The Nicholas & Dorothy Cummings Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is in behavioural health, such as direct services for children or adults, research, or professional development that changes how people think about mental health, it fits the foundation's stated priorities, and it says it prioritises direct engagement that helps programmes start or expand services.
- Its Behavioral Health Grants are open only to qualified US-based 501(c)(3) public charities and to international organisations with equivalent nonprofit status, so an organisation outside that group should not apply through this programme.
- The $25,000 to $150,000 range is a typical band rather than a ceiling, but half of its grants to organisations in the filing were $54,000 or less, so a request near that level is realistic for a small charity.
- Apply through the Complete Application link on the programme page before the September 25 deadline.
- Its latest filing shows none of its grant dollars going to organisations it had funded the year before, so a first-time applicant is not at a disadvantage on that count.
Overview
The Nicholas & Dorothy Cummings Foundation is a US private foundation based in Reno, NV.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation says its mission is to support professional individuals, innovative programmes and educational efforts that enhance behavioural health practices. Its Behavioral Health Grants are open to qualified US-based 501(c)(3) public charities and international organisations with equivalent nonprofit status, including research organisations, educational institutions, professional organisations supporting behavioural health, and similar bodies. It prioritises direct engagement for children and adults to start or expand services, research in behavioural health, and professional development that changes how people think about mental health and helps them access support. It also states that it supports the LGBTQIA+ community through its work and giving.
Themes
- Behavioral health practices
- Direct behavioural health services
- Behavioral health research
- Professional development
- LGBTQIA+ community support
Geographic Focus
U.S.
How to apply
Organisations seeking support through the Behavioral Health Grants use the Complete Application link on the programme page.
Deadlines: Applications are due by September 25.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, none of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 9 grants to organisations were $54,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants should prioritise direct engagement opportunities for children and adults that enable programmes to start or expand direct services.
- Applicants may qualify through research in the field of behavioural health.
- Applicants may qualify through professional development that changes how people think about mental health.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 15%
- The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 0% of grant dollars went to organisations The Nicholas & Dorothy Cummings Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 15% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Kenya).
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 8 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $54,500 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies · Funding enhanced leadership, development and planning for 2025$204,3502025 tax year
- Empowerment Center · Funding new apartment furniture/appliances$150,1302025 tax year
- Lead Whorses · Funding barn remodel$150,0002025 tax year
- Saint Nicholas Orthodox School · Funding construction of school$55,0002025 tax year
- Saint Nicholas Orthodox School · Funding of school food, salaries, and supplies.$54,0002025 tax year
- Communities in Schools Western Nevada · Funding support staff school year 2025 - 2026$50,0002025 tax year
- Briscoeway Services LLC · Funding a supportive enviornment for at risk youth$30,0002025 tax year
- Peer Support Network International - WCSCO · Funding conference fees and supplies$28,7202025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Andrew M Cummings — Director
- Kent Geiser — Director
- Mary Denny — Director
- Janet Cummings — President
- Kristen Demara — Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $50,522 | $0 | $648,997 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $292,420 | $15,000 | $22,331,736 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,211,550 | $722,200 | $24,256,043 | Filing for 2025 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 The Nicholas & Dorothy Cummings Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required