Sas Foundation For Cancer Research Inc.

The SAS Foundation for Cancer Research is a small, family-run private foundation with a laser focus on funding innovative cancer research. Run entirely by volunteers (the Hrywnak family — Mary Ann as President/CEO, John as Vice President, and Joshua as Treasurer), the foundation operates with zero staff compensation, meaning virtually every dollar of expense goes toward grants and operations.

To approach this funder successfully, applicants must understand its distinct profile: this is not a large institutional funder with complex bureaucratic processes. It is a mission-driven family foundation that values cutting-edge research with direct translational potential. The foundation's historical grants reveal a clear preference for projects at the intersection of immunotherapy, precision medicine, and pediatric oncology — particularly those investigating novel therapeutic targets and drug resistance mechanisms.

Key alignment signals include: research focused on finding cures (not just incremental advances), projects targeting underserved areas of cancer research (pediatric solid tumors, triple-negative breast cancer, neuroblastoma), and work conducted at established research institutions with strong track records. The foundation has consistently funded institutions like Roswell Park, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Yale School of Medicine, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine — all major academic medical centers with robust cancer research programs.

Given the foundation's small size ($1.3M in assets) and annual grant ceiling of $100,000, applicants should position their requests as seed funding, pilot projects, or supplements to larger grants. The foundation likely values being an early supporter of promising research that can attract larger funding later.

The SAS Foundation operates on a modest but consistent scale, with total assets of approximately $1.28 million and revenues of $82,941 in 2024. The foundation awards a maximum of $100,000 annually across all grants, with individual awards typically ranging from $10,000 to $71,000.

Recent grant distributions show variable year-to-year activity: - 2024: $28,225 (single grant to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation for triple-negative breast cancer drug resistance research) - 2022-2023: Multiple grants totaling approximately $146,000, including awards to Roswell Park ($10K-$71K range), Lustgarten Foundation ($20K-$50K), and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (~$40K) - Historical grants to Yale School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the $30K-$50K range

The geographic distribution of grants concentrates in New York (particularly Buffalo/Roswell Park) and Pennsylvania (Philadelphia/CHOP), with occasional grants to Connecticut (Yale). The sector focus is exclusively cancer research, with emphasis on: pediatric solid tumors, immunotherapy/epigenetic approaches, precision medicine targeting survival proteins, drug resistance mechanisms, and pancreatic cancer.

The foundation's expense ratio (260.5% of revenue in 2024) indicates it is drawing down assets to fund grants, which could signal either a spend-down strategy or temporary revenue dip. Applicants should be aware that annual grant budgets may fluctuate significantly.

The SAS Foundation occupies a niche position among cancer research funders — smaller than most institutional cancer foundations but more focused and accessible.

Compared to large cancer research funders, the SAS Foundation offers several distinct advantages for applicants: (1) less competition — a 12% new applicant funding rate is relatively accessible compared to NIH or large foundations; (2) personal review by the founding family rather than large review committees; (3) willingness to fund early-stage or novel approaches that larger funders might consider too risky; and (4) faster decision timelines (6-8 weeks vs. months for larger funders).

The key disadvantage is scale — the $100K annual ceiling means the SAS Foundation cannot be a primary funder for large research projects. However, it can serve as valuable seed funding or a credibility signal for attracting larger grants. The foundation's track record of funding at major institutions (Roswell Park, CHOP, Yale) suggests it values institutional reputation but is not exclusively focused on the largest research centers.

The SAS Foundation has maintained steady operations despite modest revenue fluctuations. In 2024, the foundation awarded $28,225 to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation for a project on "Deciphering the Drug Resistance Mechanism of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer," representing a strategic shift toward understanding treatment resistance — a critical barrier in oncology.

This follows a period of more active grantmaking in 2022-2023, when the foundation distributed approximately $146,000 across three awards including grants to the Lustgarten Foundation (pancreatic cancer research) and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (precision medicine for neuroblastoma). The shift from multi-grant years to a single focused award in 2024 may reflect either a strategic choice to concentrate resources or a natural funding cycle fluctuation.

The foundation's research priorities have evolved over its 16-year history from broader cancer targets (mammary, pancreatic, melanocyte genetics at Roswell Park in 2010-2012; NKT cell immunotherapy at CHOP in 2012-2014; small molecule cancer imaging at Yale in 2011-2013) toward more specialized areas like epigenetic/immunotherapy approaches for pediatric solid tumors and precision medicine targeting Bcl2 survival proteins.

Revenue declined 12.9% year-over-year in 2024, while total assets grew modestly to $1.28M (up 2.6%), suggesting investment returns are partially offsetting revenue declines. The foundation continues to operate with zero paid staff, maintaining its volunteer-run model under the Hrywnak family leadership.

Practical advice for applicants to the SAS Foundation for Cancer Research:

1. Submit early and by mail. Proposals must be physically received (not just postmarked) by November 15. The foundation explicitly recommends early submission. Given the small operation, late arrivals risk being excluded regardless of quality. Plan to submit by late October to ensure safe arrival.

2. One proposal per organization per year. The foundation strictly limits agencies to one submission annually. Choose your strongest, most aligned project — you will not get a second chance that cycle. If you have multiple potential projects, select the one most closely matching the foundation's demonstrated interests in immunotherapy, precision medicine, or pediatric oncology.

3. Request an appropriate amount. With a $100K annual ceiling across all grants and typical individual awards of $10K-$71K, requesting the full $100K is unrealistic unless yours is the only funded project. A request in the $25K-$50K range is the sweet spot — substantial enough to enable meaningful research but modest enough to fit within the foundation's budget alongside other awards.

4. Emphasize translational potential. The foundation's mission is to "seek out potential cures for cancer or alleviate the impact of cancer." Frame your research in terms of its pathway to clinical application, not just academic contribution. Show how your findings could lead to new treatments, diagnostic tools, or therapeutic strategies.

5. Highlight institutional credibility. The foundation has exclusively funded major academic medical centers (Roswell Park, CHOP, Yale, Albert Einstein). If you are at a smaller institution, emphasize your research team's credentials, publications, and any collaborations with established cancer centers.

6. Address a specific cancer type or mechanism. The foundation's portfolio shows preference for targeted research: triple-negative breast cancer drug resistance, neuroblastoma precision medicine, pediatric solid tumor immunotherapy, NKT cell approaches. Broad "cancer research" proposals are likely less competitive than those targeting specific cancers or mechanisms.

7. Position as seed or pilot funding. Given the modest grant sizes, frame your request as enabling preliminary data collection, proof-of-concept studies, or pilot projects that will support applications to NIH, NCI, or larger cancer foundations. The foundation likely values its role in catalyzing larger research programs.

8. Be patient with the timeline. Decisions are announced 6-8 weeks after the November deadline, typically in January. The volunteer-run nature means follow-up communications may be slower than with professional staff. Contact the foundation at (607) 743-0905 with questions before applying.