Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the completion of one of the largest fundraising campaigns focused entirely on cancer, raising a record $2.5 billion. The Dana-Farber Campaign, a seven-year initiative, has accelerated the Institute's strategic priorities supporting revolutionary science and extraordinary care. It has funded clinical trials, addressed increased patient volume and cancer diagnoses, and is supporting prevention, early detection, and interception among other groundbreaking initiatives to further its mission.
Dr. Laurie Glimcher, who stepped down from her position as President and CEO of Dana-Farber on Sept 30, 2024, led The Dana-Farber Campaign and identified key priorities for philanthropic investment early in her tenure.
Phlebotomist Novlett Snow and patient Nadja Flores
"It has been an honor to lead this historic campaign that has allowed Dana-Farber to make great strides in cancer research and patient care," said Laurie H. Glimcher, MD. "I am grateful to the many benefactors whose generosity and dedication have enabled remarkable progress in the ambitious effort to find cures for cancer."
"We are grateful for Dr. Glimcher's leadership in helping us accomplish an extraordinary achievement during her time as CEO at Dana-Farber," said Josh Bekenstein, chair of the Dana-Farber board of trustees. "The campaign supports Dana-Farber's world-class leadership at the forefront of cancer care and clinical breakthroughs."
With a broad base of support from all 50 states and 117 countries, The Dana-Farber Campaign inspired more than 2.2 million gifts from more than 900,000 donors including Jimmy Fund supporters and fundraisers (with 1.5 million gifts under $100) over the course of the seven-year campaign. The Pan-Mass Challenge was the largest single contributor to the campaign and contributed $425 million over the seven years of the campaign made up of over two million individual gifts.
Funds from the campaign have already helped Dana-Farber make progress on many initiatives including:
- Clinical Trials: Since the start of The Dana-Farber Campaign, the clinical trial program has increased by more than 22%. Today, Dana-Farber offers one of the largest cancer clinical trials programs in the nation with more than 1,100 active trials. While some trials are supported by federal funding, many are only possible because of our philanthropic supporters.
- Patient Navigation and Cancer Care Equity: Dana-Farber more than doubled the size of its Cancer Care Equity Program, allowing support for more patients from medically underserved communities. Dana-Farber also currently has more than 90 active clinical research studies and pilot programs which relate to the understanding and/or elimination of disparities in cancer.
- New Medical Facilities and Patient Volume: Dana-Farber opened three new, world-class patient care facilities in the past five years in Merrimack Valley, Chestnut Hill, and Foxborough — bringing the total number of Dana-Farber facilities to seven and allowing for care, closer to home for more patients and families. In the past year alone, Dana-Farber served over 96,000 patients — a 26% increase since 2019.
- Prevention, Early Detection, and Interception: In 2023, Dana-Farber launched a first-of-its-kind, integrated clinic to increase early detection of precancerous conditions and to prevent cancer from arising in individuals at increased risk for the disease. The Centers for Early Detection and Interception at Dana-Farber brings together clinicians and researchers across many cancer types with a shared focus on precursor and hereditary conditions that can be early indicators of blood cancers and solid tumors. The Centers for Early Detection are developing novel technologies and methods for earlier cancer detection, as well as innovative ways to intervene before a cancer fully develops.
For a complete look at how funds raised are making an impact, please visit DefyCancer.org.
"I am thankful to Dr. Glimcher for her extraordinary leadership, and I look forward to continuing momentum in this next chapter for Dana-Farber," said Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD, newly appointed President and CEO of Dana-Farber. "The vast community of support during this campaign helped exceed our lofty goals, enabling breakthroughs in the laboratory and the development of life-saving therapies for cancer patients. While the incidence of cancer is rising in the U.S., I am hopeful for the future and inspired by the new treatments that are transforming cancer care."
The Dana-Farber Campaign started in October 2017 and was announced to the public in May 2021. Throughout The Dana-Farber Campaign, Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund community has expanded throughout the country and around the world.
"It has been an incredible honor to work alongside Dr. Glimcher and Dana-Farber innovators, leaders, and supporters," said Michael Eisenson, chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, Institute trustee, and Founding Partner of Charlesbank Capital Partners. "Funds raised during the campaign have already helped Dana-Farber make progress for our patients and families."
Eisenson worked closely with Vice Chair of The Dana-Farber Campaign, Monica Chandra, an Institute trustee and President of 3EDGE Asset Management. Their incredible stewardship of the campaign is featured in the current issue of Dana-Farber's IMPACT Magazine.
Their visionary leadership together with that of The Dana-Farber Campaign Cabinet inspired philanthropic support for priorities critical to all types of cancer. A celebration of the campaign's donor community and collective impact on the future of cancer care will take place next spring.