Ensign Cancer Research Foundation

The Ensign Cancer Research Foundation operates as a tightly held family memorial foundation with a deliberately closed grantmaking model. Founded by the adult children of Mike and Sharon Ensign — both of whom died of cancer — the foundation channels returns from an approximately $18.1 million investment endowment toward a small, stable cohort of elite California cancer research and treatment institutions. The foundation's IRS Form 990 explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds," a posture maintained consistently since the foundation obtained 501(c)(3) status in February 2018.

The Ensign family built substantial wealth through the gaming and hospitality industry. Mike Ensign led Mandalay Resorts Group (formerly Circus Circus Enterprises) prior to its $7.9 billion sale to MGM Grand in 2005. The family's philanthropic philosophy is captured in the principle that "from those blessed with so much, much is rightly expected," and the foundation continues a charitable tradition that included Catholic Charities and civic causes in Las Vegas.

The practical implication for prospective grantees is significant: there is no formal application portal, no published RFP cycle, and no documented LOI-to-award pipeline. The three known grantees — Keck School of Medicine ($700,000), Saint John's Health Clinic ($200,000), and City of Hope ($100,000) — are all well-established Southern California medical institutions with deep brand recognition in cancer care. The foundation's website also lists the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine as a partner, suggesting the portfolio may be quietly expanding toward a fourth institutional relationship.

For organizations seeking to enter the foundation's orbit, the most viable path is not a grant application but a sustained relationship-building effort: engaging through existing partner institutions, securing introductions to board members Eric S. Ensign (Secretary) or David A. Ensign (Treasurer), and demonstrating the institutional credibility and cancer research excellence that aligns with the founders' legacy. The three-person leadership team (Antonio T. Alamo as President, plus the two Ensign sons) all serve without compensation, confirming this is a deeply personal philanthropic endeavor responsive to mission fit and personal connection rather than competitive scoring.

The Ensign Cancer Research Foundation maintains one of the most consistent grantmaking patterns in the private foundation sector: essentially $1,000,000 in grants paid every single year across all recorded fiscal years. FY2018 saw $1,089,314 in grants; FY2019 through FY2022 and FY2025 all recorded exactly $1,000,000. This disciplined giving level reflects a foundation funded entirely by investment returns — no external contributions have been received in any recorded year.

Grant count is extremely low at three per cycle, with the most recent available 990 (FY2022) reporting the following distribution: - Keck School of Medicine: $700,000 (70% of annual giving) — "support for cancer research and treatment" - Saint John's Health Clinic: $200,000 (20%) — "support for cancer treatment and research" - City of Hope: $100,000 (10%) — "support for cancer treatment"

Median grant: $200,000. Average grant: $333,333. Range: $100,000–$700,000. The concentration is striking: the single largest grant (Keck) absorbs 70% of total annual giving, marking Keck as the primary strategic research partner. City of Hope at $100,000 functions more as a legacy relationship or exploratory grant.

Geographically, 100% of documented grants flow to California-based institutions despite the foundation being incorporated in Nevada (Las Vegas). All grantees are in the greater Los Angeles area, establishing Southern California as the exclusive geographic focus. Program area scope spans both translational cancer research and direct clinical cancer treatment — not confined to basic science — making clinical care institutions as competitive as pure research universities.

Total assets have declined from $19.5M (FY2018) to $18.1M (FY2025), a modest erosion as net investment income (ranging $410,000 to $1.1M annually depending on market conditions) has not always fully offset the $1M commitment plus administrative expenses. The payout ratio of approximately 5.5% aligns with the IRS minimum distribution requirement for private foundations.

The table below compares the Ensign Cancer Research Foundation to similar-asset private grantmaking foundations identified in foundation databases. Peers are matched by total asset size and NTEE classification (T — Philanthropy and Grantmaking); no identically cancer-focused private foundations at exactly this asset level appear in the comparison dataset.

Ensign's most distinctive characteristic within its peer cohort is a singular, unwavering mission focus: 100% of grants go to cancer-related institutions, in contrast to peers with broader or undefined mandates. Its explicit preselected-only model also sets it apart — most similarly sized foundations in this asset band do accept some form of inquiry or application. For cancer-focused organizations in Southern California, Ensign represents a uniquely committed funder whose total annual giving of $1M rivals what much larger cancer research foundations deploy. The three-person all-volunteer leadership structure further underscores its character as a lean, mission-first family operation.

No press releases, award announcements, or substantive news coverage of the Ensign Cancer Research Foundation were found for 2025 or 2026. The foundation maintains a deliberately minimal public footprint consistent with its closed, family-run model.

The most recent publicly available financial data (fiscal year ending June 2025, via ProPublica) confirms the foundation disbursed exactly $1,000,000 in charitable grants. Revenue totaled $1,052,082, composed of dividends ($544,638 — 51.8%), asset sales ($472,098 — 44.9%), and interest ($35,346 — 3.4%). Net assets stood at $18,082,797, a modest decline from prior years as the foundation draws slightly on its corpus to maintain giving levels. Net income was -$39,036 for the year.

The foundation's website lists the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine as a partner alongside Keck School of Medicine, Saint John's Health Clinic, and City of Hope. The Ellison Institute — a prominent Los Angeles cancer research center founded by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison — does not appear in the most recently available 990 grantee data (through FY2022), suggesting this is a newly cultivated relationship that may surface in upcoming filings.

Leadership has remained entirely stable: Antonio T. Alamo (President), Eric S. Ensign (Secretary), and David A. Ensign (Treasurer) serve without compensation. No executive transitions, board expansions, or public program announcements have been detected. The foundation was incorporated in Nevada in 2015 and received IRS recognition in February 2018; no changes to its corporate structure or mission have been publicly documented.

Because the Ensign Cancer Research Foundation is explicitly preselected-only, the conventional grant application process does not apply. Submitting an unsolicited proposal will not be reviewed and may signal that your organization has not done its homework on this funder — a reputational risk in a closely held family foundation context. The following guidance is tailored to the realistic pathways available.

Relationship-first, not application-first: The only documented path to Ensign funding is becoming a preselected partner — meaning the foundation must identify your organization, not the reverse. Cultivate relationships with development officers at existing partner institutions: Keck School of Medicine, Saint John's Health Clinic, City of Hope, and the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute. These institutions may facilitate introductions to Eric or David Ensign.

Lead with the legacy narrative: The foundation exists to honor Mike and Sharon Ensign, who both died of cancer. Outreach that acknowledges their story, references the family's philosophy ("from those blessed with so much, much is rightly expected"), and explicitly connects your mission to their legacy will resonate far more than program-centric grant language.

Geographic alignment is non-negotiable: All documented grantees are Los Angeles-area institutions. Southern California organizations should emphasize local presence and community ties; organizations based outside California should carefully evaluate whether the relationship investment is warranted.

Scope your program correctly: The foundation funds both cancer research and cancer treatment/clinical care — not exclusively basic science. Translational research, clinical delivery, and treatment innovation all appear within scope per stated grant purposes.

Initial contact mechanics: Submit a concise relationship inquiry via the foundation's contact form at ensigncancerresearchfoundation.org/contact/. The website confirms a five-business-day response commitment. Frame the inquiry as a values-alignment conversation, not a funding request. Address the inquiry toward David A. Ensign (Treasurer, the contact name on file) or Eric S. Ensign (Secretary).

Grant size expectations: If invited into the partnership, expect an initial grant of $100,000–$200,000 scaling to as much as $700,000 for a primary research partner. There is no evidence of grants below $100,000.