Co-Funding Research & Trials
A Partnership Built for Progress.
PARTNER WITH A ORG THAT’S 100% FOCUSED ON SCIENCE.
It’s all we do. But we’re not in this fight alone. Warriors need foundations dedicated to financial aid, wish-granting, peer support, scholarships, and spreading joy.
If you’re a foundation whose mission spans multiple battlefronts, a co-funding partnership with Little Warrior can free you to focus on what you do best, while ensuring your research dollars have impact.
Make an Impact Wisconsin focuses on what they do best: raising beaucoup bucks, driving major awareness, and throwing epic parties. Then, they leave the science to LWF.
Why Co-Fund With Little Warrior:
A shared mission: getting better treatments to children who can’t wait
Experienced scientific oversight focused on translational outcomes
Active project management, not passive grantmaking
Milestone-based funding designed to reduce risk and maximize impact
Transparent communication and reporting throughout the life of the project
We treat your investment with the same urgency and accountability as if it were our own.
Past Co-Funding Partners
OUR APPROACH
LWF President, Piero Spada at CTOS with Dr. Erin Murphy of the Cleveland Clinic and Sally Hudson from The Power of Will Foundation.
We don’t wait for good science to find us.
We hunt it down.
While our door is always open for researchers with big ideas, we are actively scouting high-potential science, often found in adult cancers or other pediatric indications.
You’ll find our research lead at CTOS, ASCO, and European webinars at 2 am.
Many of our current programs are happening because we connected the dots and the docs.
A member of our internal Science Advisory Board, Hillary Lang, with her son, Ian. Hillary continues Ian’s fight with a fierce urgency for moving researchers forward.
Is it “Little Warrior grade”?
Before any proposal hits the desks of our medical experts, it goes through our Scientific Advisory Board — a crew of trenches-trained momcologists and data-wielding dadvocates who operate with an urgency second to none.
They were there for the “standard of care”, the side effects, the scans, the setbacks, and the impossible choices.
Their job? To make sure every project passes the most important test: Would I want this for my kid?
One of the Medical Advisory Board Members, Dr. Pete Anderson at the Little Warrior Foundation gala with his collegagues Dr. Rabi Hanna, Chair of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology and BMT at Cleveland Clinic Children's and Dr. Timothy Chan, Head of Immuno-Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic.
Ewing’s Worst Enemy:
Our Scientific Advisory Board
Our Medical Advisory Board is a powerhouse lineup of world-class oncologists, researchers, and clinical trialists from top institutions around the globe.
They bring the credentials, the rigor, and the receipts — vetting proposals for scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and real-world impact.
If it doesn’t hold up in the lab or the clinic, it doesn’t get our backing.
Behind every funding agreement is a scientist, a lawyer, and a CEO. We see research through — every milestone, every hurdle. Don’t make us send Gus (or his dad).
Oversight and Acceleration
When we’re in, we’re all in.
We maintain regular contact with investigators, track milestones, and help navigate red tape when needed. That means seeing ideas through INDs, FDA submissions, manufacturing hurdles, and into patients’ ports.
And if a setback turns into a dead end? Our agreements allow us to recoup and redeploy those dollars toward research that can move forward.
Because a promising discovery means nothing if it never reaches the kids who need it most.
Co-Funding FAQs
What is co-funding?
1
Co-funding is a collaborative approach to research support in which Little Warrior Foundation partners with another organization to jointly fund a specific research project or defined portion of a project.
How much do we need to contribute?
2
There is no fixed minimum. Co-funding contributions are flexible and tailored to each partnership based on your goals, budget, and the scope of the research. Organizations have given $5,000 - $100,000+.
Can we pick what we fund?
3
Yes. Every partnership begins with alignment on your priorities. We then share high-potential projects that match those criteria. Then, you get to pick which one to contribute to.
Partners receive regular updates tied to scientific and operational milestones, along with clear financial transparency. Reporting cadence and format can be tailored to partner needs. These updates are typically subject to non-disclosure agreements.
What kind of reporting will we receive?
4
How can we announce this to our donors?
5
Little Warrior Foundation can provide guidance on sharing an announcement publicly. We can serve as the liaison between your org and the researchers institution, make sure we’re aligned on what is being shared broadly.
How does LWF announce the partnership?
6
Nearly all of our grants get a dedicated blog post and social media posts. When co-funded, we’re sure to give credit to the funding organization and tag them accordingly!
What happens if a project encounters a setback or cannot move forward?
7
If a project reaches a true dead end, our agreements allow remaining funds to be recouped and redeployed toward research with stronger forward momentum. This approach protects partner investments while ensuring resources continue advancing toward patients.
Do we have to be a 501c3 organization to be a co-funding partner with LWF?
8
No. We work with several groups that want to fundraise without becoming a full-blown 501c3. (It’s a lot, we get it.) We’re happy to have a conversation at any stage of your fundraising efforts to see how we can help make your efforts a success and your donations put to work!
