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The Nathan Cummings Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$17.4M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.8M
Decision Time
3mo

The Nathan Cummings Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,435,650 (2023)
  • Assets: Approximately $470.8 million
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks from submission
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $250,000+ (most grants); PRIs $250,000-$750,000
  • Geographic Focus: United States, U.S. South (40%+ of assets), Israel-Palestine
  • Average Grant Size: $60,964
  • Total Grants in 2024: 286 grants

Contact Details

Website: www.nathancummings.org

Phone: (212) 787-7300

Email: contact@nathancummings.org

Grant Application Support: ga_admin@nathancummings.org

Address: 475 Tenth Avenue, Fourteenth Floor, New York, New York 10018

Overview

Founded by the family of Nathan Cummings, The Nathan Cummings Foundation is a social justice foundation rooted in Jewish tradition and committed to democratic values. With assets of approximately $470.8 million, the foundation awarded $17.4 million in grants in 2023 and has distributed nearly half a billion dollars over the past three decades. The foundation's mission centers on advancing racial, economic, and environmental justice (REEJ) in the United States and Israel-Palestine. In a significant strategic shift, the foundation has committed to investing 100% of its endowment for mission-aligned impact and dedicated $22 million (5% of endowment) to program-related investments. The foundation places particular emphasis on the U.S. South, dedicating a minimum of 40% of all assets to the region. In 2023, 62% of grants supported BIPOC-led organizations. The foundation published its first-ever Impact Report in August 2024, titled "Outcomes that Matter," demonstrating increased transparency and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Venture Grants: Up to $100,000 for one year

  • Short-term funding designed to expedite support to social entrepreneurs with breakthrough, emerging, and innovative solutions
  • Rolling application process

Advancement Grants: Up to $250,000 per year for up to two years

  • Designed to provide two-year support to project-based work and/or help scale organizations and promising solutions
  • Rolling application process

Enterprise Grants: $250,000+ annually for more than two years

  • Invitation-only multi-year, unrestricted funding to partners with deep alignment across REEJ focus areas
  • Provides long-term, flexible support to transformational organizations

Program-Related Investments (PRIs): $250,000 - $750,000

  • Low-interest loans typically repaid within three to seven years
  • Backed by $22 million dedicated from the foundation's endowment
  • 2026 PRI budget: approximately $4 million

Priority Areas

All proposals must align with the foundation's interconnected goals of Racial, Economic, and/or Environmental Justice (REEJ). Specific focus areas include:

Racial Justice (25% of 2024 grant budget)

  • Jewish social justice work combating white supremacy
  • BIPOC-led organizations and entrepreneurs
  • Systemic change initiatives

Environmental Justice (19% of 2024 grant budget)

  • Climate change solutions
  • Clean energy projects delivering environmental, economic, and equity benefits to underserved communities
  • Community-owned renewable energy initiatives

Economic Justice (19% of 2024 grant budget)

  • Community wealth building strategies
  • Closing the racial wealth gap
  • Reducing barriers to home ownership and business ownership
  • Support for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs in tech
  • Non-extractive capital for New Majority entrepreneurs

Place-Based Initiatives (7% of 2024 grant budget)

  • U.S. South: Hyper-local civic engagement work including school board reform, preemption, and voter suppression
  • Israel-Palestine: Work advancing REEJ in the region

Proposals that align and intersect with REEJ and place-based initiatives in the U.S. South are especially encouraged.

What They Don't Fund

The Nathan Cummings Foundation does not support:

  • Social or direct service projects that are not part of a larger advocacy strategy
  • Cash transfer programs
  • Work development programs
  • Food and education services (unless part of advocacy strategy)
  • Housing assistance (unless part of advocacy strategy)

The foundation focuses on systemic change and advocacy rather than direct service delivery.

Governance and Leadership

The Nathan Cummings Foundation is governed by trustees who are philanthropists, business leaders, activists, and changemakers across a variety of fields including the arts, clean economy, academia, finance, social services, entertainment, and non-profits. The majority of trustees are descendants of Nathan Cummings.

Current Leadership

Rey Ramsey - President and CEO, Independent Trustee, Investment Committee member

Jaimie Mayer - Board Chair (succeeded Ruth Cummings)

Recent Independent Trustee Appointments

  • Jarrett Barrios
  • Gabriella Morris
  • Melissa Bradley
  • Daniel Tellalian

Leadership Perspectives

Jaimie Mayer (Board Chair) on leadership selection: "We were looking for a unicorn, and we found her. She's one of those rare leaders who has searing intellect and genuine humility. She fearlessly speaks truth to power."

Sharon Alpert (Former President and CEO) on the foundation's role: "Our job is to call out injustice when we see it, and back those willing to take it on. We are challengers to the old ways of working, and instigators of imagining new ways."

Jarrett Barrios (Independent Trustee): "This is an organization that is not afraid to embrace risk and innovation in order to address some of the greatest challenges of our time."

Daniel Tellalian (Independent Trustee): "In my three years working alongside the family and Investment Committee, I've been impressed—and touched by—the trustees' and staff's humility and ideals."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Nathan Cummings Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis year-round through an online application portal.

