2025 Lifetime Achievement Award: Margaret Foti

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

Margaret Foti

CEO
American Association for Cancer Research

Leadership in science is often measured in discoveries, publications and breakthroughs. But lasting impact is built over decades — through institutions strengthened, communities expanded and generations of researchers supported. Few leaders embody that kind of enduring influence more fully than Margaret Foti.

Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research, is the co-recipient of this year’s NonProfit PRO Lifetime Achievement Award. Over more than four decades in that role, she has helped transform the organization into the world’s first and largest cancer research association, shaping the global cancer research ecosystem in ways that continue to advance science and patient care.

Foti began her career at the American Association for Cancer Research in an editorial role with the organization’s flagship journal, Cancer Research. Over time, she advanced through a series of editorial and management positions in scientific publishing before becoming CEO in 1982. According to her nominator, her appointment marked the beginning of a period of extraordinary growth and influence.

During Foti’s tenure, the organization’s annual budget has grown from $1.5 million to more than $100 million, while membership has expanded from 3,000 to more than 60,000 scientists across 141 countries and territories. Over that same period, its portfolio of peer-reviewed scientific journals increased from one to 10, further strengthening the organization’s role as a trusted voice in cancer research.

Foti has also overseen the expansion of scientific meetings and educational programming. Today, the organization convenes more than 30 conferences and workshops annually, with more than 22,000 individuals registered for the nonprofit’s 2025 annual meeting alone.

Beyond convening researchers, Foti has cemented the American Association for Cancer Research’s role as a leading grant-making organization. Under her leadership, the nonprofit has awarded more than $540 million in research grants worldwide and has served as the scientific partner of Stand Up to Cancer, contributing expertise in peer review, project management, grants administration, communications and science policy.

One of Foti’s most enduring contributions is the Scientist↔Survivor Program, which she launched nearly 30 years ago to build sustained partnerships among researchers, survivors and patient advocates.

She also played a central role in advancing public awareness and education through influential publications, including the annual “Cancer Progress Report,” the “Cancer Disparities Progress Report” and the “Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Research and Patient Care.” She also helped launch Cancer Today, an award-winning magazine for patients, survivors and their families.

“Increasing public awareness and education about cancer has been an ongoing priority for Foti as AACR CEO,” her nominator told NonProfit PRO.

To support the expanding scope of American Association for Cancer Research’s work, Foti has built a robust infrastructure. During her tenure, staff has grown from 12 to 255 employees, with headquarters in Philadelphia, as well as offices in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Throughout her career, Foti has also served as president of three professional societies in scholarly publishing and cancer research and has contributed her expertise to numerous nonprofit boards and committees. In 2007, the American Association for Cancer Research’s board of directors established the Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research in her honor. In 2023, her alma mater, Temple University, developed the Margaret Foti Scholarship Fund.

“Foti is a dedicated mentor, and her guidance and support have bolstered the careers of countless cancer researchers,” her nominator said.