The short answer
St. Baldrick's Foundation describes itself as funding childhood cancer research exclusively. It supports clinical trials for rare childhood cancer types and supportive care research, and trains new pediatric oncology researchers. A separate organization, the American Childhood Cancer Organization, focuses on family-facing information and support. Neither organization treats children directly.
St. Baldrick's Foundation dedicates all its grants exclusively to childhood cancer research, unlike organizations that split funding across adult and pediatric cancers.
NCI says childhood cancer is rare but remains the leading cause of death from disease among US children.
St. Baldrick's funds clinical trials for rare childhood cancer types and supportive care research addressing treatment side effects and survivors' quality of life.
NCI reports that many childhood cancer survivors have serious late effects from treatment, which is why supportive care and survivorship research matter.
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This page is for families who want to understand what childhood cancer nonprofits do. It focuses on St. Baldrick's Foundation, a research funder, and how it differs from family-support groups.
A field with its own dedicated funders
Childhood cancer research does not always get the same funding attention as more common adult cancers. That gap is part of why organizations like St. Baldrick's Foundation exist. St. Baldrick's describes itself as a nonprofit that dedicates its grants exclusively to childhood cancer research. That description comes from the organization, not from a government source.
The National Cancer Institute says childhood cancer is rare. About 9,550 new cases are expected in 2025 among US children ages 0 to 14. Even so, NCI says cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children.
What St. Baldrick's funds
St. Baldrick's describes its grants as going toward several goals.
- Clinical trials for rare childhood cancer types.
- Supportive care research. This addresses treatment side effects and survivors' long-term quality of life.
- Training new pediatric oncology researchers.
Named initiatives include an SU2C Dream Team, Hero Funds set up in honor or memory of specific children, and the Backpack Challenge, a fundraising and awareness program.
Why supportive care research matters here
Treatment can leave lasting effects. NCI notes that among people treated for childhood cancer from 1970 to 1986, more than half had a severe or disabling complication, or died, by age 50. Children who had radiation to the chest, abdomen or pelvis face higher risks of second cancers, hearing loss and heart problems. Treatments have changed since then. Still, this is why research into reducing late effects matters.
Where family support fits in
St. Baldrick's is primarily a research funder. It is known publicly for its head-shaving fundraising events, volunteer participation, and memorial giving. It is not built around day-to-day family support the way a family-facing nonprofit is.
A separate organization, the American Childhood Cancer Organization, focuses more directly on information and support for families navigating a diagnosis. Your family may need guidance on school reentry, talking to siblings, or navigating hospital days. That kind of family-support material is a different focus than St. Baldrick's research mission, even though both organizations work in the same overall space.
What these organizations cannot do
Neither organization treats children. There is no clinical staff managing your child's chemotherapy or surgery. That work happens at your child's hospital, with your child's own pediatric oncology team.
St. Baldrick's does not fund adult cancer research. If there is an adult in the family also facing cancer, this is not the organization for that need.
A research grant existing for a rare childhood cancer type does not mean every child with that diagnosis will have access to a related clinical trial. Trial eligibility depends on the specific protocol and your child's individual case.
Using head-shaving and fundraising events as a family
Some families choose to take part in a St. Baldrick's head-shaving event themselves. They may want to fundraise, or process a diagnosis together. This is optional and not required to access any information the organization publishes. It is one of the more visible ways families connect with the organization beyond reading its research updates.
Talking to your child's team about research options
You may want to know whether St. Baldrick's-funded research connects to anything relevant for your child. The most direct route is asking your child's oncology team. Ask whether they are aware of related trials or supportive care programs. Hospital-based specialists often track funded research in their subfield more closely than a family searching independently could.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute: Childhood Cancers and Key Facts About Childhood and Adolescent Cancer (cancer.gov)
- St. Baldrick's Foundation, About Us (stbaldricks.org). This is the organization's own description of itself.
Staying current
Grant programs, named funds, and family-support offerings change over time. Check the current details on stbaldricks.org and on the American Childhood Cancer Organization's own site. Talk to your child's care team about which resources make sense for your family's specific situation.
Common questions
Does St. Baldrick's fund adult cancer research too?
No. St. Baldrick's states its grants are dedicated exclusively to childhood cancer research.
What is the head-shaving connection to St. Baldrick's?
St. Baldrick's is known for head-shaving fundraising events, where volunteers shave their heads to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research.
What is a Hero Fund?
St. Baldrick's describes Hero Funds as a named giving program, often set up in honor or memory of a specific child affected by cancer.
Does St. Baldrick's provide direct financial help to families?
The material reviewed describes St. Baldrick's as a research funder. Ask directly whether any family-facing financial assistance program is currently available.
What does the American Childhood Cancer Organization do?
It is a separate nonprofit focused on childhood cancer information and family support, distinct from St. Baldrick's research-funding focus.
Why does St. Baldrick's fund supportive care research?
Treatment can cause late effects. NCI notes that in a group treated from 1970 to 1986, more than half had a severe or disabling complication, or died, by age 50. Treatments have changed since then, but supportive care and survivorship research aim to reduce that long-term burden.
Is childhood cancer the same disease as adult cancer, just in a smaller body?
No. NCI says cancer and its treatments affect growing bodies differently than adult bodies, and children may respond differently to drugs. That is part of why pediatric research matters.
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
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