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The Cummins Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$25.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M

The Cummins Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25.8 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $66.2 million
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000 (most under $250,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (30+ countries), with primary focus on Columbus, Indiana
  • Application Method: Employee-driven only (no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Address: 500 Jackson Street, M.C. 60633, Columbus, IN 47201

Email: cummins.foundation@cummins.com

Phone: (812) 327-9117

Fax: (812) 377-7897

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

Overview

Established in 1954, The Cummins Foundation Inc is one of the earliest corporate foundations in the United States, created 35 years after Cummins Inc. was founded. As the charitable arm of Cummins Inc., a global power leader, the foundation operates as a registered 501(c)(3) organization with $66.2 million in assets and distributed $25.8 million in grants in 2024. The foundation's mission centers on promoting education, environmental sustainability, social justice, and equality of opportunity in communities where Cummins employees live and work. Operating globally across more than 30 countries, the foundation distinguishes itself through an employee-driven model where all grants emerge from employee engagement with community partners. The foundation has evolved its strategic approach through four flagship programs launched since 2012, with particular emphasis on its headquarters community of Columbus, Indiana, where it pioneered the renowned Architecture Program in Bartholomew County.

Funding Priorities

Strategic Community Programs

The foundation operates four global strategic initiatives with significant reach:

  • Cummins TEC (Technical Education for Communities): Launched 2012, supporting technical education and workforce development. Has produced 4,000 graduates since inception.

  • Cummins Powers Women: A $20+ million commitment addressing gender equality globally. Reached 625,122 women and girls in 2023 alone, working with 10 global partners across 18 countries.

  • Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE): Launched 2020, focused on dismantling institutional racism and creating systemic equity. Provided 864 financial or technical services to Black-owned enterprises since launch.

  • Cummins Water Works: Launched 2021, aims to bring fresh water to 20 million people. Has impacted 1.2 million people to date through partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, Water.org, and Hennops Revival.

Community Development Grants (CDGs)

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000 (most grants stay under $250,000; some reach up to $800,000)
  • Process: Employee-driven grants supporting projects where Cummins employees have established engagement with community partners
  • Application: Rolling basis through employee-nonprofit partnerships

Architecture Program (Bartholomew County, Indiana)

  • Purpose: Encourages architectural excellence in Bartholomew County
  • Coverage: Foundation pays architectural design fees for public projects
  • Eligibility: All facilities owned and operated by public tax dollars in Bartholomew County
  • History: Sponsored more than 50 projects; began with schools and expanded to all public projects
  • Process: Community entities retain final selection authority for architectural teams

Priority Areas

Education: Early childhood through higher education, with focus on creating opportunity for underserved students. Past grantees include:

  • KIPP Indianapolis
  • Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program
  • HBCU Founders Initiative
  • Boys and Girls Clubs (multiple local chapters)
  • Zambia Open Community Schools
  • SheCan Nigeria
  • St. Brigid's Infant National School (Dublin)
  • Niitsitapi Learning Center (Calgary) - a pre-K through second grade school centering Métis and Inuit cultures

Environment: Community organizations preserving and maintaining public greenspaces. Past grantees include:

  • Clark County Forestry and Parks (Wisconsin)
  • Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
  • Charleston Waterkeeper (South Carolina)
  • Tenngreen Land Conservancy (Nashville, Tennessee)

Social Justice and Equality: Programs addressing systemic inequity and access to basic services:

  • Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services through partnership with Americares in Barranquilla, Colombia
  • Technical training programs with mock interview preparation
  • Community development initiatives in Cummins plant communities worldwide

Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Jennifer Rumsey (Chair and CEO of Cummins Inc., assumed role August 1, 2023)

CEO of Foundation: Jim Schacht (Vice President – Corporate Responsibility and Community Relations at Cummins Inc., appointed 2023)

Jim Schacht succeeded Mary Chandler in 2023 after she led the foundation's community engagement efforts since 2011. Prior to becoming CEO, Schacht led efforts to determine how Cummins could make the most impact in environmental focus areas and fulfill community commitments of Cummins' PLANET 2050 climate strategy. His work resulted in the creation of Cummins Water Works, which has helped more than half a million people access clean water.

