insurance premiums, co-pays, and treatment costs.
• HealthWell Foundation: Independent nonprofit copay and premium assistance foundation serving underinsured patients, including those with cancer. Closely comparable to DCF in administering direct financial assistance for treatment costs, premiums, and co-pays.

Regional players

• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: Disease-specific voluntary health organization offering patient services and research grants. Comparable to DCF in blending community fundraising events with patient financial assistance programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DesertCancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/DesertCancerFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/desertcancerfoundation/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desert-cancer-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Desert Cancer Foundation