Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation

What Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation does

The Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in 1972 and headquartered at 101 West Expressway 83 in McAllen, Texas. The Foundation funds pediatric cancer and hematology care, research, and education for children in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, with a stated commitment to never turn away patients due to inability to pay. Its flagship initiative is the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic, which opened in 2001 through a partnership with Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine and has cumulatively treated more than 12,500 children.

The organization operates with a lean internal team of two paid staff (an Executive Director and an Administrative Coordinator) supported by an 18+ member volunteer Board of Directors. It has no proprietary technology products, applications, or APIs; its offerings consist of the funded clinic and the Saving Our Children Society, a planned-giving and legacy donor recognition program. The Foundation holds BBB Accredited Charity and Candid Platinum Transparency certifications, reinforcing donor trust.

The Foundation's revenue model is entirely donation-based, drawing on online and mail-in gifts, corporate matching programs, permanent endowments (with a $25,000 minimum), planned-giving vehicles (life insurance beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, retirement plan beneficiary designations, bequests, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions), third-party fundraising events, and honorary or memorial gifts. It markets primarily through its website, email newsletter, third-party events, and donor recognition programs rather than paid advertising.

Name

Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation

Legal name

Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation

Website

https://vanniecook.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation is a McAllen, Texas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that funds pediatric cancer and hematology care, research, and education for children of the Rio Grande Valley through its affiliated Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Cancer Care (Nonprofit Healthcare Services)

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (624110), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAA

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAKAL

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYHLAJALAF

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Funding, Grants & Program Administration

SECONDARYHLAJALAG

Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Funding, Grants & Program Administration

Keywords

• Pediatric cancer care
• Hematology treatment
• Nonprofit foundation
• Charitable healthcare
• Planned giving programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mcallen

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. Online Donations: Secure credit/debit card donations through the Foundation's website donation portal.
2. Mail-in Donations: Check or credit card gifts submitted via printed donation form to the McAllen office.
3. Matching Gifts: Corporate employee matching programs where employers double or triple employee charitable contributions.
4. Endowments: Permanent endowed funds established with minimum $25,000 commitment, structured to reflect donor values.
5. Planned Giving / Legacy Giving: Life insurance beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, retirement plan beneficiaries (IRA, 401k, 403b), bequests, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions for donors 70½ or older.
6. Third-Party Fundraising Events: Community-organized fundraising events on behalf of the Foundation, proposed with 10-week advance notice.
7. Honorary & Memorial Gifts: Gifts made in honor of loved ones or special occasions, with confidential amounts and separate acknowledgments.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation funds and supports the Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic, established in 2001 through a partnership with Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine to deliver pediatric cancer and blood disorder treatment to children in the Rio Grande Valley regardless of ability to pay. The Foundation sustains clinic operations through donor contributions, planned giving programs, endowments, and third-party fundraising events.

Product overview

The Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation operates as a single-service nonprofit organization focused on funding pediatric cancer and blood disorder care in the Rio Grande Valley. The Foundation's primary offering is the Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic, a world-class treatment facility established in 2001 through a partnership with Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Supporting the clinic is the Saving Our Children Society, a planned giving recognition program that acknowledges donors who include the Foundation in their estate plans. The organization does not offer a technology product; its 'products and services' consist entirely of healthcare delivery and charitable giving programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic A pediatric cancer and blood disorder treatment clinic providing world-class care to children in the Rio Grande Valley, established in 2001 through a partnership with Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Care is delivered regardless of ability to pay.
• Saving Our Children Society A legacy giving and planned giving recognition society for donors who have committed to including the Foundation in their estate plans, offering membership benefits including recognition wall placement, event invitations, and lapel pins.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,500+ children treated at the clinic since 2001
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 core and historical.

• Texas Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Landmark collaboration with one of the nation's foremost pediatric oncology institutions. Established the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children's Cancer and Hematology Clinic in 2001, bringing world-class pediatric cancer care to the Rio Grande Valley.
• Baylor College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the nation's leading medical schools, to establish pediatric oncology and hematology clinic services in the Rio Grande Valley.
• M.D. Anderson HospitalhistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981The Rio Grande Cancer Treatment Center maintained a prestigious affiliation with M.D. Anderson Hospital after becoming independent in 1981, ensuring Valley patients benefited from world-class oncology standards and expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CureSearch for Children's Cancer (formerly National Childhood Cancer Foundation): National nonprofit focused on pediatric cancer research and treatment funding — directly comparable mission area (childhood cancer) operating at a larger national scale, with similar grantmaking and donor-cultivation models.
• Children's Cancer Association (JoyRx): Nonprofit delivering pediatric cancer support services to children and families, listed as a peer resource on the Foundation's own website. Directly comparable mission of improving the childhood cancer experience.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: National foundation funding pediatric cancer research and family support — directly comparable cause-specific health nonprofit model with similar donor cultivation through grassroots events and major gifts.
• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance: Community-based nonprofit providing support to families of children with cancer — directly comparable regional nonprofit model serving families facing pediatric cancer diagnoses.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to pediatric cancer research funding and treatment innovation — directly comparable mission focused on childhood cancer with grantmaking and awareness activities.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer-focused nonprofit offering research funding, patient support, and advocacy — broader scope but overlapping donor base; listed as a resource on the Foundation's own website.
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Premier pediatric cancer treatment and research institution — much larger scale but directly comparable mission area; competes for cause-specific donor dollars and corporate sponsorships in childhood cancer.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Large established nonprofit supporting families of children with serious illnesses including cancer through housing and services — broader portfolio than the Foundation but serves an overlapping beneficiary base and donor market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation