Shane Jacobson

Shane Jacobson is the CEO of both the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Jacobson is a dynamic, visionary leader who has dedicated his career to fueling nonprofit impact and driving growth. As CEO and alongside the ACS Board of Directors, he is charged with guiding both organizations – and their more than 3,000 team members and 1.3 million volunteers – toward a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

With more than two decades of nonprofit experience, including 15 years in nonprofit executive management, Jacobson has a history of leading organizations to achieve record-setting results and mission-driven outcomes. He comes to ACS most recently from the V Foundation for Cancer Research, where he has served as CEO since 2021 and led a team focused on accelerating game-changing research and funding top scientists.

During Jacobson's tenure at the V Foundation, revenue grew by 190 percent and grant-making by 275 percent. With a passion for connecting mission to high-impact opportunities, he elevated distinctive investments and fundraising in cancer research, including health disparity research and reinvestment strategies in the most promising ideas. To accelerate strategic objectives, Jacobson facilitated the V Foundation's most significant partnerships and charitable gifts in the organization's history, such as those with the Miami Dolphins, the University of Miami’s Sylvester Cancer Center, and the National Hockey League.

Jacobson previously served as president and CEO of the University of Vermont Foundation, where he led transformative fundraising campaigns, particularly in support of academic medicine and patient care.

Jacobson has worked with volunteer and staff leaders throughout his career to build audacious strategic plans, leading organizations to achieve groundbreaking results while enhancing culture, brand stature, and impact. At the V Foundation, he gained deep expertise in the power of early-stage cancer research to impact cancer and save lives. He also has experience harnessing the impact of advocacy to fuel change.

A native of Iowa, Jacobson received his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy and his B.A. in Communications Studies from Iowa State University. He also participated in the Management Development Program at Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Cancer CEO Roundtable, the Association of Governing Boards' Council of Presidents, AGB Foundations Advisory Council, and the UVM President's Commission on Inclusive Excellence. He is also a member of the North Carolina Executive “Group of 50” and the CEO Advisory Board of the US Veterans Golf Association.

Jacobson lives in Cary, NC, with his family.