ZERO Prostate Cancer

What ZERO Prostate Cancer does

ZERO Prostate Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with 51-100 employees. The organization operates as the nation's largest dedicated provider of prostate cancer resources, serving patients, caregivers, advocates, and donors through a comprehensive portfolio of programs spanning patient support, education, advocacy, and community-based screening initiatives. Its core service offering includes the ZERO360 patient support helpline, patient navigation, the MENtor peer support program, ZERO Near Me location finder, clinical trial finder, and educational materials, with a primary customer base of prostate cancer patients and a secondary base of caregivers and high-acuity underserved populations including Black men, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

ZERO's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven, with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Revenue is generated across four streams: individual donations (one-time, monthly, major gifts, DAFs, cryptocurrency), corporate sponsorships (primarily from pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Bayer, AbbVie, Astellas, Johnson & Johnson, Telix, and Tolmar), event-based fundraising (the national Run/Walk series that has cumulatively raised $48 million over 18 years with 200,000+ participants, plus the ZERO Peaks Challenge), and foundation grants (Bayer-sponsored $250,000 Community Innovation Grants distributed to five nonprofits per cycle). The organization also distributes grants itself to advance community-based prostate cancer initiatives.

In 2026, ZERO expanded its technology footprint with the launch of ZACH, a proprietary SMS-based generative AI support platform - the first tool of its kind for the prostate cancer community - designed to deliver 24/7 information and emotional support via text without requiring a smartphone, app, or internet access. The organization also partnered with Komodo Health to apply AI-enabled population analytics to identify screening and care gaps in underserved communities. The Blitz the Barriers initiative, anchored by Novartis as Lead Founding Partner and AstraZeneca as a Founding Partner, commits $20 million over three years toward a goal of saving 100,000 lives by 2035, while the Run/Walk mobile app integrates with Apple Health, Android Health Connect, Garmin, Strava, and Fitbit to credit activity-based fundraising. Operations are governed by a Board of Directors led by Chair Teedra Bernard, with President and CEO Courtney Bugler (since 2023) succeeding long-tenured Past President Jamie Bearse (2002-2023).

Name

ZERO Prostate Cancer

Legal name

ZERO Prostate Cancer

Website

https://zerocancer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ZERO Prostate Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 that provides education, patient navigation, peer support, advocacy, and community-based screening programs to prostate cancer patients, caregivers, and underserved populations across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Patient Advocacy Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Prostate cancer advocacy
• Patient support services
• Cancer education resources
• Nonprofit health services
• Cancer awareness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ZERO Prostate Cancer relies on donations from individuals, including one-time donations, monthly gifts, and major gifts. The organization also accepts Donor Advised Funds, cryptocurrency, and various payment methods.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Bayer, and others sponsor events, programs, and initiatives like the 'Blitz the Barriers' campaign.
3. Community Innovation Grants: ZERO distributes grants to nonprofit organizations for community-based prostate cancer initiatives, with grant programs sponsored by pharmaceutical partners.
4. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated through the ZERO Run/Walk event series, the ZERO Peaks Challenge hiking program, and other endurance events.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ZERO Prostate Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free education, patient support, advocacy, and community programs for people affected by prostate cancer. Its core offerings include the ZERO360 24/7 Patient Support Helpline, Patient Navigation, peer mentorship through the MENtor Program, local resource and screening-location finders, clinical trial matching, the national ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk event series, the ZERO Peaks Challenge hiking program, educational materials, and the ZACH SMS-based AI support tool. The organization funds these programs through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and event-based fundraising.

Product overview

ZERO Prostate Cancer is a nonprofit patient advocacy organization that provides a comprehensive suite of resources, programs, and services for the prostate cancer community. The organization offers multiple interconnected support channels including the ZACH SMS-based AI support tool (the first AI-powered tool in their portfolio), the ZERO360 Patient Support Helpline, Patient Navigation services, peer support through the MENtor Program, and the ZERO Near Me location finder. Community engagement programs include the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk events, the ZERO Peaks Challenge hiking program, and advocacy summits. The organization leverages technology integrations with Apple Health, Android Health Connect, Garmin, Strava, and Fitbit in its Run/Walk app to support fitness-based fundraising. Major initiatives include the Blitz the Barriers program focused on health equity for Black men, veterans, and underserved communities with a goal to save 100,000 lives by 2035.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZACH: First SMS-based AI support platform for prostate cancer, offering 24/7 information, emotional support, and care guidance through text messages without requiring a smartphone, app, or internet access.
• ZERO Run/Walk
• Blitz the Barriers
• ZERO360
• MENtor Program
• ZERO Peaks Challenge

Products and services

• ZACH (ZERO AI Care Helper) The first SMS-based AI support platform designed specifically for the prostate cancer community, offering 24/7 information, emotional support, and care guidance through text messages without requiring a smartphone, app, or internet access. Targeted at prostate cancer patients, caregivers, and high-risk populations facing barriers to digital care.
• ZERO360 Patient Support Helpline

