Support Cancer Research Today: Action Steps, Vetting Checklist, HCRF

October 6, 2026

Support Cancer Research Today: Action Steps, Vetting Checklist, HCRF

Volunteer accepting fundraiser donation

You can support cancer research today by giving money, whether that’s a one-time gift, a monthly sustaining donation, or a transfer of stock. You can also volunteer your time, join a fundraising walk, sign up for a study, or donate biospecimens. Each path carries real weight, so choose the one that fits your time, your resources, and your heart, and start there.

TL;DR:

Giving appreciated stock can reduce your tax burden while providing more value to cancer research than cash donations of the same size.

Peer fundraising events often raise more money per person than direct individual donations, especially when tied to personal milestones or causes.

Virtual volunteering allows participation in research support activities without geographic restrictions, fitting into diverse schedules.

Evaluate charities by confirming their legal status, research partnerships, and impact reports to ensure your donation advances meaningful projects.

Pairing consistent financial support with regular volunteer hours enhances long-term research progress more effectively than single donations alone.

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HCRF supports out of the box cancer research at Northwestern University's Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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Ways to give money, time, and talent to cancer research
How to evaluate a cancer charity before you give
How to get involved without writing a check
How HCRF funds unconventional cancer research
Why varied support accelerates the fight against cancer
Join an HCRF event or give today
FAQ
Sources

Ways to give money, time, and talent to cancer research

Every form of support matters, and the right one for you depends on what you have to give right now: cash, hours, or a willingness to show up.

Monetary giving comes in more shapes than most people realize. A one-time gift is the simplest entry point, but a monthly sustaining donation gives research teams something more valuable: predictable funding they can plan around. Many employers will match your gift dollar for dollar, so it’s worth checking with your HR department before you give. Donors with investment portfolios can also give appreciated stock or other noncash property directly, which can reduce tax liability while delivering more value to the charity than a cash gift of the same size. Using a donor-advised fund is another option for donors who want to time their giving for tax purposes while still supporting multi-year research projects, and planned or legacy gifts let you build cancer research into your estate.

Events and peer fundraising turn personal networks into research dollars. Organized walks and runs are the most visible entry point: you register, set a goal, and ask friends and family to sponsor you. Starting your own peer fundraiser, whether tied to a birthday, a memorial, or just a personal cause, often raises more per person than a single direct ask. Hosting a small community event, like a trivia night or a bake sale, works the same way on a smaller scale.

Volunteering splits roughly into two categories: patient-facing roles, like driving patients to appointments or staffing a support hotline, and operational roles, like event planning, data entry, or grant research. Virtual volunteering has expanded both categories, so distance is no longer the barrier it once was.

Research participation and biospecimen donation are less familiar but just as valuable. Clinical trials test a specific treatment or intervention, cohort studies like Connect for Cancer Prevention Study follow large groups over years to understand how cancer develops, and biobanks simply collect and store tissue or blood for future research. The National Cancer Institute lists all of these as legitimate, high-impact ways to contribute, alongside direct donations and volunteering.

A one-time gift gets research moving now; a monthly gift helps a lab plan its next experiment with confidence.
Peer fundraising through a walk or run often raises more than a single solo donation.
Donating appreciated stock can reduce your tax burden while giving the charity full market value.
Virtual volunteer roles mean you can contribute meaningful hours without living near a cancer center.

Pro Tip: Pair a small monthly gift with a few hours of volunteer time each quarter. Consistency compounds, for research funding and for your own sense of connection to the cause.

How to evaluate a cancer charity before you give

Your generosity deserves a destination that actually moves research forward, so a little homework up front protects your gift and your intent.

Confirm 501©(3) status and check how much of each dollar goes to programs versus overhead.
Look for academic or NCI affiliations, since partnerships with recognized cancer centers signal real research infrastructure.
Ask for annual reports or impact updates that describe funded projects, not just fundraising totals.
Check charity evaluators and state charity registrations before you commit a recurring gift.
Ask specific questions about project scope, timelines, and which lab or study your gift supports.
Keep your documentation: the IRS requires written acknowledgment for any single donation of $250 or more, and separate rules apply to noncash gifts like stock or property.

