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Cumming Foundation

Annual Giving
$11.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $5.0M

Cumming Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,925,000 (2022); $524,857 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $207.2 million (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 61 (2022); 50 (2021); 92 (2020); 5 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Utah, New York, District of Columbia, California
  • Grant Type: General operating support

Contact Details

  • Address: PO Box 4902, Jackson, WY 83001-4902
  • Phone: 307-734-0708
  • Website: No public website

Overview

The Cumming Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 in Utah by Ian M. Cumming, the late Chairman and CEO of Leucadia National Corporation, a diversified holding company that grew to a $6.8 billion enterprise. Following Ian Cumming's death in 2018, the foundation continues under family leadership.

Ian Cumming was known for his preference for anonymous giving, once stating through Leucadia's investor letters that he and his business partner "have always preferred to make money, rather than headlines." This philosophy extended to his philanthropy. He served on the national board of the Nature Conservancy and the Utah State Board of Regents, and was a significant supporter of the University of Utah, where he made major gifts to the David Eccles School of Business, the John A. Moran Eye Center, and the School of Nursing.

The foundation's giving has varied considerably year to year, reflecting its family foundation nature and discretionary approach. With assets exceeding $207 million in 2023, the foundation has substantial capacity to make both large and small grants across its areas of interest.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation primarily provides general operating support grants. Based on 990 filings, the foundation focuses on three primary areas:

  • Education: Strong focus on educational institutions, including schools and universities
  • Human Services: Support for organizations serving communities and vulnerable populations
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Support for charitable sector infrastructure

Priority Areas

Based on the founder's documented interests and grant patterns:

  • Higher Education: Particularly institutions in Utah, with strong historical ties to the University of Utah
  • Medical Research and Healthcare: Including eye care, nursing education, and medical centers
  • Environmental Conservation: Ian Cumming served on the national board of The Nature Conservancy
  • Arts and Culture: Historical support for programs like the Perlman Music Program
  • Reproductive Rights: Annette Cumming has been actively involved with Planned Parenthood organizations

Geographic Preferences

Grant recipients are concentrated in:

  • Utah (primary focus, particularly Salt Lake City area)
  • New York
  • District of Columbia
  • California

What They Don't Fund

Based on the foundation's private nature and historical patterns:

  • No publicly documented exclusions
  • As a family foundation with trustee discretion, funding decisions are made based on trustee interests and relationships

Governance and Leadership

Current Officers and Trustees

NameRoleCompensation (2023)
David E. CummingTrustee and President$160,290
Annette P. CummingVice President, Trustee, Executive DirectorUnpaid
Cathy HandleyTreasurer-
Jessica GrantSecretary-
John D. CummingTrustee-

About Key Trustees

Annette Poulson Cumming is Ian Cumming's widow and serves as Vice President, Trustee, and Executive Director. She holds a B.S. in Nursing and an MBA from the University of Utah and received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2001. She worked as an intensive care nurse and nursing administrator for eleven years before transitioning to business and real estate. She served on the national board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (1992-1997), was a Planned Parenthood Action Fund board member until 2003, chaired Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, and founded Planned Parenthood Action Council (Utahns for Choice).

John D. Cumming is Ian Cumming's son and the founder and chairman of Powdr, a Park City-based ski and adventure lifestyle company. He has maintained the family's philanthropic tradition, including creating an endowed chair at the John A. Moran Eye Center in appreciation of care he received there.

David E. Cumming is also Ian Cumming's son and serves as the foundation's President. He and John together established the Cumming Presidential Endowed Chair at the Moran Eye Center.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Cumming Foundation operates as a private family foundation with discretionary giving determined by the trustees. There is no formal application form, portal, or published guidelines for prospective grant seekers.

Based on the foundation's pattern of giving and its family foundation structure, grants typically go to:

  • Organizations with pre-existing relationships with the Cumming family
  • Institutions where family members serve on boards or have personal connections
  • Causes aligned with documented family interests (education, healthcare, environment, reproductive rights)

Getting on Their Radar

Specific pathways identified:

  1. University of Utah connections: The Cumming family has deep ties to the University of Utah, including the David Eccles School of Business, John A. Moran Eye Center, and School of Nursing. Organizations connected to these institutions may have pathways to the foundation.

  2. Moran Eye Center relationship: John Cumming has stated his appreciation for care received at the Moran Eye Center and noted the foundation supports causes that "maintain the momentum" created there.

  3. Wyoming/Jackson Hole presence: The foundation is based in Jackson, Wyoming, and Ian Cumming spent significant time there. Local organizations may have opportunities for connection.

  4. Park City/Ski Industry: John Cumming leads Powdr, a ski and adventure lifestyle company based in Park City. Organizations in this sector may find common ground.

Decision Timeline

  • Decisions are made at trustee discretion
  • No published timeline for grant decisions
  • Annual 990 filings show grants are distributed throughout the year

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Based on documented giving patterns and family statements:

  1. Long-term relationships: The foundation tends to support organizations with which the family has established relationships over time

  2. Alignment with family interests: Education, healthcare (especially eye care), nursing, reproductive rights, environment, and skiing/outdoor recreation

  3. Utah connections: Strong preference for organizations serving Utah communities, particularly those connected to the University of Utah

  4. Discretion and privacy: Ian Cumming famously preferred giving with "as little publicity as possible"—organizations that respect donor privacy may be better received

Recent Grants and Patterns

Known grant recipients include:

  • Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City independent school)
  • University of Utah institutions (School of Business, Moran Eye Center, School of Nursing)
  • U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Federation

The $5 million gift to the University of Utah School of Nursing (2011) was made as a birthday gift from Ian to Annette Cumming, demonstrating the deeply personal nature of family foundation giving.

Factors That May Increase Success

  • Direct connection to a Cumming family member or their interests
  • Demonstrated impact in Utah communities
  • Alignment with healthcare, education, or environmental causes
  • Track record of effective use of philanthropic resources
  • Reputation for discretion with donor relationships

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No public application process: This is a private family foundation with trustee-discretionary giving. Cold applications are unlikely to succeed.

  2. Relationship-driven philanthropy: The foundation supports organizations where family members have personal connections or board involvement.

  3. Utah focus: Despite being headquartered in Wyoming, the foundation has strong historical ties to Utah institutions, particularly the University of Utah.

  4. Significant capacity: With over $207 million in assets and history of multi-million dollar grants, the foundation can make substantial gifts to aligned organizations.

  5. Variable annual giving: Grant totals have ranged from approximately $500,000 to nearly $12 million in recent years, reflecting the discretionary nature of family foundation giving.

  6. Key interests: Education, healthcare (especially eye care and nursing), environmental conservation, reproductive rights, and skiing/outdoor recreation.

  7. Privacy valued: The founder preferred anonymous giving; organizations should be prepared to respect donor privacy preferences.

References

Research conducted December 2025

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