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to other groups (Black men)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AstraZenecacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026AstraZeneca joined ZERO Prostate Cancer's 'Blitz the Barriers' initiative as a founding partner. This represents the most ambitious U.S. prostate cancer program in history, aiming to close the survival gap in highest-risk communities and save 100,000 lives by 2035 through screening, education, and support services.
• BayercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 April 2026Bayer sponsors ZERO's $250,000 Community Innovation Grants program awarded to five nonprofit organizations across the U.S. Funding supports community-based initiatives focused on prostate cancer screenings, education, patient navigation, and support services targeting underserved populations.
• Komodo HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Partnership to improve prostate cancer screening and care through AI-enabled insights, focusing on underserved communities. The collaboration leverages Komodo's Healthcare Map AI platform to identify gaps in care and inform policy and community efforts as part of the Blitz the Barriers initiative.
• PfizerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2026Pfizer sponsors the 2026 Advocacy Summit and Veterans Action Convening, supporting ZERO's advocacy efforts to improve care and outcomes for veterans and the general population.
• NovartisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2026Novartis sponsors the 2026 Veterans' Action Convening in Arlington, Virginia, supporting events designed to address barriers veterans face in prostate cancer screening, treatment, and long-term support.
• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025Novartis serves as Lead Founding Partner of the 'Blitz The Barriers' campaign, a three-year initiative to improve care for prostate cancer patients. Novartis also sponsors the 2026 Advocacy Summit and Veterans Action Convening.
• BayercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBayer serves as Caregiver Sponsor for the ZERO Run/Walk National Series, supporting the nation's only event dedicated to prostate cancer.
• AbbViecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAbbVie serves as Advocacy Sponsor for the ZERO Run/Walk National Series.
• Astellas PharmaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the ZERO Run/Walk National Series.
• Johnson & JohnsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the ZERO Run/Walk National Series.
• Telix PharmaceuticalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the ZERO Run/Walk National Series.
• TolmarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the ZERO Run/Walk National Series.
• Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOSW partners with ZERO in the Blitz The Barriers campaign to improve care for prostate cancer patients, with oncology social workers playing a crucial role in addressing emotional, practical, and systemic barriers.
• Patient Advocate FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in health equity work across the prostate cancer community, focusing on collaborative solutions to address screening, diagnosis, treatment, and research disparities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CancerCare: CancerCare provides free, professional support services including counseling, financial assistance, and educational resources for cancer patients, overlapping directly with ZERO's patient navigation, helpline, and financial resources offerings across multiple cancer types.
• Prostate Cancer Foundation: Prostate Cancer Foundation is the leading philanthropic funder of prostate cancer research, directly comparable to ZERO as a prostate-cancer-focused nonprofit with research funding, patient resources, and advocacy — though PCF is more research-oriented while ZERO is more patient-support and event-driven.
• Movember Foundation: Movember is a global men's health charity funding prostate cancer (and testicular cancer, mental health) programs with a similar event-driven, mustache-themed fundraising model and an overlapping sponsor base (major pharma), making it a direct functional peer in prostate cancer awareness and fundraising.
• Us TOO International: Us TOO International is a prostate-cancer-specific support organization operating support groups, educational resources, and advocacy programs — a direct overlap with ZERO's MENtor Program, support group finder, and educational materials for prostate cancer patients.

Broad incumbents

• Livestrong Foundation: Livestrong is a cancer survivorship nonprofit offering patient navigation, educational resources, and community programs; its patient-centered support model and event-based fundraising parallel ZERO's structure, though Livestrong has faced brand-reputation challenges that inform the sustainability risks both organizations manage.
• American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is the largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, providing patient support, research funding, and advocacy across all cancer types including prostate cancer; it is a broad incumbent that competes with ZERO for individual donors, corporate sponsors, and Run/Walk-style event participation.
• Susan G. Komen: Susan G. Komen is a disease-specific cancer nonprofit with a comparable operating model — Race for the Cure events, patient navigation helplines, community grants, and pharma sponsorships — making it a structural peer in the disease-specific cancer advocacy category, even though its disease focus is breast cancer.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network: NCCN is an alliance of leading U.S. cancer centers that develops clinical practice guidelines (including prostate cancer) used by physicians and payers; as a broader incumbent in the prostate cancer ecosystem, it influences screening and treatment standards that ZERO's advocacy and patient navigation work must align with.

Emerging players

• Patient Advocate Foundation: Patient Advocate Foundation is a national nonprofit providing case management, financial assistance, and health equity programming — directly listed as a ZERO strategic partner on health equity work, indicating overlapping scope in patient navigation and disparity reduction.
• PAN Foundation: PAN Foundation is a national patient assistance foundation providing co-pay and financial aid to underinsured patients, including those with prostate cancer; it overlaps with ZERO's financial resources and patient navigation offerings from a different angle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zerocancer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zeroprostatecancer
• Facebookfacebook.com/zeroprostatecancer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zero---the-end-of-prostate-cancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/zeroprostatecancer

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 ZERO Prostate Cancer