THANC Foundation

What THANC Foundation does

THANC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in New York, dedicated to thyroid, head and neck cancer (THNC) research, education, and patient/family support. The foundation operates a portfolio of programmatic assets: the THANC Guide, a digital patient resource reporting 900,000+ cumulative users; TIRO, a clinician-facing platform; 30 Stories in 30 Days; Faces of Courage; Voices of Wisdom, a podcast launched in 2025; and the Caregiver Hub, launched in 2025 to serve family caregivers. The organization was founded by head and neck surgeon Mark L. Urken, MD, and is affiliated clinically with Mount Sinai Beth Israel.

The foundation's business model is multi-stream non-profit funding: individual donations, event-based fundraising (the Jack Levy Golf Outing produced $285,000 in a recent cycle), corporate and foundation grants from a roster of pharma/biotech sponsors (Atos, Bayer, Bicara, Eisai, Exelixis, Genmab, GSK, J&J, Lilly, MeiraGTx), merchandise sales, and peer non-profit referral income. A 21-member Junior Board formed in 2024 has added a young-professional fundraising channel producing $40,000+ in its first cycle.

The foundation sits inside a dense THNC ecosystem: clinical partners (Mount Sinai Beth Israel), peer advocacy organizations (SPOHNC, ThyCa, HNCA, CancerCare, Cancer Hope Network, 4th Angel, NFOSD, Carebox), and the MyCareGorithm platform partnership announced for February 2026. Governance and transparency credentials include the Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026) and a Charity Navigator four-star rating. The THANC Functional Outcomes Research Center extends programmatic scope into longitudinal clinical outcomes research.

Name

THANC Foundation

Legal name

THANC Foundation

Website

https://thancfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

THANC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2003 that delivers thyroid, head and neck cancer research, patient education, and caregiver support programs, serving patients, clinicians, and families across the U.S. through digital platforms and clinical partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Patient Support Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

Keywords

• Cancer patient education
• Head neck cancer research
• Thyroid cancer support
• Medical fellowships training
• Nonprofit healthcare foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. Monthly recurring donations starting at $10. Also includes tribute donations in memory or honor of loved ones.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue from fundraising events including golf tournaments, cocktail parties, and athletic events. The Jack Levy Memorial Golf Outing raised $285,000 in 2025.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from pharmaceutical and biotech companies including Atos, Bayer, Bicara Therapeutics, Eisai, Exelixis, Genmab, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, and MeiraGTx.
4. THANC Shop: Merchandise sales through the THANC Shop (fourthwall.com).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

THANC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports research, physician education, and patient and caregiver resources for thyroid, head and neck cancer. It operates the THANC Guide online patient resource, the TIRO professional learning platform for thyroid specialists, the Voices of Wisdom podcast, the Cancer Care Conversations That Matter webinar series, and funds fellowships, observerships, and the THANC Functional Outcomes Research Center.

Product overview

THANC Foundation operates primarily as a non-profit patient support and research organization rather than a traditional technology company. Its main digital products include the THANC Guide (a comprehensive patient resource website), TIRO (a thyroid management recommendations platform for clinicians), and various awareness campaigns like 30 Stories in 30 Days™ and Faces of Courage™. The organization also produces the Voices of Wisdom podcast for clinicians and hosts the Cancer Care Conversations That Matter webinar series. All products are designed to support thyroid and head and neck cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through education, peer support, and clinical resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THANC Guide: A comprehensive online resource providing knowledge, hope and support for thyroid, head and neck cancer patients and their caregivers. Offers information about cancer types, treatment options, coping strategies, and support tools.
• TIRO (Thyroid Int'l Recommendations Online)
• Faces of Courage
• 30 Stories in 30 Days
• Voices of Wisdom

