The Cumming Foundation is a private family foundation based in Jackson, Wyoming, established in 1986. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a primary focus on grantmaking and philanthropy. It was founded by Ian M. Cumming, the late Chairman and CEO of Leucadia National Corporation, a diversified holding company. Following Ian Cumming's death in 2018, the foundation continues under family leadership.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$243.3M
+17.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$516K
-1.8% YoY
Grant Count
4
-20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$129K
+22.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on three primary areas:
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Higher Education
- Human Services
The foundation provides general operating support grants to its selected charitable organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily provides general operating support. Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $5,000,000, with recent grants documented at $500,000 and in-kind donations of approximately $6,600-$6,900.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on:
- Utah
- New York
- District of Columbia
- California
The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to Utah institutions, notably the University of Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of December 2024)
- Total Assets: $243,307,734
- Total Revenues: $41,291,101
- Total Expenses: $6,255,002
- Total Grants Made: $515,655 (2024)
Revenue Breakdown (2024)
- Total grants and contributions: $40,937,240
- Investment income and dividends: $390,729
- Net rental income: $10,334
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $9,856,184
Historical Context
Total assets have grown significantly from $26.8 million in 2011 to $243.3 million in 2024. Annual giving has varied considerably year to year, reflecting the foundation's discretionary approach as a family foundation.
Staffing
The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $243,307,734 | $207,156,093 | $86,802,182 |
| Revenue | $41,291,101 | $121,817,749 | $-428,122 |
| Expenses | $6,255,002 | $2,093,942 | $12,862,590 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,482,060 | $2,071,575 | $33,884,561 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,841,978 | $504,428 | $948,629 |
| Distributable Amount | $11,377,447 | $5,858,766 | $8,148,607 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Cathy Handley
- The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 4902, Jackson, WY 83001-4902
- Phone: 307-734-0708
- EIN: 87-0440091
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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