Funding Process

How Are ORD Funds Allocated?

The funds the Royal Dames earn go to cancer research and education in our north-central Florida area. Research is priority, and we fund cutting-edge studies at UF Cancer Center and at Moffitt Cancer Centers. We ask each of these outstanding academic institutions for research proposals, which are then reviewed by expert physicians, who look for scientific content, do-ability and adherence to our requirements. These physicians give us their recommendations. Once chosen, each research project’s director provides the Royal Dames with regular budget and progress reports.

Our Partners

The Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc. (ORD) have been providing seed money for carefully screened and promising cancer research projects in the State of Florida  for over 30 years, and to date, have donated over $4,000,000.00.  ORD provides at least $100,000 in grants per year to cancer researchers at the University of Florida Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. The funding to these centers has had global influence and impact.

Why the Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc?

Grants from The Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc. are from distinctive grants awarded by most organizations pursuing this very worthy cause in the following ways:

• Award at least four $50,000 grants every two years to fund two-year cancer research studies
• 100% of sponsorship dollars go directly to the researcher.
• WE only accept study proposals that have been pre-screened by the non-profit center where the requesting researcher works. Screened further by local medical experts. Reviewed by the Allocations committee. Approved by our Board of Directors.
• Grants pay only research study expenses. Researchers submit quarterly expenditure reports. Grants do not pay cancer center overhead costs or the salary of the lead researcher.
• Fund research with a global impact within the State of Florida: University of Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• Self-Sustaining organization: no paid solicitors or development officers, no paid office staff.
• Fund regional educational seminars and scholarships at The College of Central Florida.

What We Are Currently Funding

The Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc.(ORD) began its fight against cancer over 30 years ago and, in that 30 years, has donated over $4,500,000.00 to cancer research. We provide at least $100,000 in grants per year, awarded to Cancer Researchers at the University of Florida Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center.  Every two years we send our Request for Proposals to the University of Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center.  Each center screens the responses sent to the ORD Funding Allocations Committee usually totally 15 + proposals for each funding cycle.  The Funding Allocations Committee reviews the submissions with our Medical Advisory committee of local medical professionals and ranks the proposals for possible funding.  The Board of Trustees makes the final decision of those research projects that will be funded based on the Committee’s recommendations and the funds available for the two year funding cycle.

Each cancer research project receives $50,000 over a two year period.  No Ocala Royal Dames grant funds are used for overhead expenses or to pay the salary of the principle investigator.  Researchers and their institutions submit periodic progress reports and financial expenditure reports to the Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc. during the funding cycle.