About
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that raises funds to accelerate collaborative, translational cancer research aimed at getting new therapies to patients quickly. Launched in 2008 by leaders from the entertainment industry, SU2C is known for galvanizing celebrities, media, and major broadcasters to bring public attention and funding to cutting-edge cancer science.
Mission
SU2C's mission is to raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. The organization brings together researchers across institutions and mandates collaboration among the cancer community, while using the entertainment industry to generate awareness, educate the public on cancer prevention, and help more people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors.
What they do
SU2C funds collaborative, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research teams and investigators rather than single-lab grants. Its research portfolio includes:
- Dream Teams — flagship multi-institution projects addressing critical problems in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
- Research Teams — small collaborative teams delivering near-term patient benefit through proof-of-principle projects
- Convergence Teams — combining biological, physical, and computer sciences to tailor treatments to individual patients
- SU2C Catalyst — pairing industry and academic scientists to accelerate clinical trials of new treatments and combination therapies
- Innovative Research Grants — funding early-career scientists with high-risk, high-potential ideas
- Interception grants — aimed at finding and treating cancer at the earliest possible point
- Health Equity Grants — increasing diversity in clinical trials and improving cancer outcomes and screening in medically underserved communities, a focus area since 2017
SU2C states that 100% of donations received support Stand Up To Cancer and its collaborative cancer research programs.
History
Stand Up To Cancer was created by a group of nine women, all leaders in the entertainment field whose lives had been touched by cancer, including journalist Katie Couric, former Paramount Pictures chair Sherry Lansing, and communications executive Kathleen Lobb. They began working together in the fall of 2007, and SU2C was formally launched on May 27, 2008. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charity (Federal Tax ID 88-4115555), with the IRS issuing its exemption as an independent entity in November 2022.
Scale and impact
According to the organization, nearly $800 million has been pledged for SU2C's innovative cancer research programs since its launch.
Financials
Per ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Form 990 data), Stand Up To Cancer reported revenue and expenses of $34.7 million in the fiscal year ending December 2024, and $38.9 million in fiscal year 2023. Its revenue derives entirely from contributions.
Governance
Julian Adams serves as President and CEO. The organization is guided by a Founders and Advisors Committee drawn from its founding leadership, along with scientific leadership overseeing its research programs.