Andy Hill CARE Fund names Molly O’Connor executive director

The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment Fund has appointed Molly O’Connor as executive director, effective Sept. 28, 2026, as the Washington cancer research fund enters its second decade. The move comes after more than $81 million in grants and investments and as the board looks to expand collaboration and sustain funding for promising research.

Why it matters: - Molly O’Connor will lead Washington’s cancer research endowment as it builds on more than $81 million invested in grants and other research support. - The appointment comes as the Andy Hill CARE Fund looks to deepen collaboration and keep funding cancer research that benefits Washington residents.

What happened: - The Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment Fund board appointed Molly O’Connor as executive director, effective Sept. 28, 2026. - O’Connor succeeds Laura Flores Cantrell, who retired after eight years in the role. - The board said O’Connor brings 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, cancer research and collaboration. - O’Connor most recently served as CEO of O’Connor Consulting Group. - O’Connor also held leadership roles at the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research and Susan G. Komen Puget Sound.

The details: - CARE Fund has invested more than $81 million since the Washington state Legislature authorized the program in 2015. - The funding has supported projects across the cancer research continuum, with a focus on prevention and treatment. - O’Connor’s background includes communications and cancer research grantmaking. - The board said O’Connor has a strong understanding of Washington State’s cancer research landscape. - CARE Fund invests in public and private entities through research grants and strategic co-funding partnerships. - The fund’s mission is to improve health outcomes by advancing transformational cancer research. - Maura Little, CARE Board chair, said the board sees O’Connor as a leader who honors the fund’s past work and brings vision for what comes next.

Between the lines: - The hire signals that CARE Fund wants a leader with both nonprofit management experience and direct cancer-research-sector relationships. - O’Connor’s consulting background suggests the board may be looking to strengthen partnerships and align more funders around shared research priorities. - The fund’s emphasis on collaboration reflects the pressure on cancer research programs to stretch resources while backing the most promising projects. - O’Connor said she plans to build on the existing foundation and foster even greater collaboration across the cancer research community and its funders.

What's next: - O’Connor will oversee CARE Fund as it enters its second decade. - The fund will continue promoting collaboration within the cancer research funding community. - CARE Fund will keep targeting support to the most promising cancer research for Washington and beyond. - The organization included a LinkedIn page for more information: CARE Fund on LinkedIn.