Cancer Research Society is a 3-star charity. It has an A- results reporting grade, which is above average. Its funding reserves are outside Ci’s reasonable range and can cover over four years of annual grants. For every dollar donated to Cancer Research Society, 53 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

Cancer Research Society (CRS) is a Canadian charity dedicated exclusively to funding cancer research. Founded in 1945, CRS supports research aimed at improving the prevention, detection, and treatment of all types of cancer. CRS reports that cancer remains the leading cause of death in Canada, with two in five Canadians expected to develop cancer and one in four expected to die from the disease. CRS splits its grants into two streams: Annual Programs and Targeted Programs. In F2025, Cancer Research Society awarded $16.2m in grants, and spent $808k to manage these grants. The charity funded a record 316 research projects.

Annual Programs support researchers through Operating Grants, Next Generation of Scientists Awards, and Doctoral Research Awards. In F2025, CRS awarded 100 new Operating Grants, 8 new Next Generation of Scientists Awards, and 40 new Doctoral Research Awards. Operating Grants provide $130k over two years, Next Generation of Scientists Awards provide $180k over three years, and Doctoral Research Awards provide $70k over two years.

Targeted Programs support research in specific cancer types or emerging scientific areas through partnerships and major donations. In F2025, CRS supported projects focused on blood cancers (25), lung cancers (6), ovarian cancers (3), brain cancers (2), cancer prevention (2), and drug repurposing (2). Cancer Research Society also supported 5 clinical trials, 4 international partnership projects, and 3 research training awards.

Cancer Research Society’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing which is a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

CRS had total revenues of $40.4m in F2025. It received $34.2m in Canadian donations and special events revenue, equal to 84% of revenue. Investment income was $6.2m in F2025, or 15% of revenue.

The charity spent $17.0m on its grants and grant management, which is 42% of its revenue. CRS recorded a surplus of $7.4m in F2025, equal to 18% of its revenue. Over the past five years, CRS averaged a surplus of $6.4m.

Administrative costs were $1.8m, representing 5% of revenue (excluding investment income). CRS spent $14.4m on fundraising, equal to 42% of donations. Total overhead spending was 47%. For every dollar donated to Cancer Research Society, 53 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range, which has been the case for the past 10 years.

CRS uses external fundraisers, as reported on its T3010 filing with the CRA. In F2025, the charity paid the fundraisers $9k to collect $86k. This equates to a cost of ten cents to raise one dollar using external fundraisers.

The charity held $75.0m in reserve funds (cash and investments) in F2025. These reserves can cover four years and five months of annual program costs and grants. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

Cancer Research Society’s audited statements report commitments. Over the next five years, the charity has committed $40.4m. Of this amount, $20.2m are for F2026, $14.0m are for F2027, $3.1m are for F2028, $2.1m are for F2029, and $1.0m are for F2030 and thereafter.

This is a charity update that has been sent to Cancer Research Society by Neela Jalilian on June 15, 2026.