Children's Cancer Research Fund

What it reported doing in 2025

Research and granting programs: in fy25, ccrf awarded nearly $2.3 million in research grants in the following areas: - hard-to-treat cancers: ccrf prioritizes research on cancers with persistently low survival rates. These include highly aggressive and often fatal cancers such as brain tumors, sarcomas, and certain types of leukemia. In fy25, we awarded $250,000 to fund a project at md andersen cancer center testing a novel drug candidate that targets a key driver of acute myeloid leukemia (aml). We also awarded $187,799 to a researcher at the university of Minnesota who is working on new treatments enabling immune cells to better infiltrate high-risk brain tumors, including diffuse midline glioma and glioblastoma. If successful, this research would further improve the efficacy of a novel immunotherapy developed by university of Minnesota researchers with ccrf support. Finally, we awarded $375,000 to the university of Minnesota in seed grants for research initiatives, allowing flexible and nimble funding for emerging opportunities. - survivorship: many childhood cancer survivors live with enduring consequences of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical interventions, including cognitive impairment, cardiac issues and infertility. Ccrf supports researchers working on new treatments and interventions that will reduce adverse long-term effects and promote health among survivors. In fy25, ccrf granted $250,000 to a researcher at children's hospital of philadelphia to conduct a randomized trial of a game-like technology aimed at helping brain tumor survivors better understand facial cues and build critical social connections. - fellowships: ccrf made a commitment of $1.2 million in fy25 to support the children's cancer research fund pediatric oncology/hematology fellowship program at the university of Minnesota. This commitment builds on nearly 40 years of support for research fellowships at the university of Minnesota, a program with a strong legacy of training exceptional leaders in pediatric cancer care and research.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 76%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.65 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -62.1%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.55; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.69; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.2% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.3% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings