Deadline: 9-Sep-22
The Cummings Foundation is seeking applications for its Local Grant Program.
Priority Funding Areas
- The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program is a place-based initiative that primarily supports nonprofits in the Massachusetts counties where Cummings Foundation operates commercial properties and where most staff and clients of Cummings Foundation and Cummings Properties live—Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. Applicants should be local organizations that are not only headquartered in but also provide at least 50 percent of their services in this tri-county area. In addition, all funding requests should focus exclusively on operations within the tri-county area.
- Special consideration is given to nonprofits based in the 11 cities and towns where the Cummings organization operates commercial real estate. The Foundation may also give such consideration to organizations that are based elsewhere in the tri-county area and propose introducing programming or services in one or more of these 11 communities, especially Woburn.
- Nonprofits that meet these criteria and provide some services statewide, or even in adjacent states, are eligible for consideration. Given the strong local nature of this funding program, however, organizations that are truly regional, national, or international (or have staff or offices in other states) will typically not be considered even if they meet the 50 percent threshold for services. In addition, local office/affiliates of national organizations will not be considered, even if they meet the 50 percent threshold, unless they have their own EIN.
Funding Information
- Total recipients increased from 140 to 150
- Total 10-year grants decreased from 40 to 25
- Total awards increased from $25 million to $30 million
- Annual installment maximum increased from $50,000 to $100,000
- $100,000 awards changed to three-year grants of varying amounts
- All schools (except those that charge significant tuition) within the tri-county funding area may be considered for grants. For schools that are part of a district or consortium, the request must come from the district level.
Eligibility Criteria
The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program will not generally consider requests for:**
- Endowments
- Medical research
- Religious endeavors
- Relatively new entities
- Political, legislative, or lobbying organizations
- Individuals or debt reduction, no matter how worthy
- Organizations that do not regularly file IRS Form 990
- Major capital campaigns, unless very near completion
- Primary and secondary schools that charge significant tuition.
- Very large organizations already supported by robust endowments
- Organizations that do not have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code
- National or regional organizations, or local branches thereof that do not have an EIN separate from that of the larger entity
- Organizations that discriminate based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, etc.
- Municipalities (with the exception of public schools), except for the 11 communities in which the Cummings organization operates commercial properties
- 501(c)(3) organizations that request funds to then disburse to individuals or other entities will be considered for the Cummings $30 Million Grant Program, but such grant-makers will be expected to demonstrate expertise and due diligence in their processes to select and follow up with their own grantees.
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Prior grant recipients are eligible to apply for an additional grant if:
- The organization meets the current eligibility requirements
- All previous Cummings Foundation (or Cummings Properties) grants to that organization have been fully disbursed
- In the case of recipients of 10-year grants, at least one year has passed since the disbursement of the final grant installment
- All requirements stipulated in the prior grant agreement (including the completion of annual impact reports and the ongoing presence of an active reciprocal link to Cummings Foundation's website) have been fulfilled by the recipient organization
For more information, visit Cummings Foundation.
For more information, visit https://www.cummingsfoundation.org/grants/#changes