Products and services

• THANC Guide A comprehensive online resource providing knowledge, hope and support for thyroid, head and neck cancer patients and caregivers, featuring plain-language cancer information, treatment guidance, support tools, clinical trial matching via Carebox Connect, and caregiver resources at thancguide.org.
• TIRO (Thyroid Int'l Recommendations Online) A dynamic hub of thyroid management recommendations and learning platform built by thyroid specialists, for thyroid specialists. Features TIROxMDS weekly webinars covering contemporary topics in thyroid care through discussions, lectures and case reviews.
• Voices of Wisdom Podcast A monthly podcast for thyroid cancer care professionals featuring top physicians sharing insights on key topics including ultrasound techniques and advanced treatments for thyroid cancer. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Cancer Care Conversations That Matter A free quarterly webinar series designed for survivors, caregivers and families navigating cancer and recovery, featuring expert clinicians, people with lived experience, real stories and practical tools.
• THANC Functional Outcomes Research Center A research program focused on developing multidisciplinary protocols and treatments to improve voice, speech, swallow function and quality of life for individuals undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer.
• THANC Shop THANC-branded merchandise storefront operated via Fourthwall (thanc-shop.fourthwall.com), with proceeds supporting the foundation's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900,000 people accessed the THANC Guide in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AtosminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• BayerminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• Bicara TherapeuticsminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• EisaiminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• ExelixisminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• GenmabminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• GSKminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• Johnson & JohnsonminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• LillyminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• MeiraGTxminorOthersCorporate supporter of THANC Foundation, listed among pharmaceutical and healthcare company supporters on the foundation's website.
• MyCareGorithmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMyCareGorithm partnered with THANC to elevate the standard of care for thyroid cancer consultation. Announced February 2026.
• Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Institute for Head and Neck and Thyroid Cancer at Mount Sinai Beth Israel hosts SPOHNC support group meetings and is closely associated with THANC's medical education programs including fellowships and observerships.
• ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational non-profit organization dedicated to support, education, and communication for thyroid cancer survivors, families and healthcare professionals. THANC frequently participates in their events.
• Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit providing support to head and neck cancer patients, supporting research, and educating on disease prevention.
• SPOHNC (Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTHANC Foundation sponsors a Manhattan chapter of SPOHNC, a self-help organization dedicated to supporting oral and head and neck cancer patients. Meetings held monthly at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
• The 4th Angel Mentoring Program (Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative at Cleveland Clinic)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing free, one-on-one, confidential outreach and support from trained mentors who have walked the path of a head and neck or thyroid patient.
• National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing patients hope and improving quality of life for those suffering from swallowing disorders. NFOSD hosted the Dysphagia EL-PFDD meeting co-sponsored by THANC.
• CancerCareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing free, professional support for anyone affected by cancer including oncology social workers, support groups, and financial help.
• Cancer Hope NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational non-profit offering free, 1-on-1 emotional support to adult cancer patients and families via trained volunteer survivors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest US cancer non-profit with broad scope across all cancer types including patient support, research funding, and education; overlaps with THANC's patient education and research funding missions at much greater scale and national footprint
• National Foundation for Cancer Research: National non-profit funding cancer research across multiple cancer types; overlaps with THANC's research funding mission but operates at a broader, scaled scope with a different funding model
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Major US cancer center with extensive patient education, research, and physician training programs; serves a much broader cancer population but operates comparable programs in research and patient education that THANC supports and complements

Direct peers

• CancerCare: National non-profit providing free professional support for cancer patients including oncology social workers, support groups, and financial assistance - comparable patient support services and an active THANC partner
• Cancer Hope Network: National non-profit offering free 1-on-1 emotional support to adult cancer patients via trained survivor mentors - directly comparable peer-support mission and a documented THANC partner
• SPOHNC (Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer): Self-help organization dedicated to oral and head/neck cancer patients; THANC sponsors its Manhattan chapter at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, making this both a partner and a closest mission comparable
• Head and Neck Cancer Alliance: National non-profit providing patient support, research funding, and prevention education for head and neck cancer - directly overlapping with THANC's mission and target audience, and an explicit THANC partner
• ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association: National non-profit dedicated to thyroid cancer survivor support, education, and communication - directly comparable mission, patient population, and event-driven fundraising model to THANC's thyroid programs
• National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD): Patient-focused non-profit addressing swallowing disorders, co-sponsor with THANC of the Dysphagia EL-PFDD meeting - directly comparable patient support and education focus on THANC's functional outcomes mission

Emerging players

• MyCareGorithm: Tech-enabled thyroid cancer consultation platform announced as a THANC partner in February 2026; represents an emerging technology-enabled player intersecting with THANC's clinician education and patient guidance mission

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLKIn9wjqDMOn_MbCAhoPme1OBDXYeoHjn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thanc-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about THANC Foundation