Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara

What Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara does

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1949, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, and operating exclusively within Santa Barbara County. Its stated mission is to eliminate cancer as a personal and public health problem in the region, achieved principally by funding the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center (RTCC), the area's only comprehensive community cancer center, and a set of smaller community programs (≈$200K annually). In 2024 the Foundation disbursed approximately $3.7M in grants (≈$3.5M to RTCC and ≈$203K to community programs), rising to approximately $4.4M in 2025 (≈$4.2M to RTCC and ≈$207K), with a 2026 commitment of $4.2M+ to RTCC plus $207K in community funding.

The Foundation's core "products" are capital and operating grants that underwrite RTCC's clinical capacity and patient-experience services. Notable equipment investments include the 2022 installation of a first-of-its-kind digital PET/CT scanner and the 2024 installation of a digital SPECT/CT scanner that completed a $10M Nuclear Medicine modernization at RTCC. Patient-experience funding includes the Paxman Scalp Cooling program, supported by a renewed $100K corporate grant from Athena Cosmetics in 2025 and a 2025 pilot partnership with UCLA Health. The Foundation also supports ancillary community programs and partnerships with UCSB and Rancheros Visitadores.

The Foundation's revenue model is a multi-channel fundraising stack: individual donations, planned giving, corporate grants, special events, and rental income from a building leased to Sansum Clinic / Sutter Health. The Foundation operates with a small four-person staff (Executive Director, Director of Philanthropy, Communications Associate, Philanthropy Assistant) and a volunteer board that has been expanded through recent trustee additions including Dr. Greenwald (2025) and Barton Clemens (2026). It holds a 100% Charity Navigator score and a seven-year Platinum Seal of Transparency, signals of strong governance and donor-facing accountability.

Name

Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara

Legal name

Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara

Website

https://cfsb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1949 that funds cancer care in Santa Barbara County, principally through annual grants to the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and community support programs for local patients and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Cancer Care Funding

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Cancer care fundraising
• Nonprofit grant funding
• Patient support services
• Medical equipment funding
• Community oncology programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting local cancer care, with various giving options including online, phone, credit card, and check donations. Donors can designate gifts to specific programs or areas of greatest need.
2. Planned Giving and Bequests: Estate gifts through wills, living trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and annuities. Recognized through the Stepanek Legacy Society for donors who have included the Foundation in their estate plans.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grants from corporations such as Athena Cosmetics ($100,000 for scalp cooling) and other institutional donors supporting specific programs and equipment.
4. Event Fundraising: Community events including Rancheros Visitadores ride, Santa Barbara Triathlon, and other fundraising events that generate significant annual contributions (e.g., Rancheros Visitadores raised over $200K in 2025, cumulative total exceeding $1.73M since 2012).
5. IRA and Stock Gifts: Gifts of appreciated stock, IRA distributions, and other appreciated assets that qualify for significant tax advantages for donors.
6. Real Estate Gifts: Gifts of real estate property that can qualify for significant tax advantages.
7. Matching Gifts: Employer matching gift programs where companies match employee donations to eligible nonprofit organizations.
8. Building Lease Revenue: The Foundation leases the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center building to Sansum Clinic (now Sutter Health) at a reduced rate, with proceeds committed to supporting cancer care programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises charitable donations and grants to fund twelve cancer care support programs at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, sponsors acquisition of advanced diagnostic medical equipment (Digital PET/CT and SPECT/CT scanners), and provides grants to community organizations serving cancer patients and their families across Santa Barbara County. All patient services funded by the foundation are provided free of charge, regardless of patients' ability to pay.