Under current leadership, the foundation has developed a multi-level approach with a corporate team setting strategy and direction, supported by regional leaders in eight regions who view themselves as community leaders.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Cummins Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All funding opportunities emerge through employee engagement with community partners.

The Partnership Process:

  1. Build Relationship with Cummins Employees: Nonprofits must first establish partnerships with Cummins employees at any of the hundreds of Cummins locations globally. The foundation has over 400 Community Involvement Teams in communities worldwide.

  2. Employee Engagement: Cummins employees engage with nonprofits, develop relationships, and organize volunteer activities that allow them to contribute time and skills.

  3. Grant Development: After engagement with a community partner has been established, employees develop grant ideas in collaboration with their Corporate Responsibility leader.

  4. Grant Submission: Employees submit grant requests to the Cummins Foundation on behalf of their community partners.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the foundation only funds organizations with active Cummins employee involvement, nonprofits should:

  • Identify Local Cummins Facilities: Research whether Cummins has operations in your community. The company operates in over 30 countries with hundreds of locations.

  • Connect with Community Involvement Teams: Cummins has over 400 Community Involvement Teams globally. These employee-led groups actively seek community partnerships.

  • Engage Cummins Employees as Volunteers: Invite Cummins employees to serve on your board, volunteer at events, or participate in programs. Active employee involvement is the prerequisite for all foundation funding.

  • Bartholomew County Public Entities: For the Architecture Program, public entities in Bartholomew County, Indiana can approach the foundation about design fee support for public projects.

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary depending on the grant type and employee-nonprofit partnership development. The foundation operates on a rolling basis for Community Development Grants once employee engagement has been established.

Application Success Factors

Given the employee-driven model, success depends entirely on building authentic relationships with Cummins employees:

Critical Success Factors:

  1. Active Employee Involvement: The foundation "distinguishes itself by limiting support to organizations with which its employees are directly involved." Grants do not exist without genuine employee engagement.

  2. Alignment with Strategic Programs: Organizations working in technical education, women's empowerment, racial equity, or water access may find alignment with the foundation's four strategic programs (TEC, Powers Women, CARE, Water Works).

  3. Geographic Presence in Cummins Communities: The foundation prioritizes "communities in which Cummins does business" and where employees "live and work." Being in a Cummins plant community significantly increases partnership potential.

  4. Focus on Smaller Organizations: According to Inside Philanthropy, "most grants support smaller organizations that are actively involved in the communities they serve."

  5. Employee Leadership Opportunities: Organizations that offer meaningful volunteer opportunities, board service, or project leadership roles for Cummins employees create stronger partnership foundations.

  6. Alignment with Corporate Values: The foundation supports programs promoting education, environment, and social justice/equality of opportunity. Projects should clearly demonstrate impact in these areas.

For Architecture Program Applicants (Bartholomew County Only):

  • Must be a public entity (funded by tax dollars)
  • The foundation covers design fees, but construction must be funded through typical public budgets
  • Final architectural team selection remains with the community entity
  • Projects should demonstrate commitment to architectural excellence

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Employee engagement is non-negotiable: This foundation cannot be approached directly. You must first build relationships with Cummins employees in your community before any funding conversation can occur.

  • Think local Cummins presence: Research whether Cummins has facilities, operations, or significant employee populations in your area. Without local Cummins employees, funding is not possible.

  • Long-term relationship building: This is not a quick grant opportunity. Plan for months or years of volunteer engagement and partnership development before grant opportunities emerge.

  • Volunteer engagement is the entry point: Invite Cummins employees to volunteer, serve on committees, or participate in programs. Active employee involvement generates grant ideas.

  • Align with strategic priorities: If your work touches technical education, women's empowerment, racial equity, or water access, highlight these connections when engaging Cummins employees.

  • Columbus, Indiana focus: Organizations in Columbus and Bartholomew County, Indiana (Cummins headquarters) have particularly strong access given the concentration of employees and the special Architecture Program.

  • Global but locally focused: While the foundation operates in 30+ countries, each grant emerges from local employee-nonprofit partnerships in specific communities.

References

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