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.
Key facts about The William R & Ruth D Cuming
- EIN
- 04-3423911
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Total assets
- $32,712
- 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. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33K
-85.9% YoY
Revenue
$8K
-103.0% YoY
Expenses
$38K
-83.0% YoY
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.
Is The William R & Ruth D Cuming open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 73% 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.
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.
Grant Range
.
How to Apply
or required materials are stated.
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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
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,712 | $7,837 | $37,603 | 0 |
| 2023 | $231,713 | -$261,732 | $221,271 | $105,400 (11) |
| 2022 | $690,125 | -$301,129 | $199,739 | $142,600 (14) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,712 | $231,713 | $690,125 |
| Revenue | $7,837 | $-261,732 | $-301,129 |
| Expenses | $37,603 | $221,271 | $199,739 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | $105,400 | $142,600 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,463 | $100,834 | $47,140 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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.
Contact
Mailing address: Co John Cuming 1 Mifflin Pl 405, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 520-6602
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The William R & Ruth D Cuming by hand.
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