Product overview

The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara operates as a nonprofit fundraising and grant-making organization rather than a technology product company. The Foundation provides grants to fund twelve core support programs at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center: Patient Navigation, Social Services, Genetic Counseling, Oncology Nutrition, Wellness (including art classes, yoga, meditation), Resource Library, Clinical Research, Patient Assistance & Charity Care, Colorectal/Community Health, Acupuncture, Scalp Cooling/Cold Caps, and Staff Education. Additionally, the Foundation sponsors acquisition of medical equipment including a digital PET/CT scanner (2022) and digital SPECT/CT scanner (2024) at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Nuclear Medicine Department. The Foundation also supports community programs including Camp Kesem for children of cancer patients, nutrition programs through Organic Soup Kitchen and Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach, and colonoscopy screening programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patient Navigation Program Free patient navigation services helping individuals and families coordinate cancer care and connect to resources at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, supporting patients through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.
• Social Services Program Professional assistance from clinical social workers helping cancer patients manage medical bills, insurance claims, disability applications, and transportation to appointments, provided free of charge at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
• Genetic Counseling Program Free genetic counseling and cancer risk assessment for all patients at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, helping patients and families understand hereditary cancer risks and informing screening and treatment decisions.
• Oncology Nutrition Program Nutrition counseling by oncology dietitians providing individualized dietary recommendations to help cancer patients reduce side effects and improve treatment outcomes, provided free of charge at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
• Wellness Program Wellness activities including yoga, art classes (Finding Joy Through Painting), knitting circle, walking group, and guided meditation supporting cancer patients' physical and emotional well-being at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
• Cancer Resource Library A cancer resource library at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center funded by the Cancer Foundation, open Monday-Friday with a librarian available Monday-Thursday, providing educational materials and a gathering space for patients.
• Clinical Research Program Ongoing clinical trials and cancer research programs at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center supported by Cancer Foundation grants, including Lutetium-177 radioligand therapy trials for metastatic prostate cancer and pediatric cancer research at Cottage Health.
• Patient Assistance and Charity Care Financial assistance program providing support for cancer patients with documented financial need to cover medical services and treatment-related expenses, including endowment-supported funds.
• Scalp Cooling and Cold Caps Program Free Paxman Scalp Cooling treatment program for eligible cancer patients at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, helping patients preserve hair during chemotherapy, sponsored by Athena Cosmetics grant funding.
• Acupuncture Program Free oncology acupuncture offered as a complementary healing modality to help cancer patients manage treatment side effects including pain, neuropathy, nausea, fatigue, and anxiety at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
• Cancer WellFit Exercise Program A 10-week exercise program offering gentle, personalized workouts designed specifically for cancer patients who have become deconditioned from treatment, provided free at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
• Lynch Syndrome Education and Assessment Program (LEAP) Genetic counseling, cancer screening, and educational resources for individuals with or at risk for Lynch syndrome, provided at no charge through Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
• Colonoscopy Support Program Free colonoscopies for at-risk patients through partnership with Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Sansum Clinic, and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, with Cancer Foundation grant funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced scan wait times from 30-45 days to 7 days or less with digital SPECT/CT
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Ridley-Tree Cancer CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2026The Cancer Foundation is the largest contributor to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, awarding over $4.2 million annually to support 12 programs including patient navigation, social services, genetic counseling, oncology nutrition, wellness, clinical research, and more. The Foundation maintains the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center building lease with Sansum Clinic/Sutter Health.
• Hospice of Santa BarbaraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2025$25,000 grant to support Patient Care Services program offering free support services to those with life-threatening illnesses, including 250-300 cancer patients annually. Care Managers coordinate with medical teams to help patients manage illness and non-medical needs.
• Cottage HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for pediatric cancer research, with $90K grant in one year supporting pediatric clinical research position. Cancer Foundation has helped fund this position since 2007. Nuclear Medicine Department housing PET/CT and SPECT/CT scanners is located at Cottage Hospital.
• UCLA HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Pilot program partnership initiated in 2025 to expand scalp cooling accessibility. Dr. Daniel Greenwald, Director of UCLA Hematology Oncology site in Santa Barbara since 2021, serves on Cancer Foundation Board.
• Santa Ynez Valley Community OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023$20,000 grant in 2026 supports Meals on Wheels program for cancer patients in Santa Ynez Valley. Since 2023, Cancer Foundation has awarded $56,000 total. In 2025, delivered 2,640 meals to cancer patients.
• Sansum Clinic / Sutter HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Following the 2012 partnership between Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and Sansum Clinic, and subsequent 2017 cancer center construction, Sansum Clinic (now Sutter Health) leases the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center building from the Cancer Foundation at a reduced rate. Together they completed a $48M capital campaign for the new comprehensive cancer center.
• Kesem at UCSBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Chapter of nationwide program providing support to children impacted by a parent's cancer. Cancer Foundation grant helps send 50 children to free summer camp. Since 2017, Cancer Foundation has awarded $62,000 to support this program.
• Camp KesemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Nationwide program providing free week-long summer camps for children ages 6-18 impacted by parent's cancer. Highly trained college student leaders organize programs that build confidence, communication skills, and improved life outlook.
• Santa Barbara Neighborhood ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Since 2016, partnership to ensure vulnerable individuals in South Santa Barbara County receive cancer screenings, prevention, and support services. $40,000 grant funds cancer prevention coordinator and wellness navigators. In 2025, connected with nearly 2,700 residents and provided 530 mammogram screenings.
• UC Santa BarbaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership since 2013 to support the Research Mentorship Program, helping high school students conduct oncology-related research. Cancer Foundation has provided scholarships and program cost offsetting, with 77 students participating in 2024. Also supports Kesem at UCSB chapter for children affected by parent's cancer.
• Organic Soup KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Partnership since 2009 to provide nutrient-dense meals to cancer patients. $15,000 grant in 2026 enables medically tailored SoupMeals for cancer patients. Approximately 50-60% of Organic Soup Kitchen clients have cancer diagnosis, with 400 cancer clients served in 2025.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• V Foundation for Cancer Research: Cancer-focused grantmaking foundation funding research and translational programs across U.S. institutions. Similar cancer-mission grantmaking identity; comparable in raising and distributing philanthropic dollars to clinical/scientific partners.
• Cancer Support Community: National nonprofit providing free cancer support programs (counseling, nutrition, navigation) analogous to CFSB's Patient Navigation, Oncology Nutrition, Wellness, and Social Services programs. Highly comparable on patient-supportive-care service mix.
• Cancer Research Institute: Cancer-focused nonprofit funding immunotherapy research and clinical trials. Overlaps with CFSB's clinical research grantmaking role at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, though predominantly research-grant oriented versus supportive care.

