Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) is a national nonprofit committed to finding safer, more effective therapies for kids battling cancer. Thanks to donors and partners around the country, we have contributed over $235 million to research, education and awareness, and quality-of-life programs for childhood cancer families. We believe kids deserve safer, less toxic treatments, and we’re committed to funding groundbreaking research and services that enhance healing and care.
In 2026, Children’s Cancer Research Fund will focus our research funding efforts on three main areas:
- Hard-to-Treat Cancers
- Survivorship
- Health Disparities
All applications for CCRF awards must be submitted through ProposalCentral.Interested applicants should create a profile and once logged in, visit the “Grant Opportunities” tab in Proposal Central and select the corresponding CCRF grant application to apply.
Please note that CCRF will only accept one LOI per Principal Investigator each year. View our grant policies here: CCRF Grant Policies
|
Grant Type |
Open |
LOI Due |
Application Due |
Notification |
|
Hard-to-Treat |
February 2026 |
3/2/2026 – 8pm EST |
6/8/2026 – 8pm EST |
December 2026 |
|
Survivorship |
March 2026 |
4/24/2026 – 8pm EST |
8/10/2026 – 8pm EST |
January 2027 |
|
Health Disparities |
March 2026 |
4/24/2026 – 8pm EST |
8/10/2026 – 8pm EST |
January 2027 |
|
Clinical Trials for Hard-to-Treat Cancers |
July 2026 |
8/7/2026 – 8pm EST |
11/16/2026 – 8pm EST |
May 2027 |
Accelerating Impact for Hard-to-Treat Cancers Award
This funding opportunity supports pre-clinical research aimed at prevention, early detection, treatment, and improving outcomes for pediatric cancers that remain hard-to-treat. We fund basic and translational studies, including pilot and feasibility studies, secondary analysis of existing data, small, self-contained research projects, and development of new methods or technologies. Learn more about eligibility criteria and how hard-to-treat cancers are defined below.
Healthy After Cancer: Childhood Cancer Survivorship Award
This funding opportunity supports research to improve the quality and length of life for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors by preventing and addressing the late effects of cancer therapy. It prioritizes interventions and translational projects focused on survivorship, rather than developing new cancer treatments. Learn more about eligibility criteria and other key details below.
Eliminating Disparities in Childhood Cancers Award
This funding opportunity supports research aimed at reducing health disparities in childhood cancer across incidence, access to care, treatment outcomes, and survivorship. Proposals that identify modifiable risk factors, elaborate mechanisms of disparities or inequities, or which plausibly propose to reduce them, will have greater priority for funding than proposals that simply describe them. Learn more about eligibility criteria and other key details below.
Accelerating Hope: Clinical Trials for Hard-to-Treat Cancers Award
This funding opportunity is limited to support for clinical trials focused on hard-to-treat cancers, prioritizing Phase 0 – Phase 2 studies. Learn more about eligibility criteria and other key details below.