Lung Cancer Research Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION IS TO IMPROVE LUNG CANCER OUTCOMES BY FUNDING RESEARCH FOR THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND CURE OF LUNG CANCER.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 98
- Highest pay
- $259,024, chief scientific officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $2.6 million spent. RESEARCH: EACH YEAR, LCRF AWARDS RESEARCH GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS AROUND THE WORLD THAT DEMONSTRATE PROMISE AND INGENUITY IN THEIR WORK. INVESTIGATORS ARE SELECTED FROM HUNDREDS OF APPLICANTS AND REPRESENT SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST MINDS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR LUNG CANCER PATIENTS. THEY COME FROM VARIOUS CAREER PATHS INCLUDING SCIENTISTS, PHYSICIANS, STUDENTS, AND FELLOWS, AND WORKING ON A VARIETY OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO LUNG CANCER RESEARCH.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. RESEARCH: DESPITE BEING THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER MORTALITY, LUNG CANCER RECEIVES FAR LESS RESEARCH FUNDING PER DEATH. LUNG CANCER RECEIVES $4,440 PER DEATH COMPARED TO BREAST CANCER AT $20,238, PROSTATE CANCER AT $9,200, AND PANCREATIC CANCER AT $6,020. THAT IS WHY FUNDING FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IS SO CRITICAL. THE LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (LCRF) PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THIS FUNDING LANDSCAPE. SINCE 2005, THE LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION, AND ITS PROGENITOR ORGANIZATIONS, HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO FUNDING CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH THAT TRANSFORMS THE LUNG CANCER TREATMENT LANDSCAPE. WHEN WE FIRST OPENED OUR DOORS, OUR MISSION WAS SIMPLE: PROVIDE HOPE BY FUNDING THE BEST RESEARCH AND HELP BRING IT TO PEOPLE. WE HAVE BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL. IN 18 YEARS, WE HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE FUNDERS OF LUNG CANCER RESEARCH ENABLING EARLIER DETECTION, DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANISMS THAT ALLOW LUNG CANCER TO FORM, AND NEW AND EXPANDED TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, OUR SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD HAS BECOME ONE OF THE PREEMINENT BODIES IN THE LUNG CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNITY. FURTHERMORE, OUR INVESTMENT IN EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS CONTINUES TO ALLOW NEW TALENT TO THRIVE AND GROW IN THE SPACE AS IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH FOLLOW-ON FUNDING MANY HAVE RECEIVED SINCE RECEIVING THEIR LCRF GRANT. TO DATE, LCRF HAS PROVIDED 429 RESEARCH GRANTS TOTALING NEARLY $48 MILLION, THE LARGEST AMOUNT PROVIDED BY A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO FUNDING LUNG CANCER RESEARCH. SUPPORT WITHIN THE PATIENT COMMUNITY, RESEARCHERS, STRATEGIC PARTNERS, AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS IS KEY TO OUR PRESENT SUCCESS AS WELL AS ACHIEVING OUR FUTURE VISION TO FIND A CURE FOR LUNG CANCER. THE 2024 GRANT CYCLE INCLUDED AWARDS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: LCRF LEADING-EDGE GRANT IN LUNG CANCER, LCRF RESEARCH GRANT ON EARLY DETECTION AND PRE-NEOPLASIA IN LUNG CANCER, LCRF RESEARCH GRANTS ON UNDERSTANDING RESISTANCE IN LUNG CANCER, LCRF MINORITY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (CDA) FOR LUNG CANCER, AND THE IASLC-LCRF TEAM SCIENCE RESEARCH GRANT ON THE NEXT STEP IN THE CURE OF ONCOGENE-DRIVEN LUNG CANCERS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, LCRF AWARDED THE AMERICAN LUNG CANCER SCREENING INITIATIVE (ALCSI), LED BY CHI-FU JEFFREY YANG, MD, OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, A $320,000 GRANT TO CONDUCT ITS "PLUS ONE" SCREENING INITIATIVE AND RESEARCH STUDY. TWO (2) RESEARCH GRANTS WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE LCRF LEADING EDGE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM WHICH FUNDS INNOVATIVE PROJECTS ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, CLINICAL, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, HEALTH SERVICES, AND RESEARCH FOCUSED ON A MYRIAD OF TOPICS. TWO (2) RESEARCH GRANTS WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE LCRF RESEARCH GRANT ON UNDERSTANDING RESISTANCE IN LUNG CANCER. THESE PROJECTS WILL FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENT, PREVENTION, AND THERAPY OF RESISTANCE BY SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT ARE IDENTIFYING, CHARACTERIZING, TREATING OR PREVENTING RESISTANCE TO THERAPIES IN LUNG TUMOR CELLS, TISSUES, MOUSE MODELS, AND/OR PATIENTS. THESE STUDIES WILL ENHANCE THE MOMENTUM OF IMPROVING LUNG CANCER OUTCOMES AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE SURVIVORSHIP. TWO (2) RESEARCH GRANTS WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE LCRF MINORITY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (CDA). MINORITY APPLICANTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE