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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cumming Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Cumming Foundation?
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Utah ($500,000), University of Utah ($6,659), University of Utah ($6,326).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | SUPPORT TO JOHN A. MORGAN EYE CENTER, CUMMING PRESIDENTIAL ENDOWED CHAIR | $500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | IN KIND DONATION, LUNCHEON HOSTED BY CF FOR THE TUROCK EVENT, ASCENT FAMILY PLANNING ELEVATED UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | $6,659 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | IN KIND DONATION, LUNCHEON HOSTED BY CF FOR THE MICROBIOME LUNCHEON | $6,326 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | in kind donation, luncheon | $2,670 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cumming Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from Cumming Foundation?
**Grant Types & Sizes** 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. **Recent Activity** In 2024, the foundation made 52 grants. Recent documented grants include: • University of Utah: $500,000 for support to the John A. Morgan Eye Center, Cumming Presidential Endowed Chair • University of Utah: In-kind donations totaling approxim…
Where does Cumming Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Cumming Foundation award?
In 2024, Cumming Foundation awarded 4 grants totaling $516K — an average of about $129K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cumming Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cumming Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cumming Foundation's EIN?
Cumming Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0440091. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cumming Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Longbridge Foundation
WILSON, WY
Assets
$2.9M
Grants
6
Total Given
$461K
Bumi Indah LLC
SHERIDAN, WY
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Sobecki Family Foundation
JACKSON, WY
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
25
Total Given
$1.1M
Dream Envision Foundation
LANDER, WY
Assets
$2.7M
Grants
36
Total Given
$631K
Stable Road Foundation
CHEYENNE, WY
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
16
Total Given
$439K
Halcyon Institute
CHEYENNE, WY
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Cumming Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Cumming Foundation to a real strategy.