Regional players

• Santa Barbara Foundation: Community foundation serving Santa Barbara County that supports health, education, and social-service nonprofits through grants and endowments. Regionally identical service area and competitive for many of the same individual and corporate donors and planned-giving assets.
• Hospice of Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara-based nonprofit providing free non-medical supportive services to patients with life-threatening illness. CFSB grants it $25,000 annually, making it both a grantee and a direct local comparable in cancer patient supportive-care service delivery.
• Cottage Health Foundation: Regional hospital foundation supporting Cottage Health, where the Nuclear Medicine Department housing CFSB-funded PET/CT and SPECT/CT scanners is located. Comparable regional grantmaking foundation in Santa Barbara County; operates as a hospital-affiliated rather than standalone community cancer fundraiser.

Broad incumbents

• Livestrong Foundation: National cancer survivorship nonprofit funding patient navigation, financial assistance, and survivorship programs. Directly comparable on survivorship and supportive-care services funded by donations; broader national footprint.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: National voluntary health organization funding blood-cancer research and patient services. Comparable cancer-specific grantmaking and patient support model; differs by being a blood-cancer sub-segment and national.
• Susan G. Komen: National breast cancer foundation funding research and community health programs including patient navigation. Directly comparable disease-specific grantmaking model, though cancer-site focused (breast only) and national in scope.
• American Cancer Society: Largest national voluntary health organization focused on cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. Comparable to CFSB as a cancer-focused grantmaking and patient-support funder, though operating nationally and across the entire cancer continuum rather than a single county.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara