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National Cancer Institute
Financial Management Branch

Deductibility for Income tax Purposes of Gifts to the National Cancer Institute

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a Federal Agency of the United States Government and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).  Contributions to the NCI are tax-deductible pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 170.

Gift Fund

Although the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a Federally funded organization and not a fund-raising organization, it has been authorized by the U.S. Congress to accept donations and bequests to support the mission of the Institute.

Donations to the NCI are handled in our “Gift Fund” account which is separate from the appropriation that we receive from Congress. Since our basic operating expenses and administrative costs are paid from our appropriation, all donations to the NCI are used for special projects in support of cancer research.

The projects supported through the Gift Fund may vary from year to year depending on the needs of the Institute. The following is a partial list of areas that have been supported through the Gift Fund: 

    Special fellowships to train young scientists in cancer research. 

    Equipment for clinical laboratories. 

    The NIH Clinical Center's "Patient Emergency Fund" which is used to assist patients in financial need. (Donations can also be made directly to the NIH Clinical Center for this purpose.) 

    Workshops/Conferences on subjects of special importance to cancer research. 

    Printing of pamphlets about cancer for the general public. 

In response to inquiries regarding how to make a donation to the gift fund, a contribution can be made to the NCI by sending a check or money order payable to “The National Cancer Institute” addressed to: 

The Director 
The National Cancer Institute 
Building 31 Room 11A-16 
9000 Rockville Pike 
Bethesda, MD 20892

A letter should be sent along with the check indicating that the donation is to be used for research at the NCI. If a contribution is to be made as a memorial, please indicate the name of the deceased as well as a name and address of the individual to whom an acknowledgment can be sent. All donors are acknowledged as well.

If you are considering a bequest in a will, the will should show the address of the National Cancer Institute to avoid confusion about your intentions. Again, the will should indicate that the bequest is to be used to support the research of the NCI.

Information on, and requests for, cancer information available to the public can be obtained by calling the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to write or call the NCI Financial Management Branch at (301) 496-5803. You may also send any questions via e-mail by clicking here.