Grant Policy & Funding Guidelines
VISION STATEMENT:
The Illinois CancerCare Foundation was created in 2002 by the physicians of Illinois CancerCare, P.C. and is dedicated completely to supporting local cancer patients through the funding and promotion of cancer research, education/awareness and patient support. The Foundation’s efforts are guided by a Board of Directors acting in accordance to the organization’s articles of incorporation and bylaws.
The Foundation’s mission is to fund Research, Education and Awareness of a disease which affects 1 in 3 people. As we fight to find a cure through nationally recognized research initiatives, it is our strong belief that our patients must have available to them every possible weapon in their battle. To make a difference, the Illinois CancerCare Foundation seeks support from the community by communicating these needs.
The Foundation has identified three primary priorities and areas of interest for which it will emphasize funding support:
1. Scientific Clinical Cancer Research – the Foundation aims to sponsor clinical research to help prevent, screen for and diagnosis cancer
2. Early Cancer Detection & Prevention Education and Clinical Trial Awareness
3. Patient Support and Assistance* [*refers only to general cancer care-related support and assistance in the form of token items for education, comfort, and personal care that are made generally available to patients, not to select individual patients; the Foundation is not set up to fund individual patient support or financial assistance of any kind at this time]
GRANT-MAKING CRITERIA:
Proposed projects must further the research and public service objectives of Foundation in a manner consistent with its status as a not-for-profit corporation. The Foundation will consider supporting Grant Requests for projects and initiatives that meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Are directly related to the Foundation’s priorities and areas of interest stated above
2. Include a strategy for leveraging other resources and support
3. Produce cost-effective results that can be measured and evaluated
ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS:
Current grant categories include, but are not limited to:
- Scientific Clinical Cancer Research Grants
- Trust In Hope Fund Grants – comfort & support items & meals during Holidays
- Patient Support & Volunteer Fund Grants – comfort & support items during treatment/visits
- Education/Awareness Grants – community outreach & patient education
Eligibility for Scientific Clinical Cancer Research Grants includes, but is not limited to:
1. Research Studies eligible for Scientific Clinical Cancer Research Grants must:
a. Be "directed toward benefiting the public" by meeting one or more of these criteria:
i. Scientific research carried on for the purpose of obtaining scientific information which is published in a treatise, thesis, trade publication, or in any other form that is available to the interested public;
ii. Scientific research carried on for the purpose of discovering a cure for a disease;
b. Ensure foundation funds are spent solely for the charitable purposes outlined by the foundation and described in the Research Agreement
2. Recipients of Scientific Clinical Cancer Research Grants must be a qualified research institution (such as a designated Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) - CCOPs are so designated by the National Cancer Institute and have been determined able to implement existing NCI-sponsored cancer treatment and prevention and control clinical trials and can demonstrate an established record of accrual to such trials). ILCCF will primarily consider requests for research grants from the following:
a. locally and regionally based Scientific Clinical Cancer Research Programs such as, but not limited to:
i. Illinois CancerCare, P.C. – Serving community clinics throughout central Illinois, Illinois CancerCare is one of the largest and most successful community based clinical cancer research programs in the nation. ILCC is a member of the IORA CCOP.
ii. The IORA CCOP program consists of a group of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, urologists, pathologists, and surgeons who conduct cancer research in their practices and at their affiliated institutions. IORA CCOP provides a mechanism through which these institutions can participate in research with many large national cancer research bases, including the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), and the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG).
GRANT LIMITATIONS:
The Illinois CancerCare Foundation will NOT consider the following for funding:
- Programs not directly related to the Foundation’s stated priorities and areas of interest
- Research “ordinarily carried on as an incident to commercial operations of an individual pharmaceutical or device company”
- Organizations or projects outside our general service area
- Organizations that discriminate by race, religion, color, creed, sex, age or national origin
- Equipment necessary to regular medical practice [research specific items otherwise unnecessary to regular medical practice may be considered for funding provided a prospective grant review process is followed]
- Non ILCC Foundation related Events or Advertising Programs for benefit purposes
- Religious, political, fraternal, or sectarian organizations
- Endowment funds, annual fund drives
GRANT APPLICATION & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
Grant proposals that make it through the initial screening and review process will then be developed by foundation staff and Scientific Review Committee for a funding recommendation to the decision-making body. Specific attachments and supporting documentation are required as part of the grant application. See the GRANT REQUEST GUIDELINES for Research Grant Requests and Non-research Related Grant Requests for specific procedures related to each.
GRANT REVIEW:
The Foundation staff will work with eligible institutions to ensure all requests include supporting documentation for grant criteria and eligibility.
a) Scientific Grant Requests meeting grant-making criteria, eligibility, and supporting documentation guidelines will be presented to the Scientific Grant Review Committee composed of physician board members. The committee will review all scientific grants to determine eligibility & offer recommendations before scientific research grants are submitted to the Board of Directors for review and vote.
b) Non-Scientific Grant Requests meeting grant-making criteria, eligibility, and supporting documentation guidelines will be submitted to the Foundation Board of Directors for review without prior review from the Scientific Review Committee.
All Grant Requests must be approved by Board consent. ILCC physician board members will abstain from voting on all ILCC grants. Board Member approval requires affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the voting members and may be by vote at a meeting (either regular or special), or by consent, in writing, without a meeting.
Funding requests that do not meet criteria or eligibility will not be submitted for Foundation Board review, but will be noted at Board Meetings. The Foundation Board members may request review of any non-submitted funding requests. Board members may request special consideration of grant requests that do not meet criteria guidelines. Special Consideration Grant Requests must be approved by Board consent. Board Member approval requires a unanimous affirmative vote of the voting members and may be by vote at a meeting (either regular or special), or by consent, in writing, without a meeting.
TIMELINES:
The Foundation Board of Directors meets bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, September, and November to review grant applications. Completed Grant Requests will be due from applicants by the 15th of each month preceding the bi-monthly meetings. Grant Requests will be included in the bi-monthly Board meeting materials packets distributed prior to each board meeting. In the case of urgent requests, Grant Requests (along with voting instructions) may be mailed/emailed outside of those timelines for Board review and consent.
GUIDELINES:
The Illinois CancerCare Foundation will utilize available funds to award grants that support programs dedicated to improving the quality of life of cancer patients in Illinois. The Foundation has established certain criteria to help decide where funds may be most effectively utilized. The following guidelines are provided to assist the Foundation staff and Board of Directors in the review of Grant Requests. These guidelines are codified by the Foundation Board of Directors and may be amended from time to time.
