Interfaith has been selected as one of 150 nonprofits to receive funding through Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which awarded $35 million this year. Chosen through a competitive review process that drew a record 959 applicants, our organization will receive $150,000 over three years.
“Over the past forty years the Cummings Foundation has grown to become one of the most important sustainers of the nonprofit sector in New England,” said Rick Doane, Interfaith’s Executive Director. “For many years Joyce and Bill Cummings focused their philanthropy primarily for organizations located in Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. We were overjoyed a few years ago when they extended their philanthropic footprint to Quincy. Our team here at Interfaith feels honored to have been selected as beneficiaries this year. Given the increase in demand our programs have seen, we have never needed the help more.”
This year, the Woburn-based Cummings Foundation increased its annual grant program from $30 million to $35 million and shifted to fully unrestricted funding, allowing recipients to direct grant dollars where they are needed most.
Foundation Executive Director and Trustee Joyce Vyriotes noted that the changes reflect growing concerns among Greater Boston nonprofits about rising costs, increased demand for services, and sustained uncertainty around public funding.
“Nonprofit professionals are closest to the challenges facing their communities, making them best positioned to determine where and how new funds will drive the greatest impact,” said Vyriotes. “By providing increased, flexible funding, we hope to strengthen organizations’ long-term stability and help them respond to evolving community needs.”
This year’s grant recipients represent a wide range of causes, including housing and food insecurity, education, workforce development, healthcare, mental health services, social justice, immigrant support, and youth programming.
Since its founding, Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $650 million to Greater Boston nonprofits. The complete list of this year’s grant recipients, along with additional information about the Foundation and its grant programs, is available at CummingsFoundation.org.