Cummings Foundation awards $100,000 to 100 local nonprofits

Woburn, MA Cummings Foundation presented $10 million in grants to local nonprofits through its $100K for 100 program. Governor Charlie Baker joined the organization’s founders, Joyce and Bill Cummings, at TradeCenter 128 to congratulate the grant winners.

One of the three largest private foundations in New England, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed on a pro bono basis by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings of Winchester, the commercial real estate firm leases and manages 10 million s/f of space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the foundation.

The crowd of more than 300 included representatives of all 100 nonprofit recipients, as well as Cummings Foundation staff, trustees, and volunteer grant selection committee members. The 100 grant-winning organizations were chosen from 574 applicants during a competitive review process. Each nonprofit will receive $100,000, with most awards being paid over two to five years.

“The fact that you’ve been deemed by Cummings Foundation to be a particularly important performer is a really big deal,” said Baker. “Because, I’m telling you, in this state, the competition is steep.”

Launched in 2012, the annual $100K for 100 program supports nonprofits that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. 

This year, the program is benefiting 37 different cities and towns within the Commonwealth.

The diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including homelessness prevention, affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. The complete list of grant winners is available at CummingsFoundation.org.

Joyce Cummings told the grant winners from the podium: “You are all really cream-of-the-crop, over-the-top people.”

She and Bill Cummings then led the call-and-response-style reading of the names of the grant winners. Nonprofit representatives responded by shouting thanks, waving signs and pom poms, throwing confetti, and more.

In May, the Foundation gave an additional $15 million in grants to 50 nonprofits—all of which were previous $100K for 100 winners. Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than a quarter-billion dollars to local nonprofits.

“By having such a local focus, we aim to make a meaningful positive difference in the communities where our colleagues and leasing clients live and work,” said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s executive director. “We are most grateful for the nonprofit organizations that assist and empower our neighbors, and we are proud to support their efforts.”

The evolution of the Foundation and its grants program are detailed in Bill Cummings’ book, “Starting Small and Making It Big,” which is available at cummings.com/book.