James G Cummings Foundation
The James G Cummings Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, California. Its 2024 filing states that it makes awards exclusively for charitable and educational purposes in and around Mendocino County, including scholarships, drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation, low-cost housing, and a maritime museum.
James G Cummings Foundation at a glance
In short: James G Cummings Foundation gave $101K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $101,346
- -11.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,630
- -26.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $2,415,494
- -5.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (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 James G Cummings Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It asks prospective applicants to call for information about the form and materials. Awards are restricted to charitable and educational purposes in and around Mendocino County, California, and may be made directly or to organizations authorized to carry out those activities.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert Petersen Or Matthew Decamina
Mailing address: PO Box 494, Fort Bragg, CA 95460
Phone: (707) 843-5073
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James G Cummings Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mendocino K-8 Schools ($12K). Together the top 10 received $61K.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($32,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing restricts awards to charitable and educational purposes in and around Mendocino County, California. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How James G Cummings Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $89K (2020) to $115K (2023). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $101K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mendocino K-8 Schools Mendocino, CA | Donation | $12,346 |
| 6 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $32,000 |
| South Coast Youth Soccer Club Gualala, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| University of Santa Barbara for as Santa Barbara, CA | To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship | $8,000 |
| University of Berkeley for Ag Berkeley, CA | To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship | $6,000 |
| Arena Elementary School Point Arena, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Mendocino College for ZMR Ukiah, CA | To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship | $4,000 |
| University of Berkeley for AK Berkeley, CA | To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship | $4,000 |
| CSU Monterey Bay for MB Seaside, CA | To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship | $4,000 |
| University of Santa Barbara for No Santa Barbara, CA | To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship | $4,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,415,494 | $119,762 | $252,052 | $101,346 | 18 | $183,279 | $51,294 | $191,013 |
| 2023 | $2,545,475 | $110,694 | $209,864 | $115,000 | 15 | $179,490 | $81,359 | $169,690 |
| 2022 | $2,645,424 | $119,629 | $239,975 | $106,500 | 17 | $180,549 | $64,148 | $178,570 |
| 2021 | $2,766,585 | $89,001 | $241,228 | $104,000 | 22 | $183,093 | $32,479 | $192,264 |
| 2020 | $2,922,519 | $81,357 | $217,760 | $89,000 | 18 | — | $51,453 | $171,994 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James G Cummings Foundation reported a distributable amount of $191K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing identifies charitable and educational purposes as the basis for its awards. It lists scholarships, drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation, low-cost housing, and a maritime museum among the activities it funds. The 2024 grants included support for schools, a youth soccer club, and educational scholarships.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $101,346. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $12,346, with a median of $4,000. The largest listed grants were $12,346 to Mendocino K-8 Schools for a donation, $12,000 to an individual recipient for an educational scholarship fund, and $10,000 to South Coast Youth Soccer Club for general support. Other listed scholarship grants included $8,000 to the University of Santa Barbara, $6,000 to the University of Berkeley, and $4,000 each to California State University Sacramento, Mendocino College, an individual recipient State University, and CSU Maritime Academy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert C Petersen and Matthew Decaminada as trustees.
James G Cummings Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Matthew Decaminada
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $48K (2024)
Robert C. Petersen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $40K (2024)
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 $48K, to Matthew Decaminada (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about James G Cummings Foundation
How much does James G Cummings Foundation give each year?
James G Cummings Foundation gave $101K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $115K across 15 grants.
What is James G Cummings Foundation's typical grant size?
James G Cummings Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $5,630, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does James G Cummings Foundation give grants?
James G Cummings Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (2 grants) and Berkeley, CA (2 grants).
Does James G Cummings Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of James G Cummings Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "To Provide Fund for Educational Scholarship" (14 grants).
Who are James G Cummings Foundation's largest grantees?
James G Cummings Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mendocino K-8 Schools ($12,346), South Coast Youth Soccer Club ($10,000) and University of Santa Barbara for as ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($32,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is James G Cummings Foundation?
James G Cummings Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $183K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $191K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does James G Cummings Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies charitable and educational purposes as the basis for its awards. It lists scholarships, drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation, low-cost housing, and a maritime museum among the activities it funds. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James G Cummings Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James G Cummings Foundation's EIN?
James G Cummings Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-6170773. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 James G Cummings Foundation funds
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