The Robert Cummings Family Foundation
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island. In its 2025 filing, it reported making 12 grants totaling $7,250 to charitable organizations.
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robert Cummings Family Foundation gave $7K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $604.167), top state Vermont. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,250
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $604
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $114,890
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Vermont (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Robert Cummings Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Turks Head Place - Suite 800, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 421-8900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert Cummings Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Emory University ($2K). Together the top 10 received $7K.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 65 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Vermont, Georgia, and Rhode Island each accounted for 21% of grant dollars; Virginia accounted for 14%, and Maryland for 7%. The listed recipients were located in those states as well as California, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Robert Cummings Family Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $250; repeat grants $636. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 135% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2023) to $13K (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $7K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Emory University Atlanta, GA | To Support Charitable Mission | $1,500 |
| Brattleboro Museum & Art Brattleboro, VT | To Support Charitable Mission | $1,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | To Support Charitable Mission | $1,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | To Support Charitable Mission | $500 |
| Food Bank of Contra Costa Concord, CA | To Support Charitable Mission | $500 |
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MN | To Support Charitable Mission | $500 |
| Providence Athenaeum Providence, RI | To Support Charitable Mission | $500 |
| The Historic Colony House Newport, RI | To Support Charitable Mission | $500 |
| The Wheeler School Providence, RI | To Support Charitable Mission | $500 |
| Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center Brattleboro, VT | To Support Charitable Mission | $250 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $114,890 | $13,421 | $11,636 | $7,250 | 12 | $8,769 | $10,554 | $6,519 |
| 2024 | $113,105 | $11,513 | $11,580 | $8,000 | 12 | $8,000 | $7,933 | $6,314 |
| 2023 | $113,172 | $3,300 | $9,991 | $7,000 | 10 | $7,000 | $2,634 | $6,195 |
| 2022 | $119,863 | $3,388 | $10,167 | $7,500 | 13 | $7,500 | $1,074 | $7,054 |
| 2021 | $126,642 | $3,295 | $15,890 | $13,000 | 18 | $13,000 | $405 | $8,207 |
| 2020 | $139,237 | $-2,029 | $17,935 | $13,050 | 18 | — | — | $6,772 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert Cummings Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a university, a land conservation organization, a library and cultural center, a school, and environmental education and land-trust organizations.
The grantees describe their own missions as follows: Emory University says its mission is to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity. The Nature Conservancy says it works to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Providence Athenaeum describes itself as an independent member-supported library and cultural center, and The Wheeler School says its mission is “to learn our powers and be answerable for their use.” Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center says it fosters experiences that inspire connection to the natural world; Vermont Land Trust says it helps people protect, care for, and connect to land.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $7,250. Grants ranged from $250 to $1,500, with a median grant of $500. Among the largest were $1,500 to Emory University; $1,000 each to Brattleboro Museum & Art and The Nature Conservancy; and $500 each to Doctors Without Borders, Food Bank of Contra Costa, International Rescue Committee, Providence Athenaeum, The Historic Colony House, and The Wheeler School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Louis G Murphy Jr as president, director, and treasurer; Marcie Cummings as director; and Marilyn L McCabe as secretary and director.
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation is led by Louis G. Murphy Jr., President, Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Louis G. Murphy Jr.
President, Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcie Cummings
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn L. McCabe
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Robert Cummings Family Foundation
How much does The Robert Cummings Family Foundation give each year?
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation gave $7K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 12 grants.
What is The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $604, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert Cummings Family Foundation that year got $250 on average.
Where does The Robert Cummings Family Foundation give grants?
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's top state is Vermont, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (21%) and Rhode Island (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brattleboro, VT (2 grants) and Providence, RI (2 grants).
Does The Robert Cummings Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Charitable Mission" (12 grants).
Who are The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Emory University ($1,500), Brattleboro Museum & Art ($1,000) and The Nature Conservancy ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert Cummings Family Foundation?
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation reported $115K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Robert Cummings Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a university, a land conservation organization, a library and cultural center, a school, and environmental education and land-trust organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert Cummings Family Foundation?
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's EIN?
The Robert Cummings Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0512145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Robert Cummings Family Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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