GRANTS, TO HAVE THE R PHASES OF K01 OR K99 AWARDS ACTIVATED, NEED MORE SUBMISSIONS TO OBTAIN FUNDING, AND OFTEN WILL NOT RESUBMIT PROPOSALS. AS MINORITY APPLICANTS MUST OVERCOME SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL BARRIERS DUE TO RACE, ETHNICITY, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, AND/OR LANGUAGE, MANY LEAVE ACADEMIA WHICH FURTHER EXACERBATES THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) AND MEDICAL FIELDS. TO PROVIDE PROTECTED TIME AND MENTORING TO THESE TRAINEES, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER THE LCRF MINORITY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD (CDA) FOR LUNG CANCER FOR MINORITY POSTDOCTORAL/CLINICAL FELLOWS AND ASSISTANT PROFESSORS WITHIN 10 YEARS OF COMPLETING THEIR MD AND/OR PHD DEGREES TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS. ONE (1) RESEARCH GRANT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE LCRF RESEARCH GRANT ON EARLY DETECTION AND PRE-NEOPLASIA IN LUNG CANCER. GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANCE AND NEED FOR EARLY DETECTION OF LUNG CANCER AND ADVANCEMENTS IN MOLECULAR SCREENING, LCRF CONTINUES TO OFFER A FUNDING MECHANISM TO SUPPORT RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT FACILITATE OR ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PRE-NEOPLASIA OR APPROACHES FOR EARLY DETECTION OF LUNG CANCER. WORK SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS MECHANISM ADDRESSES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN NON-SMALL CELL AND SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF LUNG CANCER (IASLC), THE IASLC-LCRF TEAM SCIENCE RESEARCH GRANT ON THE NEXT STEP IN THE CURE OF ONCOGENE-DRIVEN LUNG CANCERS AWARD, IS A $2.5 MILLION AWARD OVER FOUR YEARS GRANTED TO A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS WHOSE COORDINATED PROJECTS ADVANCE RESEARCH IN ONCOGENE-DRIVEN LUNG CANCER WITH THE INTENT TO CULMINATE IN A CLINICAL TRIAL. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION IS CURRENTLY ADMINISTRATING RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LUNG CANCER MUTATION CONSORTIUM. LCRF'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LUNG CANCER MUTATION CONSORTIUM (LCMC) DATES BACK TO 2011 COVERING THREE CLINICAL TRIALS. THE LCMC2 CLINICAL TRIAL ENROLLED 1,000 PATIENTS VIA A NETWORK OF FOURTEEN (14) NOTABLE DOMESTIC CLINICAL RESEARCH SITES. THE CLINICAL TRIAL STUDIED THE IMPACT OF SMOKING AND TP53 MUTATIONS IN LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA PATIENTS WITH TARGETABLE MUTATIONS. THE LCMC3 CLINICAL TRIAL BEGAN IN 2
- $2.4 million spent. PATIENT EDUCATION & OUTREACH: WE PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE AND CREDIBLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TREATMENT THROUGH OUR FREE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. WE ALSO HAVE TOOLS TO HELP YOU FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM SO YOU CAN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN TREATMENT DECISIONS. OUR MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AND PRINT FORMAT.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PATIENT EDUCATION & OUTREACH: THE PATIENT EDUCATION PORTFOLIO INCLUDES PRINT AND DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (PDF DOWNLOADABLE FORMAT AS WELL AS EASILY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE CONTENT) THAT ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST. THE OVERALL GOALS OF OUR PATIENT EDUCATION MATERIALS ARE TO HELP PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BETTER UNDERSTAND LUNG CANCER, LEARN ABOUT TREATMENT OPTIONS, PARTICIPATE IN SHARED DECISION MAKING WITH THEIR CARE TEAM, MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS, AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF COMPREHENSIVE BIOMARKER TESTING. PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS NEED INFORMATION AT ALL STEPS IN THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, FROM DIAGNOSIS THROUGH TREATMENT AND BEYOND. THE LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION HAS A PORTFOLIO OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BETTER UNDERSTAND LUNG CANCER AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT OPTIONS. HELPING PATIENTS TO UNDERSTAND NEW TREATMENTS AND THE HOPE OFFERED BY THESE TREATMENT ADVANCES ARE KEY OBJECTIVES OF OUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. WE ALSO HAVE MATERIALS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE OF LUNG CANCER AS A HEALTH CARE PROBLEM AND WAYS TO IDENTIFY SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE. IN 2024, LCRF DISTRIBUTED OVER 368,000 EDUCATIONAL PIECES TO LUNG CANCER PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, ADVOCATES AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE NATION IN BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL FORMAT. OUR WEBSITE ALSO CONTAINS LINKS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, WHICH RECEIVES ON AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 380,000 PAGEVIEWS ANNUALLY. OUR CONTINUED GOAL