The Lynn Sage Foundation

Name

The Lynn Sage Foundation

Legal name

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

Website

https://lynnsage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health Foundation

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Breast cancer research
• Nonprofit health foundation
• Cancer research grants
• Medical fellowships
• Clinical trials funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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 Contributions: The foundation relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund breast cancer research, fellowships, and clinical trials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises charitable donations and distributes funds to support breast cancer research, specialized medical fellowships, clinical trials, and educational programs. It funds early-career investigators through the Lynn Sage Scholars Program, trains the next generation of breast cancer specialists via one-year fellowships, convenes the annual Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, and operates the Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium uniting Northwestern Medicine, UChicago Medicine, and RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Product overview

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on funding breast cancer research and training the next generation of breast cancer specialists. The foundation operates several core programs: the Lynn Sage Scholars Program (research grants for investigators), Lynn Sage Fellowships (specialized training in breast surgery, imaging, and pathology), the annual Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium (educational conference with travel grants), and the Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium (multi-institutional clinical trial collaboration). The organization also runs public awareness and fundraising initiatives including the BIG HOPE art installation, Fall Benefit gala, Team Lynn Sage endurance program, Chicago's In Good Taste dining campaign, and Purchase 4 Pink retail partnerships. These programs work together to advance research, expand access to care, and fund innovative breast cancer science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BIG Hope: A public art sculpture/installation created by Chicago artist Matthew Hoffman, symbolizing hope in the fight against breast cancer (1 in 8 women diagnosed). Now located at UChicago Medicine's Center for Cancer Care and Discovery.

Products and services

• Lynn Sage Scholars Program A research grant program providing seed funding to high-potential early-career and seasoned investigators pursuing novel breast cancer research, intended to spark discoveries that encourage future funding and drive patient impact.
• Lynn Sage Fellowships One-year fellowships in breast surgery and imaging providing hands-on training in detection, diagnosis, and treatment to prepare the next generation of breast cancer specialists.
• Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium An annual educational symposium enabling doctors, fellows, and residents worldwide to attend and learn the latest advancements in breast cancer care, with foundation-funded travel grants supporting attendance.
• Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium A multi-institution collaborative initiative uniting Chicago's leading cancer centers to accelerate breakthroughs, expand clinical trial access, advance equitable research, and transform breast cancer care.
• Fall Benefit An annual signature fundraising gala celebrating breakthroughs, survivors, and contributors to Lynn Sage's mission to fund breast cancer research.
• Team Lynn Sage A fundraising endurance team participating in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and other events to raise funds for breast cancer research.
• Chicago's In Good Taste A citywide dining campaign during October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) where over 200 Chicago-area restaurants donate proceeds from designated menu items to support breast cancer research.
• Purchase 4 Pink A retail partnership campaign where retailers and service providers donate a portion of proceeds to support breast cancer research and early-career doctors.
• BIG HOPE A large-scale public art installation by Chicago artist Matthew Hoffman symbolizing hope in the fight against breast cancer, located at UChicago Medicine's Center for Cancer Care and Discovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 110+ fellows trained in breast cancer care specialties
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-standing partnership established in 1985 to fund breast cancer research. Helped establish the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center, the largest program of its kind in the Midwest with over 90,000 patient visits annually.
• University of Chicago MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Key partner in the Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium. Home to the Center for Care and Discovery where the BIG hope sculpture is now located.
• RUSH MD Anderson Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium, collaborating on clinical trials and shared research initiatives.
• Chicago Breast Cancer Research ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Groundbreaking collaboration convened by Lynn Sage in 2024, uniting Northwestern Medicine, UChicago Medicine, and Rush MD Anderson to collaborate on clinical trials, share expertise, and expand patient access to innovative research.
• Jill Alberts JewelrysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerJewelry designer supporting the foundation through donations and purchases.
• Chicago's In Good Taste Restaurant Partners (200+ restaurants)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOver 200 Chicago-area restaurants partner during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to donate proceeds from designated menu items. Includes platinum partners Gibsons Group, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, and Four Corners.
• Purchase 4 Pink Retail PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRetailers and service providers donate a percentage of sales or specific proceeds during breast cancer awareness campaigns. Partners include Kendra Scott, MaxMara, Veronica Beard, Sweet Mandy B's, and many others.
• Matthew Hoffman / You Are BeautifulsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago artist created the BIG hope public art sculpture honoring the 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer nonprofit, with substantial breast cancer research and patient support programs. A broader incumbent in the same overall funding vertical; serves as a competitor for major gifts and research talent but does not specialize exclusively in breast cancer.
• Stand Up To Cancer: High-profile cancer research funder backing large collaborative 'Dream Teams' across cancer types. Compares to the Lynn Sage Chicago Breast Cancer Research Consortium in collaborative-translational research approach, though at national scale and across all cancers.

Direct peers

• Young Survival Coalition: Focused on breast cancer in young women, offering support, education, and research advocacy. Comparable mission focus on a breast cancer subpopulation and similar peer-support/community-driven nonprofit model.
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF): The largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated exclusively to breast cancer research funding. Directly comparable to Lynn Sage in mission (breast cancer research grants, fellowships, scientific conferences) and revenue model (corporate partnerships, individual giving, events).
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: Funds cancer prevention and early-detection research across multiple cancer types, including breast cancer. Comparable research grantmaking model and similar reliance on individual giving and special events.
• METAvivor: Nonprofit dedicated specifically to funding metastatic breast cancer research. Directly comparable niche mission and small-staff nonprofit model; competes for the same donor dollars within the breast cancer research funding vertical.
• Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research: Smaller, mission-aligned breast cancer research nonprofit emphasizing collaborative and 'audacious' science. Comparable in scope, disease focus, and small-staff operating model to Lynn Sage.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Sports-tied cancer research funder (founded by Jim Valvano) that awards competitive research grants to early-career investigators. Closely mirrors the Lynn Sage Scholars Program model of seed funding bold cancer research that can attract larger follow-on grants.
• Susan G. Komen Foundation: The most widely recognized breast cancer nonprofit, funding research, community health, and advocacy. Comparable to Lynn Sage in disease focus and donor-driven grantmaking, though significantly larger and operating nationally rather than regionally.
• National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund: Grassroots advocacy and research funding organization focused on breast cancer. Shares Lynn Sage's research-funding mandate and policy/advocacy orientation, with a comparable emphasis on training scientists (Project LEAD) akin to the Lynn Sage Scholars program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LynnSageBreastCancerFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lynn-sage-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/lynnsagebreastcancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 The Lynn Sage Foundation