Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Form 990 for tax year 2025

Filed by AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH.

Totals

Total revenue
$129,520,731
Total expenses
$97,689,916
Contributions and grants received
$39,008,538
Grants paid
$18,751,552
Program service revenue
$64,849,106
Investment income
$24,903,288
Other revenue
$759,799
Total assets, end of year
$337,461,360
Total liabilities, end of year
$73,322,531
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$264,138,829
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$85,169,573
Management and general expenses
$11,420,343
Fundraising expenses
$1,100,000
Program service expenses (Part III)
$85,169,573

Program services were 87.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $38,540,032

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $468,506

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $0

  • 2a · Program service revenue: MEETING AND EDUCATION

    total $35,613,737 · related or exempt $27,432,430 · unrelated business $200,945 · excluded $7,980,362

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PUBLICATIONS

    total $19,564,715 · related or exempt $19,371,345 · unrelated business $193,370

  • 2c · Program service revenue: SCIENTIFIC INITIATIVES

    total $4,765,514 · related or exempt $4,765,514

  • 2d · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $4,266,415 · related or exempt $4,266,415

  • 2e · Program service revenue: ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

    total $638,725 · related or exempt $638,725

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $5,859,531 · unrelated business $67,087 · excluded $5,792,444

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $759,799 · excluded $759,799

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $47,337,494

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $28,293,737

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $19,043,757

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $19,043,757 · excluded $19,043,757

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $16,669,552 · program services $16,669,552

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $2,082,000 · program services $2,082,000

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,919,034 · program services $2,465,394 · management and general $453,640

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $23,960,010 · program services $20,236,439 · management and general $3,723,571

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $1,844,658 · program services $1,557,984 · management and general $286,674

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $3,330,648 · program services $2,813,039 · management and general $517,609

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,931,938 · program services $1,631,700 · management and general $300,238

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $1,079,612 · program services $1,079,612

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $114,272 · program services $114,272

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $632,718 · program services $632,718

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $1,854,896 · management and general $1,854,896

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $6,976,317 · program services $4,965,189 · management and general $2,011,128

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,773,359 · program services $2,581,109 · management and general $192,250

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $2,894,355 · program services $2,633,820 · management and general $260,535

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $2,955,492 · program services $2,349,051 · management and general $606,441

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,195,391 · program services $1,900,244 · management and general $295,147

  • 17 · Travel

    total $3,659,258 · program services $3,490,346 · management and general $168,912

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $8,076,218 · program services $7,743,042 · management and general $333,176

  • 20 · Interest

    total $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $1,100,000 · fundraising $1,100,000

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $41,429 · program services $32,559 · management and general $8,870

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $286,904 · program services $238,722 · management and general $48,182

  • 24a · Other expenses: AUDIO VISUAL SERVICES

    total $6,674,499 · program services $6,560,418 · management and general $114,081

  • 24b · Other expenses: CREDIT CARD FEES

    total $1,128,073 · program services $1,023,958 · management and general $104,115

  • 24c · Other expenses: HONORARIA

    total $1,110,557 · program services $1,110,557

  • 24d · Other expenses: COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS

    total $724,534 · program services $724,534

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $674,192 · program services $533,314 · management and general $140,878

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $34,456,735 · end of year $11,927,614

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $101,268,269 · end of year $7,291,520

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $22,436,855 · end of year $19,547,266

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $3,218,677 · end of year $4,253,546

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $3,164,476 · end of year $4,407,554

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $3,153,996

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $3,127,908

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $65,266 · end of year $26,088

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $26,035,011 · end of year $188,563,394

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $79,799,688 · end of year $83,090,945

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $21,365,459 · end of year $18,353,433

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $11,636,511 · end of year $10,987,329

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $15,033,325 · end of year $19,420,268

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $23,272,063 · end of year $24,561,029

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $21,673,647 · end of year $18,353,905

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $207,958,501 · end of year $255,758,499

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,236,389 · end of year $8,380,330

Mission and programs · 2025

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE AACR IS TO PREVENT AND CURE CANCER THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, AND COLLABORATION. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THE AACR FOSTERS RESEARCH IN CANCER AND RELATED BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE; ACCELERATES THE DISSEMINATION OF NEW RESEARCH FINDINGS AMONG SCIENTISTS AND OTHERS DEDICATED TO THE CONQUEST OF CANCER; PROMOTES SCIENCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING; AND ADVANCES THE UNDERSTANDING OF CANCER ETIOLOGY, PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PREVENT AND CURE CANCER THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION.

  • RESEARCH GRANTS, SCIENTIFIC AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS.

    Expenses $21,474,755 · Grants $18,117,558

  • ANNUAL MEETING AND SPECIAL CONFERENCES ATTENDED BY MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS FOR THE PRESENTATION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. ALSO INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR TRAINING YOUNG INVESTIGATORS.

    Expenses $27,474,492 · Grants $476,250 · Revenue $35,613,737

  • PUBLICATIONS - PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION OF THE JOURNALS: "CANCER RESEARCH", "MOLECULAR CANCER RESEARCH", "CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION", "CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH", "MOLECULAR CANCER THERAPEUTICS", "CANCER PREVENTION RESEARCH", "CANCER DISCOVERY", "CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH", "BLOOD CANCER DISCOVERY", AND "CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS".

