Cummings Foundation reaches milestone of $100 million in local grants

Cummings Foundation, Inc. has now awarded more than $100 million in grants to Greater Boston nonprofits alone. The Woburn-based foundation reached this milestone with the recent conclusion of the 2015 grant cycle of its “$100K for 100” program through which $10 million was awarded to 100 local nonprofits in grants of $100,000 each.

Several North Shore nonprofits were among the 2015 $100K winners, including North Shore Community Development Coalition (Salem), Endicott College (Beverly), Pathways for Children (Gloucester), Gloucester’s O’Maley Innovation School, Masconomet Education Foundation (Topsfield), North Shore Community Action Programs (Peabody), Haven for Hunger (Peabody), and the Food Project, which is headquartered in Lincoln but works farms in Beverly and Lynn.

Chosen through a competitive review process from more than 350 applicants, the diverse group of grant winners represents a wide variety of causes, including underserved populations, education, healthcare, hunger relief, and homelessness prevention.

Approximately 300 people gathered at the Foundation’s Grantee Reception on June 4 at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to celebrate this latest $10 million infusion into Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector. The elated attendees accepted their official award certificates, posed for photos with Foundation representatives, and networked with their peers.

Cummings Foundation founders Joyce and Bill Cummings greeted many grant winners individually and briefly addressed the crowd.

“We make the donation, but it’s all of you who do the work. We thank you and applaud you for all you have done and will continue to do for many years,” said Joyce Cummings.

Although a handful of large institutions are represented in the list of grant recipients, $100K for 100 primarily funds smaller organizations. Depending on the size and needs of the charity, most grants are paid in installments over two to five years.

“A word we have heard from many of this year’s grant winners in reference to their awards is ‘transformative,’” said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s executive director. “That’s exactly what we want – to provide the support necessary for hands-on grassroots organizations to get to the next level and make an even larger impact on the community.”

The $100K for 100 program provides funding to nonprofits that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. This year, the program benefited 41 different communities within the Commonwealth. A complete list of 2015 grant recipients along with descriptions of the programs to be funded is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

Through this “place-based” grants program, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed by its affiliate Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings, the Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages more than 10 million square feet of commercial space, the large majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

Although the full list of grant recipients was not made public until June 4, Cummings Foundation notified grant winners in mid-May with a colorful award package that encouraged participation in a photo-based social media campaign.

“Past grant winners have told us that receiving this grant is like getting a ‘Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval,’ so we hope they will be able to leverage this distinction to attract new donors and volunteers,” said Swets.

Upon receipt of their packages, dozens of grant recipients took to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to announce their awards. To view the pictures, visit Cummings Foundation’s Facebook page or search social media for #100Kfor100.

About Cummings Foundation

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester, who were the first Massachusetts couple to sign the Giving Pledge. With assets exceeding $1 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including two New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date was $50 million to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

PHOTO: Cummings Foundation Executive Director Joel Swets with Jackie Giordano and Mickey Northcutt of North Shore Community Development Coalition

PHOTO: Cummings Foundation founder Bill Cummings (left) with Laura MacNeil and Robert McHugh of North Shore Community Action Programs