Cancer Grants for Nonprofits

Cancer has the capability to utterly uproot and transform the lives of its victims, as well as the lives of their friends and families. There is, as of yet, no silver-bullet cure for cancers. Rather, they involve a variety of treatments that must take place over a lengthy period of time. Beyond the expensive and time spent on these treatments, cancer patients must rearrange their entire lives, often being unable to work, transport themselves or enjoy other aspects of their lives. This diminishment further affects the family of the patients, who must often take on the roles of caregivers.

It’s a lot for any family to take on. That’s why there are so many nonprofits out there fighting to help cancer patients through their struggles, as well as their families. These nonprofits are only able to fund their work through generous grant money. This grant money can be used for a wide range of purposes. Sometimes it can be for the big challenges, such as treatment, rehabilitation and counseling. But they can also be used for the small, but still important things - helping cancer patients access transportation and meals if they cannot drive or cook.

These grants come from a variety of sources. Traditionally, many federal agencies, such as the NCI or CDC, would offer grants to help cancer patients. But there are many private foundations that provide cancer grants as well, such as the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. In many areas, local and corporate sponsors are also in operation - it’s likely your city or state has at least one local cancer support organization.

When writing a cancer grant proposal, it’s important to use data to show that you can make a real difference. Outline the real community needs - be that a lack of access to treatment, transport, or counseling. Use the data to clearly paint a picture of those who are underserved. And then formulate a narrative where you demonstrate that your nonprofit can make a real difference.

If you need more assistance on writing winning grant proposals, make sure to check out our excellent resources on the topic. You can also start browsing a sampling of cancer grants above, all currently accepting requests from grantseekers.