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Tower Cancer Research Foundation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Tower Cancer Research Foundation

Through local investments, we advance groundbreaking cancer research and profoundly support people affected by the disease to create outsized impact in southern california and beyond.

$890k
Granted FY2024still arriving
8
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Health$4.5MScience & Tech$2.8MEducation$465kHuman Services$210kFood & Nutrition$193kCivil Rights$20kPhilanthropy$15k
02FY2024 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 8 grants below total $189,920, the rows itemized in this filing. The $889,920 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $700,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.
$20,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$3.2M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION$49,920
CANCER KINSHIP$30,000
BREAST CANCER ANGELS$20,000
CYDUCT DIAGNOSTICS INC$20,000
VITAL ACCESS CARE FOUNDATION$20,000
OUR HOUSE$20,000
CENTER FOR PSYCHOLOGY OF CANCER$20,000
CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY LOS ANGELES$10,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY18–22, $140k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 89% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%CAMP KESEM: $25k → 14%RIP MEDICAL DEBT: $10k → 9%RIP MEDICAL DEBT: $5k → 9%TRIAGE CANCER: $25k → 14%CAMP KESEM: $40k → 14%CAMP KESEM: $25k → 14%TRIAGE CANCER: $10k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

79%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.8M · 17 repeat orgs$1.3M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +62% since the first grant, against +35% for those funded once.

17 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 13 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
15

Total granted

$4.8M
$1.2M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+62%
+35%

Still filing today

88%
73%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 42% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $110k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthEducationHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
    5× · 2017–2021 · $962k · revenue +63%
  • PA
    PROJECT ANGEL FOOD
    7× · 2017–2023 · $193k · revenue +452%
  • CH
    Children's Hospital Los Angeles
    4× · 2017–2021 · $160k · revenue +78%

Funded once

  • CS
    CEDARS SINAI ADVANCEMENT
    one grant, 2023 · $320k
  • RU
    REGENTS UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
    one grant, 2023 · $218k
  • RO
    REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE
    one grant, 2023 · $100k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Leadership in the prevention, treatment, and cure of cancer through excellence, vision and cost effectiveness in patient care, outreach programs, research, and education.

Health
2
Thesecondopinion

The organization provides free, comprehensive second opinions to adults in California diagnosed with cancer.

—
3
Curebound

Curebound's mission is to accelerate cancer research and save lives. we raise and invest strategic funding for innovative adult and pediatric cancer research with one vision: cures in our lifetime.

Health
4
Keck Medical Center of Usc

Organization's primary activity and program service accomplishments keck medical center of usc (the organization) was organized on june 24, 2020 as a california nonprofit corporation for exclusively charitable, scientific, and educational…

Health
5
Cancer Research and Biostatistics

To help conquer cancer and other diseases through the application of biostatistical principles and innovative data management methods.

Health
6
Targeting Resistance in Cancer Cooperative
Health
7
Commonwealth Cancer Consortium Inc

Break through cancer is a foundation dedicated to supporting translational research in the most difficult to treat cancers. our partner organizations are among the top cancer research centers and together, represent some of the most…

—
8
Cancer Support Community - California Central Coast

To help people affected by cancer enhance their health and well-being through participation in a professional program of emotional support, education, and hope at no cost.

Health
9
Cancer Support Community Valley Ventura/Santa Barbara Inc

Cancer support community valley/ventura/santa barbaras mission is to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care.

—
10
Usc Care Medical Group Inc

To promote health by engaging in the practice of medicine for patients of hospitals affiliated with the university of southern california keck school of medicine and elsewhere. to provide medical care to the sick and injured who may come…

Health
11
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc

The mission of dfci is to provide expert, compassionate, and equitable care to children, adults, and their families, while advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases. we train new…

Health
12
The Angeles Clinic Foundation

The angeles clinic foundation's purpose is to sponsor and support programs, services, education, advocacy and research related to cancer. our goal is to make a difference in the lives of people touched by cancer.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Saint John's Health Center Foundation; the most unlike its peers is California Health Collaborative. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 39 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
22/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER: $961,899 · HealthCEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTERCITY OF HOPE: $955,038 · HealthCITY OF HOPEPROJECT ANGEL FOOD: $193,000 · HealthPROJECT ANGEL FOODChildren's Hospital Los Angeles: $160,000 · HealthChildren's Hospital Los AngelesOUR HOUSE GRIEF SUPPORT CENTER: $120,000 · Health+12 more: $549,920 · Health+12 moreREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO: $1,926,614 · OtherREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA A…CEDARS SINAI ADVANCEMENT: $320,000 · OtherCEDARS SINAI ADVANCEMENTREGENTS UNIV OF CALIFORNIA: $218,120 · OtherREGENTS UNIV OF CALIFORNIAREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE: $100,000 · OtherREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: $100,000 · Other+6 more: $90,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: $1,215,468 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN C…SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION SDSU RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $100,000 · EducationSAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSI…UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION: $100,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA…UCLA FOUNDATION: $100,000 · EducationUCLA FOUNDATION+2 more: $75,000 · EducationCamp Kesem National: $90,000 · Human ServicesTRIAGE CANCER: $35,000 · Human ServicesMEDICAL DEBT RESOLUTION INC: $15,000 · Human ServicesMEGAN'S WINGS INC: $20,000 · Youth DevelopmentONEOC: $15,000 · Philanthropy
Health$2,939,857Other$2,754,734Education$1,590,468Human Services$140,000Youth Development$20,000Philanthropy$15,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: $1,215,468 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER: $961,899 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCITY OF HOPE: $955,038 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetPROJECT ANGEL FOOD: $193,000 over 7y, 0.8% of budgetChildren's Hospital Los Angeles: $160,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetOUR HOUSE GRIEF SUPPORT CENTER: $120,000 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUCLA FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWOMEN OF COLOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS SUPPORT PROJECT INC: $97,500 over 2y, 32% of budgetCamp Kesem National: $90,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetBREAST CANCER ANGELS: $70,000 over 4y, 3.2% of budgetBUMBLEBEE FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 4y, 3.1% of budgetVITAL ACCESS CARE FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetOLIVE VIEW-UCLA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $49,920 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetCenter for Psychology of Cancer: $45,000 over 3y, 21% of budgetMEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION: $40,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetSAINT JOHN'S HEALTH CENTER FOUNDATION: $40,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTRIAGE CANCER: $35,000 over 2y, 7.2% of budgetCancer Kinship: $30,000 over 1y, 20% of budgetCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMEGAN'S WINGS INC: $20,000 over 1y, 7.8% of budgetA MILTON MILLER MEMORIAL FUND INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetHEALING ODYSSEY INC: $17,500 over 3y, 12% of budgetONEOC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMEDICAL DEBT RESOLUTION INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY LOS ANGELES: $10,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetCalifornia Health Collaborative: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetChildhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetTHE JONSSON CANCER CENTER FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

American Cancer Socie…Orange County Communi…California Community …National Philanthropi…Network for GoodThe Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
American Cancer Society IncGA16.9× affinity6 shared granteesties to 10 of 10Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: American Cancer Society Inc · Orange County Community Foundation · California Community Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Network for Good · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Tower Cancer Research Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Tower Cancer Research Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 39 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Tower Cancer Research’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home