Cummins Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_FBF7B9F7

Annual Expenditure: £25.8M

Stay updated on changes from Cummins Foundation and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25.8 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $800,000 (most under $250,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (operates in 30+ countries including UK)
  • Application Method: Employee-partnership only (no unsolicited applications)
  • Focus Areas: Education, Equity, Environment

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cummins.com/company/esg/social/corporate-responsibility/community-support

Note: The foundation does not provide direct contact details for grant applications as they do not accept unsolicited external requests for funding.

Overview

The Cummins Foundation was established in 1954, 35 years after Cummins Inc. was founded, making it one of the earliest corporate foundations. With total assets of $66 million (2024) and annual giving of $25.8 million, the foundation supports communities worldwide where Cummins employees live and work, operating in over 30 countries. The foundation distinguishes itself by limiting support exclusively to organizations with which its employees are directly involved, operating on an employee-partnership model rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation's global community engagement focuses on three strategic priorities: education, equity, and the environment, with grants primarily delivered through Community Development Grants (CDGs) that are initiated and championed by Cummins employees in collaboration with local partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Development Grants (CDGs)

  • Grant range: $5,000 - $800,000 (most grants under $250,000)
  • Example: $20,000 typical CDG funding
  • In 2016, the foundation gave $13.9 million through CDGs and other strategic community investments
  • Application method: Employee-initiated only (no public application process)
  • Grants are submitted by employees working with local Corporate Responsibility leaders

Priority Areas

Education

  • Early childhood education programs
  • K-12 education initiatives
  • Higher education support
  • Focus on creating opportunities for underserved students

Equity

  • Housing and food insecurity programs
  • Youth empowerment initiatives
  • Workforce development
  • Mental health services
  • Social justice and equality of opportunity programs

Environment

  • Community greenspace preservation and maintenance
  • Environmental sustainability initiatives in Cummins operating communities

UK-Specific Funding Examples

  • Food assistance programs in Daventry, UK (COVID-19 response: packed lunches and hot meals for children)
  • Community partnerships in locations where Cummins has UK operations

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations without direct Cummins employee involvement
  • Organizations that discriminate in their policies and practices regarding physical or mental abilities, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, and/or creed
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for Cummins Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Jennifer Rumsey

Chief Executive Officer: Jim Schacht

Regional Corporate Responsibility Councils: At the regional level, the most senior Cummins leader in each region manages a Corporate Responsibility council composed of senior regional leaders. These councils are responsible for translating global community strategies and corporate giving objectives into regional strategies, and they review and approve employee-submitted grants in their regions to ensure adherence to each regional strategy while encouraging and supporting employee volunteerism.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Cummins Foundation does not entertain unsolicited external requests for funding. Instead, this corporate funder distinguishes itself by limiting support to organizations with which its employees are directly involved.

How Grants Are Awarded:

  1. Cummins employees engage with and establish relationships with community partners
  2. After engagement is established, employees develop grant ideas in collaboration with their local Corporate Responsibility leader
  3. Employees submit grant requests to the Cummins Foundation on behalf of the partner organization
  4. Regional Corporate Responsibility councils review and approve grants to ensure alignment with regional strategies

International Partners (Including UK):

Outside of the United States, charitable partners must complete a vetting process led by the foundation's partner in international grantmaking, GlobalGiving. The foundation conducts most of its global grantmaking via GlobalGiving, which regrants to nonprofits in other countries.

Getting on Their Radar

Establish Relationships with Cummins Employees:

Organizations can only access Cummins Foundation funding through partnerships with Cummins employees. Consider:

  • Identifying Cummins facilities in your area (in the UK, this includes locations like Daventry)
  • Developing genuine partnerships with Cummins employees who volunteer or are active in your cause area
  • Building relationships before seeking funding—the foundation emphasizes that engagement must be established before grant opportunities become available

Focus on Priority Areas:

Align your work with the foundation's three strategic priorities—education, equity, and environment—particularly as they relate to communities where Cummins operates.

Application Success Factors

Employee Partnership is Essential

The foundation's model is entirely employee-driven. Organizations cannot access funding without active Cummins employee involvement and advocacy. The foundation's approach emphasizes “employees building stronger communities” through their direct engagement.

Alignment with Regional Strategies

Grant proposals must align with regional Corporate Responsibility strategies as determined by regional councils. Each region translates global community strategies into local priorities.

Focus on Community Impact

Grants support projects that strengthen communities where Cummins employees live and work. Demonstrated local impact and connection to Cummins communities is crucial.

Non-Discrimination Requirement

The foundation will only consider organizations that are non-discriminatory in their policies and practices with regard to physical or mental abilities, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, and/or creed.

Strategic Alignment with Three Pillars

Projects should clearly align with at least one of the foundation's three focus areas: education (particularly for underserved students), equity (including housing, food security, workforce development, mental health), or environment (particularly greenspace and sustainability).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct applications accepted: Organizations cannot apply directly to the Cummins Foundation—all funding flows through employee partnerships
  • Build relationships first: Focus on developing genuine partnerships with Cummins employees and establishing engagement before any funding discussions
  • Identify local Cummins presence: Research Cummins facilities in your area (including Daventry and other UK locations) and connect with employees who might champion your cause
  • GlobalGiving connection for UK charities: UK partners must go through GlobalGiving's vetting process for international grants
  • Substantial grant potential: Grants range from $5,000 to $800,000, with most under $250,000, representing meaningful funding opportunities for organizations that can establish the right partnerships
  • Long-term relationship building: The foundation's model requires patience and authentic relationship development rather than transactional funding requests
  • Focus on three pillars: Ensure your work clearly aligns with education, equity, or environment priorities that resonate with Cummins' global community engagement strategy

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References