Cancer Research Society is a 3-star charity. It has an A- Results Reporting grade, which is above average. It holds reserves that can cover over 4 years of annual grant costs. For every dollar donated to the charity, 48 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside of Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1945, Cancer Research Society (CRS) funds cancer research. It is one of the only Canadian charities entirely dedicated to funding research on all types of cancer. The charity reports that cancer is responsible for nearly a third of deaths in Canada and that 50% of Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. CRS splits its grants into two streams: Annual Programs and Targeted Programs. In F2024, CRS awarded $14.7m in grants and spent $671k to manage these grants. In F2024, CRS funded 260 research projects.

CRS’s Annual Programs focus on preventing, detecting, and treating all types of cancer through Operating Grants, Next Generation of Scientists Awards, and Doctoral Research Awards. In F2024, CRS provided 211 grants, including 177 Operating Grants (including four scholarships for undergrad students), 13 Next Generation of Scientists Awards, and 21 Doctoral Research Awards. In F2024, CRS supported 100 researchers, 8 early-career researchers, and 40 doctoral students. Operating Grants provide $125k of funding over two years, Next Generation of Scientists Awards provide $175k of funding over three years, and Doctoral Research Awards provide $70k of funding over two years. In F2024, CRS increased the size of its Operating Grants and Next Generation of Scientists Awards by $5k.  

Through partnerships or major donations, Targeted Programs provide grants in specific research areas, which are typically rare types of cancer. In F2024, CRS funded 49 grants. Of the grants it funded, 25 were focused on blood cancers, 12 were focused on ovarian cancers, 6 were clinical trials, 2 were focused on drug repurposing, 2 were focused on metastatic breast cancer, and 2 were focused on brain cancer.  

Cancer Research Society’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice.

Cancer Research Society received $33.5m in donations and special events revenue in F2024. The charity spent $15.3m on its grants and programs, which is 37% of revenue. CRS recorded a surplus of $8.3m, which is 20% of revenue. Over the past five years, CRS averaged a surplus of $5.8m.

Cancer Research Society spent $15.8m on fundraising ($449k more than on its programs and grants), which is 47% of donations. The charity also spent $1.6m on administration, which is 5% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 52%. For every dollar donated, 48 cents are available to go to the cause, which is well outside of Ci’s reasonable range.

CRS has $69.0m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The charity’s reserves can cover annual program and grant costs for 4 years and 6 months, which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range.

CRS’s $69.0m in cash and investments returned $7.4m, at an 11% rate of return. Over the past five years, the charity’s reserves averaged a 5% return.

Cancer Research Society’s audited statements report commitments. Over the next five years, the charity has committed $34.2m. Of which, $16.5m are for F2025, $12.0m are for F2026, $3.2m are for F2027, $1.7m are for F2028, and $800k are for F2029.

CRS uses external fundraisers. In F2024, CRS reports it paid fundraisers $3k to collect $31k. It costs ten cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Cancer Research Society for review.

Updated on July 4, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.