Where Your Money Goes

When you give to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund you invest in a world without cancer. Your support is essential to the cancer research and patient care initiatives at the heart of our lifesaving mission. Your money:

• Advances our signature "total patient care"
  Our patients tell us that Dana-Farber provides them with a level of service and compassionate support unmatched by other cancer centers. Your gifts make possible the special programs that serve the emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of our patients and their families throughout their care, and help them cope with the demands and effects of cancer treatment.


• Fuels basic research
  Critical to Dana-Farber’s long-term goal of finding cures for cancer, early-stage research is not eligible for federal funding. Yet many of the scientific discoveries that lead to major breakthroughs begin as promising theories. Philanthropic giving fuels the creative, innovative science that leads to tomorrow’s cures.


• Increases the number of genetically-based clinical trials
  This groundbreaking approach groups patients by the specific genetic mutation that drives their tumor growth, rather than by the location of the tumor in their bodies. These types of clinical trials aim to discover safer, less toxic, and more effective therapeutic treatments. Your support advances this type of personalized medicine by helping researchers discover specific targets and choose particular drugs based on the likelihood of a positive response.


• Ensures care continues after treatment ends
  In 1971, there were three million cancer survivors in the U.S. Today, there are more than 15.5 million. Your gifts support our efforts to ensure that this growing group has the chance to lead fulfilling, productive lives through robust survivorship programs as well as programs that focus on the long-term physical, emotional, and social effects of cancer treatment.


• Maintains a world-class faculty
  Your generosity allows us to attract and retain the highest caliber faculty, and recruit innovative scientists and clinicians from around the globe to join our seasoned experts in redefining cancer care and research. Our fellowship programs are among the most sought-after and selective in the nation, training the next generation of leaders who will advance the fight against cancer around the world.


• Sustains state-of-the-art facilities
  The expansion and revitalization of our Yawkey Center for Cancer Care, the Longwood Center, the Charles A. Dana Building with the expanded Jimmy Fund Clinic, and the Molecular Cancer Imaging Facility, are examples of how your support strengthens the Institute's ability to provide that vital collaboration between lab bench and patient bedside—often shortening the length of time for research breakthroughs to be translated into new cancer therapies for patients.


• Improves the health of our communities
  Your generosity helps us bring education, screening, and treatment to Boston’s neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Working closely with our clinical partners, our signature care extends beyond Boston with community-based locations in Brighton, Mass.; Methuen, Mass.; Milford, Mass.; Weymouth, Mass.; and Londonderry, NH. Initiatives like our Blum Family Resource Center Van, our Mammography Van, and our new cancer treatment clinic at the Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury increase cancer awareness and prevention, while improving access to Dana-Farber’s expert care for the medically underserved population.

Why give to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund?

Eighty-seven cents of every dollar you give goes directly to cancer research and patient care.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been the top-ranked cancer hospital in New England by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, and is the only cancer center in the country ranked in the top 5 for both adult and pediatric cancer programs.

Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund has received a 4-star rating (highest possible) from Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator, recognizing our prudent financial management and low cost of funds raised.