Cummings Foundation Invites Wilmington Nonprofits To Apply For $30 Million In Grants

Below is a press release from the Cummings Foundation:

WILMINGTON, MA — Cummings Foundation, of Woburn, has launched the 2025 cycle of its annual $30 Million Grant Program. This place-based, open-call initiative will provide 150 eastern Massachusetts nonprofits with substantial multi-year funding.

The program, now in its 14^th cycle, has historically supported organizations based in and primarily serving Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties. Cummings updated the parameters in 2024 to include the Norfolk County communities of Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy, and Wellesley.

“Geography is important us, as we aim first and foremost to give back in the areas where those grant funds were derived and where the staff and leasing clients of the Cummings organization live,” said Deputy Director Andrew Bishop.

A substantial portion of the $4 billion foundation’s assets comes from the commercial real estate portfolio that it owns. Its buildings are all managed on a pro bono basis by Woburn-based Cummings Properties.

A broad array of nonprofits is eligible to apply for funding, including those addressing human services, social justice, education, and healthcare. New for the 2025 grant cycle, the program will also consider requests for a subset of causes related to the environment—environmental education, equitable access to outdoor spaces, recycling/waste reduction, and sustainable food systems.

Grants will typically be awarded for three- and 10-year terms, with annual installments ranging from $10,000, for small organizations, up to $100,000. The Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to date to greater Boston organizations.

Letters of inquiry will be accepted until September 6. Cummings will announce the winners in May of 2025 following a comprehensive vetting process featuring multiple review stages carried out by community volunteers.

“We have ‘democratized’ the Foundation’s philanthropy, believing strongly that a diverse group of individuals from the communities we serve will make better, more equitable decisions than just a handful of staff members or trustees could,” said Bishop.

The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program eligibility requirements, timeline, and FAQs, as well as a link to begin the letter of inquiry, are all available at CummingsFoundation.org/grants. The website also offers details for virtual Q&A sessions planned for July 18 and August 14.

One of the largest private foundations in New England, Cummings Foundation was founded in 1986 by Bill and Joyce Cummings of Winchester. Bill also founded commercial real estate firm Cummings Properties, which leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space for the exclusive benefit of the Foundation. Additional information is available at CummingsFoundation.org and Cummings.com.

The Town of Wilmington was awarded $150,000 in 2024 to support no-cost behavioral healthcare and substance abuse intervention.