James H. Cummings Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Foundation funds 501(c)(3) organisations in medical research, science and post-secondary medical education, services for vulnerable children and children with disabilities, and services for older and vulnerable adults, with priority given to capital projects.
- Its geographic focus is Buffalo, Toronto and Hendersonville, and it does not fund salaries, ordinary operating expenses, programme costs, individuals or national organisations, so a modest capital request in those areas and places is the best fit.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $5,000 and $84,500, with a median of about $30,500, though its largest grant was $250,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- Start with a Letter of Intent through the online portal before the mid-month deadlines preceding February, May, September and December, expect site visits for accepted requests, and plan a final report on expenditures and outcomes, since the Foundation weighs accountability in future requests.
- In the latest filing, repeat grantees received 52% of grant dollars, so newcomers are not shut out, but a large share of its money goes to organisations it already funds, and any organisation with payments from a previous grant still outstanding should not apply.
Overview
James H. Cummings Foundation is a US private foundation based in Buffalo, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation supports 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organisations whose missions and services align with its guidelines and mission. It advances medical research, science and post-secondary medical education in Buffalo and Hendersonville, and medical research in Toronto. It also funds services for vulnerable children and children with disabilities that enhance high-school graduation rates, with a focus on out-of-school care and early care and education in Buffalo and Hendersonville. For older and vulnerable adults, it supports services that help them maintain independent, healthy and active lifestyles and remain in their own homes when possible. Priority is given to capital projects; grants are not made to national organisations.
Themes
- Medical research
- Science
- Post-secondary education
- Vulnerable people services
Geographic Focus
Buffalo; Toronto; Hendersonville.
What They Don't Fund
- Salaries
- Ordinary operating expenses
- Program costs
- Deficit financing
- Contingency reserves
- Endowments
- National organizations
- Individuals, including scholarship aid or fellowships
- Any organization to which payments from a previous grant are outstanding
How to apply
Applicants begin with a Letter of Intent (LOI), submitted through the online portal.
Deadlines: Mid-month preceding February, May, September and December.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 52% 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 164 grants to organisations were about $30,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prioritises capital projects.
- Applicants should align their missions and services with the Foundation’s guidelines and mission.
- Foundation staff make site visits for all accepted grant requests.
- A final grant report must detail expenditures and evaluate outcomes; accountability influences future requests.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 52% of grant dollars went to organisations James H. Cummings Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 4% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Canada).
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 62 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,195 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cradle Beach · Inclusive swimming pool renovations$115,6002024 tax year
- Research Foundation For Suny At Ub · Flow cytometry equipment$104,1892024 tax year
- FeedMore WNY · A permanent home for feedmore$100,0002024 tax year
- United Way of Henderson County · Helene emergency response rapid home inspection/repairs$100,0002024 tax year
- Ministry Seven · Roof replacement for homeless shelter$87,2972024 tax year
- Brothers of Mercy · Call light installation for nursing facility$84,4632024 tax year
- Jacobs Institute · Expansion of prototyping capabilities in i2r center$80,1962024 tax year
- AdventHealth Hendersonville · Adolescent girls recovery center$74,6672024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mary Jo Hunt — Executive Director and Secretary
- Theodore I Putnam MD — Director
- Amy L Clifton — Director
- Lavonne Ansari PhD — Director
- William L Joyce — Treasurer
- Christopher T Greene — Vice President
- Charles F Kreiner Jr — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,604,793 | $2,212,078 | $40,430,917 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,989,217 | $2,586,790 | $45,318,217 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,892,364 | $2,412,785 | $46,423,823 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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Applying to James H. Cummings Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required