    Expenses $13,457,601 · Revenue $19,564,715

  • SCIENCE POLICY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

    Expenses $2,912,510

  • COMMUNICATIONS

    Expenses $5,549,284

  • SPECIAL CONSTITUENCIES

    Expenses $2,983,014 · Grants $157,744 · Revenue $638,725

  • SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

    Expenses $9,323,147 · Revenue $4,765,514

  • SURVIVOR PROGRAM

    Expenses $637,758

  • MEMBERSHIP

    Revenue $4,266,415

  • CANCER TODAY MAGAZINE

    Expenses $1,357,012

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Dr Margaret Foti

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $1,705,978
    From this org
    $1,463,037
    From related orgs
    $162,560
    Other
    $80,381
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $1,244,877 + $138,320 related
    Bonus
    $218,160 + $24,240 related
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $25,200 + $2,800 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $47,143 + $5,238 related
    Filer's total
    $1,535,380 + $170,598 related
  • Michael Stewart

    SR. VICE PRESIDENT, CFO

    Total calculated
    $545,581
    From this org
    $453,150
    From related orgs
    $23,850
    Other
    $68,581
    Hours/week
    35 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $453,150 + $23,850 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $36,252 + $1,908 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,900 + $1,521 related
    Filer's total
    $518,302 + $27,279 related
  • Jon Retzlaff

    CPO & VP SCI. POL. & GOVT. AFF

    Total calculated
    $491,525
    From this org
    $433,696
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $57,829
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $423,696
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $33,260
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,569
    Filer's total
    $491,525
  • Yixian Zhang

    VP, RESEARCH AND GRANTS ADMIN

    Total calculated
    $401,904
    From this org
    $337,600
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $64,304
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $327,600
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $26,208
    Nontaxable benefits
    $38,096
    Filer's total
    $401,904
  • Paul Driscoll

    CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AND VP

    Total calculated
    $396,497
    From this org
    $334,135
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $62,362
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $324,135
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $25,931
    Nontaxable benefits
    $36,431
    Filer's total
    $396,497
  • Christine Battle

    PUBLISHER & VP. SCI. COMMUN.

    Total calculated
    $394,015
    From this org
    $352,300
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,715
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $342,300
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $27,384
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,331
    Filer's total
    $394,015
  • Richard Buck

    CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $382,152
    From this org
    $326,418
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $55,734
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $316,418
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $25,313
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,421
    Filer's total
    $382,152
  • Joseph Pontoski

    VP. FINANCE AND BUSINESS ADMIN

    Total calculated
    $372,381
    From this org
    $317,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $55,381
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $312,000
    Bonus
    $5,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $24,960
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,421
    Filer's total
    $372,381
  • Mary Ballinger

    VP, MEETINGS AND EXHIBITS

    Total calculated
    $343,660
    From this org
    $291,138
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $52,522
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $281,138
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,491
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,031
    Filer's total
    $343,660
  • Dr Patricia Lorusso

    PRESIDENT (JAN-MAR)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 2 related
  • Dr Lillian Sui

    PRESIDENT (APR-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 2 related
  • Dr Lillian Sui

    PRESIDENT-ELECT (JAN-MAR)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 2 related
  • Dr Keith Flaherty

    PRESIDENT-ELECT (APR-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 2 related
  • Dr Philip Greenberg

    PAST PRESIDENT (JAN-MAR)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 2 related
  • Dr Patricia Lorusso

    PAST PRESIDENT (APR-DEC)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5 + 2 related
  • Dr Michael Caliguiri

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Dr JOH CARETHERS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Christine Lovly

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Elizabeth Platz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Alice Shaw

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Jedd Wolchok

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Christina Curtis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr William Pao

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Kimberly Stegmaier

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Robert Vonderheide

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr John Carpten

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Manual Hidalgo

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Electra Paskett

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Katerina Politi

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Jean-Charles Soria

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Catherine Wu

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Johann S De Bono

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Mikala Egeblad

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Crystal Mackall

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Charles W M Roberts

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dr Timothy A Yap

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A:
SCHEDULE J, PART I, LINE 1A: FIRST-CLASS OR CHARTER TRAVEL IT IS THE POLICY OF THE ASSOCIATION TO AUTHORIZE FIRST CLASS TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE BUSINESS TRAVEL SCHEDULES AND FACILITATE ONGOING BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS.
PART II, OTHER REPORTABLE COMPENSATION:
THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT FOR THE AACR CEO CALLS FOR ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO A DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN. DUE TO STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, A PORTION OF THESE ANNUAL PAYMENTS CAN NO LONGER BE DEFERRED INTO A QUALIFIED PLAN AND MUST BE PAID OUT ANNUALLY AND CLASSIFIED AS OTHER REPORTABLE COMPENSATION. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY PROVIDES AN ANNUAL CAR ALLOWANCE THAT IS ALSO INCLUDED AS PART OF OTHER COMPENSATION.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

    501(C)(3) · SEE SCH O · PA · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by AACR

  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

    501(C)(3) · SEE SCH O · CA · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by AACR

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2025
Filed
17 July 2026
IRS schema version
2025v4.2
Source object
202612099349301326

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.