Our Grant Process
As the nation's largest private, not-for-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS) focuses its funding on investigator-initiated, peer-reviewed proposals. This process ensures that scientists propose projects that they believe are ready to be tackled with the available knowledge and techniques. This intellectual freedom encourages discovery in areas that scientists believe are most likely to solve the problems of cancer.
Application Deadlines
Grant applications for most grant types are accepted 2 times per year – April 1 and October 15. Please review the individual grant types from links on this page or see the full listing of all grant deadlines.
Questions About Eligibility Status
Applicants who are uncertain about their eligibility status may request a review.
- Send requests for evaluation of eligibility and any questions to grant.eligibility@cancer.org.
- Requests for review about eligibility must be received no later than 6 weeks before to the application submission deadline. That's by September 1 for the October 15 deadline and by February 15 for the April 1 deadline.
- Please attach 1) a letter that includes rationale for requesting an exception to the American Cancer Society eligibility rules and 2) a full curriculum vitae (not a biosketch).
- If your request is approved, you will receive a formal letter confirming your eligibility to apply. When you send in your application, add your confirmation letter to the appendix.
New Initiatives and Requests for Applications
With a primary focus on beginning investigators, the American Cancer Society’s Extramural Grants Program seeks to support and promote high impact and innovative cancer research across a wide range of disciplines to meet critically important needs in the control of cancer.
Thank you for considering the American Cancer Society for your research funding opportunities. We are currently interested in receiving grant applications in the following areas:
Research Grants for Independent Investigators
The American Cancer Society supports investigator-initiated projects across the cancer research continuum.
Research Scholar Grants (RSGs) are awards are for up to 4 years and for up to $165,000 per year for direct costs, plus 20% allowable indirect costs. Independent investigators in the first 6 years of an independent research career or faculty appointment are eligible to apply. Eligibility is extended for 8 years for clinician scientists who remain active in clinical care.
Institutional Research Grants (IRGs) are block grants given to institutions as "seed money" for the initiation of projects by promising junior investigators. They average $120,000 a year for 3 years.
Mentored Research Grants
These training and career development awards support the training of cancer researchers at a variety of early career levels and disciplines.
Note regarding Mentored Research Scholar Grant: This grant mechanism is being phased out. We will only review applicants who are resubmitting proposals. If you're a new applicant, please see other grant opportunities on this page.
Health Professional Training Grants
Health Professional Training Grants (HPTGs) include both grants and scholarships awarded to nurses, physicians, and social workers.
- Master's Training Grants in Clinical Oncology Social Work
- Doctoral Training Grants in Oncology Social Work
- Graduate Scholarships in Cancer Nursing Practice
- Doctoral Degree Scholarships in Cancer Nursing
- Cancer Control Career Development Awards for Primary Care Physicians
- Physician Training Awards in Cancer Prevention
Professor Grants
The American Cancer Society offers a limited number of grants to mid-career investigators who have made seminal contributions that have changed the direction of basic, clinical, psychosocial, behavioral, health policy or epidemiologic cancer research.
International Fellowships
International Fellowships are funded by the American Cancer Society with the objective of fostering a bi-directional flow of knowledge, experience, expertise, and innovation between countries. The Audrey Meyer Mars International Fellowships in Clinical Oncology provide one year of advanced training in clinical oncology at participating US cancer centers to qualified physicians and dentists from other countries, particularly countries where advanced training is not readily available.
New: Mission Boost Grant
The Extramural Research Program of the American Cancer Society has historically focused its investments on grant mechanisms that help launch the careers of investigators in cancer research. These investments have funded some of the brightest minds in cancer research. They’ve also broadly expanded knowledge about cancer biology in cells, animals, and humans, and about cancer health services and disparities, in addition to providing training for many healthcare professionals.
To extend our previous focus, we are pleased to announce our new investment initiative: Mission Boost Grants. We designed these grants to support select current and past ACS grantees specifically for the translation of their research to human testing.