Cummings Foundation Inc
Cummings Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Joyce and Bill Cummings established it in 1986 to give back to Greater Boston communities where their commercial real estate business operated and where its employees and clients lived. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, with giving concentrated in Greater Boston and a stated special interest in Rwanda.
Cummings Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Cummings Foundation Inc gave $32.7M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $5.5M), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $32,722,022
- +78.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,453,670
- +107.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,242,808,626
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Cummings Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes an online LOI process for the Cummings $35 Million Grant Program; the Felicia Rose program is described as an application opportunity for eligible organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The listed deadline for the Cummings $35 Million Grant Program is January 13, 2027.
- Deadline
- The listed deadline for the Cummings $35 Million Grant Program is January 13, 2027.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 West Cummings Park, Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (781) 935-8000
Website: https://cummingsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Cummings Foundation Inc
Who Cummings Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cummings Foundation Grants Inc ($32.7M). Together the top 6 received $32.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 44 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its local giving is concentrated in Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties, plus several abutting communities in Norfolk County. Its Cummings $35 Million Grant Program identifies Norfolk County communities as Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy, and Wellesley. The program generally requires applicants to be headquartered in its stated service area and to provide most services there; it also specifies limits on activity outside Massachusetts, with an exception for Merrimack Valley nonprofits also serving southern New Hampshire.
The Foundation also states a special interest in Rwanda, where it collaborates with Partners In Health and a limited number of other organizations. The 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients, with Illinois shown as 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Cummings Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 370772% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2021) to $37.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $32.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cummings Foundation Grants Inc Woburn, MA | Transfer Was Made for Endowment Purposes | $32,713,666 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | Healthcare | $5,156 |
| Medford Jingle Bell Festival Medford, MA | Miscellaneous Community Support | $1,000 |
| VNA Hospice Care Inc Woburn, MA | Healthcare | $1,000 |
| Friends of the Marlborough Seniors Marlborough, MA | Human Services | $1,000 |
| Marlborough Fire Department Relief Marlborough, MA | Miscellaneous Community Support | $200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,242,808,626 | $395,460,398 | $229,740,809 | $32,722,022 | 6 | $145,534,757 | $194,744,105 |
| 2023 | $2,078,986,279 | $297,491,556 | $190,093,618 | $18,366,000 | 7 | $133,123,445 | $119,733,625 |
| 2022 | $1,970,466,803 | $310,806,993 | $187,319,160 | $37,022,600 | 9 | $118,274,920 | $157,011,634 |
| 2021 | $1,791,094,797 | $324,805,086 | $122,212,981 | $8,823 | 7 | $98,747,853 | $143,450,119 |
| 2020 | $1,582,757,303 | $316,917,158 | $111,262,617 | $117,250 | 15 | — | $104,134,793 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s principles emphasize human dignity, meeting basic needs across society, supporting effective nonprofits, and aiding those furthest behind first. Its website describes a broad range of local causes and a special interest in Rwanda, where it collaborates with Partners In Health and a limited number of other organizations.
A separate animal-welfare initiative, the Felicia Rose Grant Program, supports Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire nonprofits working to strengthen the human-animal bond and provide care for animals in need. The program describes eligible work as including sheltering, adoption, education, and medical care.
Grantmaking
The Foundation’s 2024 filing reports six grants totaling $32,722,022. The median grant was $1,000, while the largest was $32,713,666, so the median does not represent the distribution of grant dollars. The largest itemized grant went to Cummings Foundation Grants Inc in Woburn for an endowment transfer. Other listed recipients included the Alzheimer’s Association ($5,156), Medford Jingle Bell Festival ($1,000), VNA Hospice Care ($1,000), Friends of the Marlborough Seniors ($1,000), and Marlborough Fire Department Relief ($200). The Foundation Grants Inc recipient describes its own work as awarding grants to nonprofits, primarily in eastern Massachusetts.
The Foundation’s website describes its Cummings $35 Million Grant Program as planning to award $35 million in 2027 to 150 local-area nonprofits through three- or ten-year grants. Its application process begins with a letter of inquiry submitted through an online portal; organizations should submit no more than one LOI per cycle. The program information specifies annual installments of $10,000 to $100,000 and describes geographic and organizational eligibility restrictions. The 2024 filing states that the Foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
The Felicia Rose Grant Program offers eligible 501(c)(3) organizations grants of up to $20,000 for operating expenses and expects to award $120,000 annually. Its stated eligibility area is Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joyce M. Cummings as trustee and treasurer; Patricia A. Cummings, Psy.D., as trustee and vice president; and William S. Cummings as trustee and president. It also lists Steven Disalvo, Margot Botsford (through September 2024), Marilyn Cummings Morris, M.D., M.P.H., Arlan F. Fuller, M.D., Thomas Pappas, David Harris, Ph.D., and Eric S. Anderson as trustees.
Cummings Foundation Inc is led by Christine Coakley, Executive Director & Nhc on every filing since 2020; 3 of 26 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christine Coakley
Executive Director & Nhc
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$134K (2020) → $151K (2024)
Marie Connolly
Executive Director & Nhm
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$152K (2020) → $179K (2024)
William S Cummings
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Vyriotes
Executive Director, Clerk & Trustee
Executive Director & Clerk → Executive Director, Clerk & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arlan F Fuller MD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Harris PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis A. Clarke
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric S. Anderson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joyce M Cummings
Trustee & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margot Botsford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Cummings Morris MD MPH
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia A Cummings PSY D
Trustee & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William F. Grant
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Disalvo
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Pappas
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Agnes Binagwaho M D PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aisha Francis PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ioannis Miaoulis PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Connors Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Keenan J. D.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Keefe Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Yong Kim MD PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kennealy
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sunil Kumar PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Fulp
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Bishop
Deputy Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$159K (2023) → $186K (2024)
Former officers (10)
- Former: Anthony P Monaco MD PhD (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Carol A Donovan (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Paul C Casey (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Richard C Ockerbloom (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Laura Hiller (2021–2023) — Dep Director & Assistant Clerk
- Former: Deborah T. Kochevar Dvm PhD (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Joel B. Swets (2020–2021) — Trustee & E Director
- Former: Andrew EICK (2020) — Termed Executive Director Nhm
- Former: Joseph Abate MD (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Laurie Gabriel (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $186K, to Andrew Bishop (Deputy Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cummings Foundation Inc
How much does Cummings Foundation Inc give each year?
Cummings Foundation Inc gave $32.7M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $18.4M across 7 grants.
What is Cummings Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Cummings Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $5,453,670, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Cummings Foundation Inc give grants?
Cummings Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Woburn, MA (2 grants) and Marlborough, MA (2 grants).
Does Cummings Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Cummings Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Cummings Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Cummings Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Cummings Foundation Grants Inc ($32,713,666), Alzheimer's Association ($5,156) and Medford Jingle Bell Festival ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Cummings Foundation Inc?
Cummings Foundation Inc reported $2.2B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $395.5M.
What does Cummings Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s principles emphasize human dignity, meeting basic needs across society, supporting effective nonprofits, and aiding those furthest behind first. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cummings Foundation Inc?
The Foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cummings Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cummings Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3073023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Cummings Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Cummings Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Cummings Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cummings Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?