The William R & Ruth D Cuming
The William R & Ruth D Cuming is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts (EIN 043423911). Its 2024 filing lists no grants for that year; earlier filings report grantmaking in 2023 and 2022.
The William R & Ruth D Cuming at a glance
- Total assets
- $32,712
- -85.9% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $7,837
- -103.0% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $37,603
- -83.0% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The William R & Ruth D Cuming
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. No application process or required materials are stated.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co John Cuming 1 Mifflin Pl 405, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 520-6602
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The William R & Ruth D Cuming funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 43 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The listed 2023 recipients include organizations in Massachusetts and Maine. The available information does not state a geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Is The William R & Ruth D Cuming open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 82% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2023) to $143K (2022). In 2023 it made 11 grants totaling $105K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tufts University Medford, MA | New Ventures Competition at Tufts Entrepreneurship Center | $25,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | For delta v accelerator at martin trust center for mit entrepreneurship | $20,000 |
| Morgan Stanley DW Inc Boston, MA | Annual Fund | $15,000 |
| The Belmont Day School Belmont, MA | Annual Fund | $15,000 |
| The Dana Farber Cancer Institure Boston, MA | Cuming Family Fund for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research | $10,000 |
| Riverside Community Care Inc Dedham, MA | For Guidance Center | $5,000 |
| Assumption University Worcester, MA | Annual Fund | $4,000 |
| Joe Andruzzi Foundation North Attleborough, MA | General Purposes | $3,400 |
| Simmons College Boston, MA | Annual Fund | $3,000 |
| The Children's Room Arlington, MA | Annual Fund | $3,000 |
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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 | $32,712 | $7,837 | $37,603 | — | — | — | — | $3,463 |
| 2023 | $231,713 | $-261,732 | $221,271 | $105,400 | 11 | $105,400 | — | $100,834 |
| 2022 | $690,125 | $-301,129 | $199,739 | $142,600 | 14 | $142,600 | — | $47,140 |
| 2021 | $1,190,993 | $96,625 | $187,880 | $141,500 | 9 | $141,500 | $52,705 | $110,657 |
| 2020 | $1,282,248 | $-411,386 | $191,929 | $141,500 | 9 | — | — | $139,353 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William R & Ruth D Cuming reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing information does not state a mission. The 2024 filing describes investment-related income and deductions associated with the Caisson Breakwater Global Opportunity Fund. Its reported 2023 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include education, behavioral healthcare and human services, and support for cancer patients and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $105,400. In 2022, it reported 14 grants totaling $142,600. Its 2024 filing reported zero grants. The available information does not establish a typical grant size.
Named 2023 recipients included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($20,000), Riverside Community Care Inc. ($5,000), Assumption University ($4,000), the Joe Andruzzi Foundation Inc. ($3,400), and the University of New England ($2,000). MIT describes its mission as advancing knowledge and educating students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship. Riverside Community Care describes its work as providing behavioral healthcare and human services. Assumption University describes itself as a Catholic liberal arts institution focused on students’ education and formation. The Joe Andruzzi Foundation says it supports cancer patients and their families with essential services. The University of New England says it prepares students to improve the health of people, communities, and the planet.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John W Cuming and Jon E Steffensen as trustees.
The William R & Ruth D Cuming's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John W. Cuming
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon E. Steffensen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The William R & Ruth D Cuming
How large is The William R & Ruth D Cuming?
The William R & Ruth D Cuming reported $33K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $8K.
What does The William R & Ruth D Cuming fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission. The 2024 filing describes investment-related income and deductions associated with the Caisson Breakwater Global Opportunity Fund. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The William R & Ruth D Cuming?
The foundation states that it makes contributions 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 ↑
Where does The William R & Ruth D Cuming make grants?
The listed 2023 recipients include organizations in Massachusetts and Maine. The available information does not state a geographic focus.
How much is The William R & Ruth D Cuming required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William R & Ruth D Cuming reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William R & Ruth D Cuming's EIN?
The William R & Ruth D Cuming's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3423911. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The William R & Ruth D Cuming 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
(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 The William R & Ruth D Cuming funds
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The William R & Ruth D Cuming's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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