The Cummins Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Cummins Foundation gives around the world, channelling most of its support through Community Development Grants that are developed when a Cummins employee engages with a community partner and works with a Corporate Responsibility leader to submit the request to the Foundation; it does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so a small nonprofit cannot simply write in cold and should instead look for an existing relationship with a Cummins employee in the community where it works.
- In the United States it only grants to organisations recognised as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), while outside the United States nonprofit status is checked through the Blackbaud Verified Network, so having that recognition or verification in place matters before any approach is made.
- The Foundation's giving in the most recent year reported totalled $42,982,936 paid, but no grant range is stated, so it is not possible to say how large a typical award might be.
- Organisations should not apply if their policies or practices are discriminatory with regard to physical or mental abilities, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic origin and/or creed; if they are medical or disease-related; if the request is for a capital campaign, for an individual, for a business start-up, or for product donations; if the activity furthers religious doctrine (faith-based organisations must serve all clients regardless of denomination); or if the project or service could be considered to benefit the company.
- Given the invitation-only process and the emphasis on employee engagement with community partners, this is a relationship-led rather than open-competition funder, so the most practical step for a small nonprofit is to build a genuine connection with Cummins employees in its community rather than preparing a formal unsolicited proposal.
Overview
The Cummins Foundation is a US private foundation based in Columbus, IN.
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 Cummins Foundation provides grants around the world to nonprofit partners, supporting communities in which its employees live and work. Its giving is channelled primarily through Community Development Grants, which provide financial support for projects and partners once engagement with the community partner has been established. Employees can develop grant ideas with a Corporate Responsibility leader and submit requests to the Foundation. The grants help employees learn more about their communities, use business skills to build an organisation’s capacity and deepen understanding of critical community needs. The Foundation considers qualifying charitable community partners. In the United States it grants only to tax-exempt organisations under section 501(c)(3); outside the United States, nonprofit eligibility is checked through the Blackbaud Verified Network.
Themes
- Community development
Geographic Focus
Around the world.
What They Don't Fund
- Charitable organizations whose policies and practices are discriminatory with regards to physical or mental abilities, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic origin and/or creed
- Medical or disease-related organizations
- Capital campaigns
- Individuals’ or business start-ups
- Product donations
- Religious activities, in whole or in part, for the purpose of furthering religious doctrine (faith-based organizations must provide service to all clients regardless of denomination)
- Projects or services that could be considered to benefit the company
How to apply
For Community Development Grants, employees engage with a community partner, develop grant ideas with a Corporate Responsibility leader and submit requests to the Foundation.
Officers and directors
- Tony Satterthwaite — 0
- Travis Meeks — Secretary
- Jim Schacht — Chief Executive Officer
- Sharon Barner — Director
- Lyndsey Teeters — Treasurer
- Nicole Lamb-Hale — Director
- Jennifer Rumsey — Chairman
- Mark Smith — Director
- Srikanth Padmanabhan — Director
- Will Miller — Director
- Tonya Sisco — Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $23,400,047 | $23,249,306 | $55,770,701 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $31,084,782 | $25,766,488 | $66,154,868 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $39,251,079 | $42,982,936 | $57,860,545 | 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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Applying to The Cummins Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required