Melvin S Cutler Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts no unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected organisations, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered; contact it only if you already have a relationship or an invitation.
- Its stated themes are medical research, support for people in need and underprivileged children, and it describes giving across the charitable spectrum, so work in those areas is the clearest fit.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $1,500 and $34,000, with a median of $3,600, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though its largest grant of about $150,000, to Jewish National Fund, shows that band is not a ceiling.
- In its latest filing, 94% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in its earlier filings, so the filing suggests it is largely a repeat-giving funder, and a new applicant should not read its record as an open door.
- The filing states no geographic focus, so location alone is not a reason to rule yourself out.
Overview
Melvin S Cutler Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Worcester, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (jewishcentralmass.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its giving as spanning charitable causes, including medical research, help for people in need and care for underprivileged children. It says its charitable goal is to improve the lives of Jews and non-Jews. Its grant record includes Jewish community organisations, hospitals, arts organisations, educational charities, food banks and social-service groups. Most recorded grants have a general purpose, rather than a more specific programme description, and grants go to public charities. Its page describes giving across the charitable spectrum rather than identifying one narrow field.
Themes
- Medical research
- Support for people in need
- Underprivileged children
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts and New York.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 94% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 158 grants to organisations were $3,600 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations Melvin S Cutler Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 44% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 45 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Jewish National Fund · General$82,6002024 tax year
- Friends of United Hatzalah · General$70,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts · General$69,6002024 tax year
- PEF Israel Endowment Fund · General$54,0002024 tax year
- ISEF Foundation · General$33,6002024 tax year
- Clark Hillel · General$30,0002024 tax year
- Anti-Defamation League Ne Region · General$30,0002024 tax year
- American Friends of NATAL · General$24,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth J Cutler — Trustee
- Douglas Cutler — Trustee
- Frederic Mulligan — Trustee
- Melvin S Cutler — Trustee
- Jacob Cutler — Trustee
- Kelly Cutler — Trustee
- Barbara Crosbie — Board Secretary
- Robert Adler — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $582,328 | $471,600 | $13,100,322 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,200,854 | $1,087,773 | $14,786,840 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $726,056 | $629,383 | $14,523,367 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Melvin S Cutler Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Worcester, MA
Applying to Melvin S Cutler Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Worcester, MA