Step 1: Register for the Applicant Portal

Step 2: Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Complete the appropriate LOI form based on the type of funding requested (Grant or PRI)
  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
  • The portal remains open year-round for REEJ-related LOIs

Step 3: Review Process

  • All applicants will be notified within 12 weeks of submission
  • If selected for further consideration, you will be invited to submit a full proposal

Pre-Application Guidance: Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the NCF website to review the FAQs and understand the foundation's focus areas in Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice before applying.

Eligible Organizations:

  • Organizations based in the United States, its territories, and Israel-Palestine
  • Particular interest in work focused on the U.S. South
  • BIPOC-led organizations strongly encouraged

Decision Timeline

  • Notification: Within 12 weeks of LOI submission
  • Full Process: Variable depending on grant type and complexity
  • Applications reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, in 2024, the foundation awarded 286 grants from an approximately $17 million grant budget, with an average grant size of $60,964.

The foundation allocates its budget strategically:

  • 25% to racial justice initiatives
  • 19% to environmental justice
  • 19% to economic justice
  • 7% to place-based initiatives

Reapplication Policy

No waiting period for organizations that have been declined for a grant. However, it is strongly recommended that nonprofits review the guidelines closely before submitting a Letter of Inquiry the following year.

Feedback for Declined Applicants: Out of respect for the significant time and effort nonprofit professionals dedicate to creating applications, the foundation provides feedback when requested. To request feedback, applicants can call their office at (212) 787-7300 to be connected with staff members (Deputy Director Andrew Bishop or Executive Director Joyce Vyriotes). The majority of grant decisions are made by volunteers, and staff will pass along comments written by these volunteers.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Deep Understanding and Analysis

For Fellowship applicants (which may provide insight into grant priorities), the foundation looks for "a deep understanding and clear analysis of the field in which they work" and a "history of success in this field but still be positioned to benefit from the foundation's support."

Alignment with REEJ Framework

Successful applications must clearly demonstrate alignment with the interconnected goals of racial, economic, and/or environmental justice. The foundation particularly values proposals that intersect multiple REEJ areas.

Focus on Systemic Change

The foundation values "innovative, exploratory work" and seeks to support partners "committed to long-term social change." Applications should focus on transforming "the systems and mindsets that hinder progress toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all people" rather than providing direct services alone.

Geographic Priorities

Proposals focused on the U.S. South are especially encouraged, given the foundation's commitment to dedicating at least 40% of assets to this region. Work addressing hyper-local civic engagement (school board reform, preemption, voter suppression) and barriers to home/business ownership in the South is particularly aligned with current priorities.

Examples of Recently Funded Work

Bend the Arc: $800,000 over 24 months (2023-2027) for Jewish social justice work to build a just and equitable U.S. free from white supremacy

Black Girl Ventures Foundation: $100,000 over 12 months (2024-2025) to fund and scale tech-enabled businesses under $1 million founded by Black/Brown women

Emerald Cities Collaborative: $200,000 over 24 months (2023-2025) to increase clean energy projects delivering environmental, economic, and equity benefits to underserved communities

GOODProjects: $100,000 over 12 months (2024-2025) to move 500 families out of poverty through family support services

Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative: $75,000 over 12 months to advance community wealth building strategies and close the racial wealth gap

Sunset Park Solar (PRI): Program-related investment to support UPROSE for Sunset Park Solar, a community-owned 685-kW rooftop solar array providing renewable energy and on-bill savings to 150-200 households and small businesses

1863 Venture Fund I (PRI): Equity investment to provide flexible, culturally competent, non-extractive capital to New Majority entrepreneurs, specifically Black and women entrepreneurs

Strategic Approach

The foundation embraces "risk and innovation" and is willing to challenge old ways of working. Applications that propose breakthrough, emerging, and innovative solutions are valued, particularly for Venture Grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • REEJ integration is essential: Demonstrate how your work advances racial, economic, and/or environmental justice—ideally showing intersections between these areas. Use the REEJ framework explicitly in your application.

  • U.S. South focus offers advantage: With 40%+ of assets dedicated to the U.S. South, projects in this region—particularly addressing civic engagement, voter suppression, and economic barriers—are strongly positioned.

  • Systemic change over services: Frame your work as advocacy and systemic transformation rather than direct service delivery. Show how you're challenging systems and mindsets, not just treating symptoms.

  • Rolling applications mean year-round opportunity: Unlike many foundations with annual deadlines, you can apply when ready. The 12-week notification timeline allows for planning.

  • No penalty for reapplication: If declined, you can reapply immediately with no waiting period. Request feedback to strengthen your next application.

  • Innovation and risk-taking are valued: The foundation explicitly seeks "breakthrough, emerging, and innovative solutions" and isn't afraid to take risks. Don't shy away from bold, transformative proposals.

  • BIPOC leadership matters: With 62% of grants supporting BIPOC-led organizations, leadership diversity is clearly a priority in funding decisions.

References

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