Funding Process

We are proud of the money raised to date (over $4.4 million) to fund cancer research at UF Health Cancer Institute, and Moffitt Cancer Center. We have tremendous successes from those funded projects, several with global implications for cures to cancer!

SO, how do we allocate the monies? This is our Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research Allocation process:

• Every two years we send out Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to our two research centers (UF and Moffitt) and receive back from them vetted research proposals that they recommend from their staff.
• We fund 2 years for initial research, only paying for items related to the research to gather the data necessary for the researchers to request larger amounts of money from large donors.
• Each time we send out the RFPs we receive 12 to 15 research proposals, and we can only fund six research projects at the current time. The RFP goes out in late September, and the internally vetted research proposals are due back to us by the end of February of the following year.
• Our Ocala Royal Dames Allocations Committee PLUS our Community Medical Advisory Committee of local Medical Professionals (All Volunteers) spend a staggering amount of time reviewing each proposal and ranking them according to their perceived potential in contributing to the knowledge base of finding a cure for cancer! We evaluate each proposal in three areas: 1) Doable, can be accomplished in 2 years, 2) Usefulness, how does the proposal build on existing knowledge, and 3) Translational, close to moving to human application. We go through a very strenuous and exacting review process!
• In 2022 we could only fund 5 proposals. In 2024 because of the legacy of the Cathy D. Perry Trust, we will be able to fund a 6th proposal!!! This year (2026) we will continue to fund six proposals for two years. In the future we hope to be able to fund 7 proposals or more!!!
• This is our passion and only mission to raise money for cancer research and education. We need to fund more wonderful proposals! We are grateful for your support!

The Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc. (ORD) have provided seed money for carefully screened and promising cancer research projects in the State of Florida for over 38 years, and to date, we have donated over $4,400,000.00.  ORD provides at least $150,000 in grants per year to cancer researchers at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center in Gainesville Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. The funding provided to these centers has a global influence and impact on the treatment of all cancers.

We also fund regional educational seminars and scholarships at The College of Central Florida. Beginning in 2002, the Ocala Royal Dames provided funds for community-based cancer education programs at the College of Central Florida and also started an endowment for scholarships and one for library resources.

How are we different from other nonprofit cancer organizations?

There are many national cancer nonprofit organizations pursuing this very worthy cause  to find a cure for cancer. We are distinctive from most cancer organizations because of the following:

• We award at least six $50,000 grants every two years to fund two-year cancer research studies
• 100% of sponsorship dollars go directly to the research project.
• 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.
• We only accept study proposals that have been pre-screened by the non-profit center where the researcher works. Screened further by local medical experts. Reviewed by the Allocations Committee. Approved by our Board of Trustees.
• We fund research with a global impact within the State of Florida: University of Florida Health Cancer Institute, and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• We are a self-Sustaining nonprofit organization of volunteers with  no paid solicitors or development officers.
• We fund regional community based educational seminars and scholarships at The College of Central Florida.
• Please consider partnering with the Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research. Through your generous donations. Together we can work towards curing cancer!  Please use the Donate button on the home page to make a donation. Every dollar helps us to fund more cutting edge research in our quest to find a cure for this debilitating disease, cancer!
• Please also consider leaving a legacy: Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc., Endowment Fund. Your remembrance of Ocala Royal Dames in your final Will and Testament will help provide funding for research projects as a great Legacy for future generations. Please use the Contact Us link and we will be thrilled to sit with you to discuss Legacy options.

The Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc.(ORD) began their fight against cancer over 38 years ago and, in that 38 years, have donated over $4,400,000.00 to cancer research. We provide at least $150,000 in grants per year, awarded to Cancer Researchers at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center.

The very first award in 1988 was to the University of Florida Pediatric/hematology/Oncology research project.

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 principal 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.