Curebound is a San Diego-based nonprofit advancing cancer research through community fundraising, corporate partnerships, and strategic research investments. Formed in 2021 from the merger of Pedal the Cause and Immunotherapy Foundation, Curebound channels philanthropic momentum into meaningful scientific progress.
The organization hosts two of San Diego’s most high-profile fundraising events:
- Concert for Cures featuring Elton John in 2025
- Curebound Cancer Challenge, formerly Padres Pedal the Cause
Curebound anticipates raising $22 million this year alone. These funds accelerate breakthroughs in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
In 2024, Curebound:
- Awarded $8.25 million in grants to 25 research teams
- Explored 23 types of cancer
- Partnered with six premier research institutions
The Challenge
Following the merger that created Curebound, the organization was still in the process of establishing its internal infrastructure. When Chief Operating Officer Karen Hooper joined in 2022, Curebound had:
- A newly combined team
- An $8M annual budget
- Evolving accounting processes and financial systems
- A need to strategically reshape its workforce to meet ambitious growth plans
Curebound needed financial clarity, operational stability, and a scalable people strategy, all while preparing for rapid organizational expansion.
How PBO Advisory Supported Curebound
Strengthening Financial Systems
PBO Advisory initially served as Curebound’s outsourced accounting partner, modernizing financial processes and implementing improved systems. As needs grew, PBO stepped in as a fractional CFO, supporting the search for an internal accounting professional and ensuring that the new hire was fully trained and set up for long-term success.
Building a Strategic People & Workforce Plan
To support Curebound’s growth trajectory and new strategic plan, PBO Advisory’s Consulting Chief People Officer, Nicole Devine, collaborated closely with Karen to develop a forward-looking workforce strategy.
This included:
- Resource mapping and department development
- Aligning skills and roles to organizational goals
- Designing a new organizational structure
- Creating seven essential new positions to execute critical strategic initiatives
The resulting plan earned unanimous approval from Curebound’s Board, a strong signal of alignment and confidence.
Leadership Coaching Through Change
Restructuring brought complex change-management needs. Nicole provided steady coaching to Curebound’s leadership, helping them navigate decisions grounded in empathy, accountability, and organizational priorities.
The Impact
Today, Curebound’s financial and people infrastructures are strong, future-ready, and aligned with its mission to drive life-saving cancer research.
PBO Advisory’s partnership helped Curebound:
- Scale from an $8M to a projected $22M annual budget
- Support complex multi-institution research funding
- Operate with greater clarity, accountability, and organizational alignment
- Build the internal capacity to sustain long-term growth
Just as Curebound fosters collaboration across scientific disciplines, the organization and PBO Advisory created a collaborative back-office foundation capable of supporting transformative research for years to come.
To learn more about how PBO Advisory Group can help your organization streamline its operations and achieve its goals, contact us. To support the incredible work of Curebound, please visit curebound.org.