A quick read through how to evaluate a charity before you give can walk you through red flags worth watching for.

How to get involved without writing a check

Money isn’t the only currency research runs on. Time, data, and lived experience matter just as much, and some of the most meaningful contributions cost nothing at all.

Clinical trials test specific treatments and usually involve scheduled visits and monitoring.
Prevention and screening studies often ask for periodic surveys and sometimes a blood or saliva sample.
Cohort studies like Connect ask participants to complete surveys and donate biological samples every two to three years, a long-term commitment that depends on steady participant retention.
ClinicalTrials.gov lets you search active studies by condition, location, and phase, and every listing includes contact information for enrollment questions.
Patient advocate and advisory roles let you shape research design directly. Structured programs that train patient partners have helped them contribute meaningfully to study design and even grant review, and diverse participation across all of these paths strengthens how well research findings apply to real populations.

How HCRF funds unconventional cancer research

We fund innovative cancer research that often falls outside what traditional grant structures are willing to risk. We believe the boldest ideas in cancer research need champions willing to fund them before they’re proven, not after.

Funding path for unconventional cancer research

You can engage with us in several practical ways: give online, join one of our donor events, explore workplace giving through your employer’s matching program, or direct a gift through a donor-advised fund. Every path channels support toward research that a conventional grant committee might pass over.

Why varied support accelerates the fight against cancer

Why varied support accelerates the fight against cancer — overview diagram

We’ve watched a single monthly donor and a single dedicated volunteer each move a project forward in ways that look nothing alike on paper, yet both matter the same amount in the lab. Research doesn’t advance on one kind of fuel. It needs cash for equipment, hands for events, and participants willing to answer a survey year after year.

Pro Tip: If you can only do one thing, pair a recurring gift with a few hours of volunteer time. Together they outlast any single check.

— HCRF

Join an HCRF event or give today

We’d love for you to be part of what comes next. Every dollar and every hour you give to the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation moves unconventional research a little closer to the discoveries that traditional funding leaves behind.

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Register for Cocktails for a Cure, our fundraising kickoff event. Current prices are available on the event page.
Join us at the 13th Annual Wings To Cure Gala, our flagship fundraising evening.
Give directly or ask about workplace matching through our homepage.

Organizations like the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science show how research advocacy groups and clinical teams build the partnerships that make progress like ours possible.

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified doctor. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.

FAQ

What can I do to help someone with cancer right now?

Practical help matters most: offer rides to appointments, bring meals, or simply listen without trying to fix anything. The National Cancer Institute also notes that many people channel that same instinct into supporting research through donations or volunteering, which helps patients beyond the one you know.

What kind of support do cancer patients typically need?

Patients often need both practical help, like transportation, meal support, and help navigating appointments, and emotional support from people willing to show up consistently. Needs shift throughout treatment, so checking in regularly matters more than any single grand gesture.

How do I encourage someone who has cancer?

Simple, consistent presence tends to help more than advice: show up, listen, and follow their lead on what they want to talk about. Offering specific help, like “I’ll drive you Thursday” rather than “let me know if you need anything,” removes a layer of burden from someone already carrying a lot.

How can I find a cancer research study to join?

ClinicalTrials.gov lets you search active studies by condition, location, and phase, and each listing includes contact details for enrollment. Cohort studies such as Connect for Cancer Prevention Study also accept long-term participants who complete surveys and periodically donate biological samples.

Is my donation to a cancer research charity tax-deductible?

Donations to a qualified 501©(3) organization are generally tax-deductible, and the IRS requires written acknowledgment for any gift of $250 or more. Keep your receipts and any charity correspondence, since documentation requirements differ for cash gifts versus noncash property like stock.

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