IS TO STEADILY INCREASE OUR MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED, PARTICULARLY WITH DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AS THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE IN DEMAND FOR READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE PORTFOLIO ARE TO: EMPOWER PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS BY INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LUNG CANCER, BIOMARKER TESTING, CLINICAL TRIALS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS; PROVIDE AN UP-TO-DATE AND CREDIBLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE TREATMENTS, EDUCATE PATIENTS ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TREATMENT AND WHAT IS CRITICAL FOR OPTIMAL OUTCOMES; PROVIDE TOOLS TO FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN PATIENTS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS; EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE OF LUNG CANCER AS A HEALTH CARE ISSUE, WAYS TO IDENTIFY SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE, AND EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION, TUMOR BIOMARKER TESTING AND CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPATION; SHARE PROGRESS AND IMPACT OF RESEARCH (INCLUDING THAT WHICH IS FUNDED BY LCRF), AND EXPLAIN WHY FUNDING RESEARCH IS CRUCIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TREATMENTS FOR LUNG CANCER; AND ENSURE THAT THE MATERIALS ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE, AT APPROPRIATE LITERACY LEVELS, AND ACCESSIBLE THROUGH A VARIETY OF DELIVERY METHODS (ONLINE, THROUGH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PATIENT AND CAREGIVER FOCUSED EVENTS, ETC.). THE PATIENT EDUCATION MATERIALS ARE EVIDENCE-BASED AND DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE, COMPOSED OF ONCOLOGISTS, RESEARCHERS, ONCOLOGY NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND PATIENTS/CAREGIVERS. THE PATIENT EDUCATIONAL PORTFOLIO IS ALSO CRAFTED WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVE FROM OUR COMMUNITY. OUR MATERIALS ARE RATED ON AVERAGE A 4.6/5 ACCORDING TO THE FEEDBACK COLLECTED FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO DOWNLOAD OR ORDER OUR PRINT MATERIALS ON OUR WEBSITE. SAMPLE FEEDBACK INCLUDES: THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. I AM A THORACIC NURSE NAVIGATOR AND PROVIDE THESE TO ALL OF MY LUNG CANCER PATIENTS. MY PATIENTS LIKE AND APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PEOPLE TRYING TO NAVIGATE A LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND ALL THE STRESS RELATED TO THE ENTIRE PROCESS. MY MOTHER WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER. VERY HEARTBREAKING AND A SURPRISE TO US ALL. HEARD NOTHING BUT GOOD REVIEWS ABOUT LCRF SO I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING ABOUT EVERYTHING AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO. I LOVE THE LIVING WITH LUNG CANCER BOOKLET. IT IS DEFINITELY VERY COMPREHENSIVE IN THAT IT INCLUDES COPING WITH DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT, INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NEWER TARGETED AND IMMUNOTHERAPIES, AND TREATMENT SIDE-EFFECT MANAGEMENT. GOOD JOB! LUNG CANCER SUPPORT LINE: OUR LUNG CANCER SUPPORT LINE IS A TOLL-FREE NUMBER (844)-835-4325, AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AFFECTED BY LUNG CANCER, PRIMARILY LUNG CANCER PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. THE SUPPORT LINE OPERATES MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM-5PM ET, IS MANAGED BY A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER ON LCRF'S STAFF, AND IS EQUIPPED WITH EXTENSIVE AND UP-TO-DATE RESOURCE GUIDES FOR COMMON NEEDS AND SERVICES FOR LUNG CANCER PATIENTS SUCH AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION OR LODGING TO/FROM MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND MUCH MORE. LUNG CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS MAY CALL OR EMAIL THE PROGRAM AS OFTEN AS THEY WISH, AND THE SERVICE IS OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE. THE LUNG CANCER SUPPORT LINE HELPS FILL AN UNMET NEED BY PROVIDING PERSONALIZED, ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO CALLERS WHO ARE FACING THE CHALLENGES OF LUNG CANCER. IN 2024, WE HAD OVER 1,700INQUIRIES COME IN THROUGH THE SUPPORT LINE. OVER HALF OF CALLERS ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED PATIENTS OR CAREGIVERS OF THOSE WHO ARE RECENTLY DIAGNOSED, PROVING THAT THE SUPPORT LINE PROVIDES A TIMELY SERVICE FOR THOSE SEEKING SUPPORT. MANY SUPPORT LINE INQUIRIES ALSO COME IN FROM HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS OR COMMUNITY-BASED INSTITUTIONS LOOKING FOR RESOURCES FOR THEIR PATIENTS. OUR CONTINUED GOAL FOR THE SUPPORT LINE IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED AND ENGAGED IN OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HOPE TO INCREASE OUR SUPPORT LINE REACH BY 10% OVER THE NEXT YEAR VIA TARGETED OUTREACH AND PROMOTION OF OUR SERVICES. THROUGH THE SUPP
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.