Nathan Cummings Foundation Program Related Investment (PRI)

_NOTE:_

• _Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis._

Nathan Cummings Foundation

We partner with social movements, organizations, and individuals who have creative and catalytic solutions to climate change and inequality.

Our Approach + Focus

From our grants, to our investments, to our voice we are using all of our resources to advance our mission. We are committed to changemaking, not just grantmaking.

Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is the right of all people and communities to a clean, healthy, and safe environment. It promotes equal environmental protection under the law and in fact. It empowers all communities to make informed decisions and fully participate civically and economically in the creation of environmental solutions.

Focus Areas

To advance environmental justice, we support organizations that address the following focus areas:

• Environmental Harms: BIPOC and low-income communities are disproportionately harmed by environmental hazards.
• Inclusive Participation in the Green Economy: A Green Energy transition is well underway, but the economic opportunity that goes along with it is not distributed equitably. We focus on efforts to ensure that BIPOC-led environmental organizations and diverse companies can fully take advantage of the investments, benefits, and opportunities of the Green Economy.
• Regenerative Economic Models: Achieving environmental justice and addressing climate change requires a shift from extractive to regenerative economic models. We focus on social entrepreneurs and innovators who are building regenerative projects and models based on sustainability, ecological restoration, and community wealth-building and resilience.

Racial Justice

It seeks to reimagine political, economic, and social systems in ways that allow all people to thrive, regardless of their racial identity.

Focus Areas

To advance racial justice, we support organizations that address the following focus areas:

• Civic Engagement: BIPOC and other marginalized communities face long-standing and concerted efforts to restrict and suppress their participation in the public sphere, especially in civic processes.
• Racial Wealth Gap: As a product of centuries of policies and practices, extreme racial wealth inequality persists in the United States, especially among Black communities.

Economic Justice

The principles of economic justice create a stronger economy because prosperity and equity go hand in hand.

Focus Areas

To advance economic justice, we support organizations that address the following focus areas:

• Economic Security: Economic security is a necessary baseline for people to survive and thrive, especially amidst conditions of rising inequality.
• Access to Capital: Generations of discriminatory lending and investment practices have prevented BIPOC and women from accessing the capital required to bring their innovative ideas to the marketplace and profit from them.

Program Related Investment (PRI)

Just like grants, PRIs must advance the foundation’s mission and accomplish one or more of the foundation’s tax-exempt purposes. Also, like grants, PRIs must not be used to influence legislation or take part in political campaigns on behalf of candidates.

Unlike grants, PRIs are made with the expectation that some or all the capital will be returned to the foundation in the future, according to terms that the foundation and the PRI recipient agree to.

We will consider PRIs in a variety of forms, including debt and equity instruments.

Funding

Our target budget for funding program-related investments is approximately $3 million.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• We support organizations based in the United States and U.S. Territories.
• We will award PRIs using the following criteria:
  • Alignment with one or more NCF focus areas
  • Alignment with NCF’s values, including a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Ability to return capital according to agreed-upon terms
  • Ability to provide agreed-upon impact data to evaluate progress in NCF focus areas
  • Inability/difficulty obtaining sufficient capital through conventional financial institutions
  • Opportunity for learning that enhances the work of NCF and its partners
  • Opportunity to catalyze action and investment from others
  • Opportunity to demonstrate and amplify successful models and approaches that may be overlooked or underutilized by traditional sources of funding

Ineligibility

• We are not currently accepting proposals for work in the Israel-Palestine region as we are still refining our strategy for that geography, but we will share more later this year about funding opportunities.
• The following are ineligible for financial support:
• 501(c)(4) organizations
• Individuals
• Requests outside the United States and U.S. Territories.
• Social or direct service projects that are not a part of a larger advocacy strategy.
  • For example, we do not support direct services (e.g. cash transfer, work development programs, food and education services, housing assistance, etc.).
• Fundraising events, sponsorships, panel requests, or galas
• Campus or prison-based programs
• K-12, extra-curricular, religious, or community arts education programming
• Religious communities, congregations, and churches
• Community gardening and greening projects
• Conservation projects
• Projects addressing diseases including medical research, personal health, and wellness programs