James H Cummings Foundation Inc
The James H Cummings Foundation Inc is a private foundation incorporated in 1962 and organized under New York State law. Based in Buffalo, NY, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status since July 1964. The foundation functions as an independent grantmaking organization with a focus on advancing charitable causes through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46.4M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
-6.7% YoY
Grant Count
62
+14.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
-18.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James H Cummings Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to provide grants exclusively for charitable purposes with emphasis on:
- Medical Science & Research: Advancing medical science, research, and education in selected cities in the U.S. and Canada
- Medical Education: Supporting educational initiatives in the medical field
- Vulnerable Populations: Charitable work among underprivileged boys and girls, and aged and infirm persons in designated areas
- Capital Projects: Priority given to medical proposals and capital projects, particularly for equipment needs
Grantmaking
Applicants should refer to the foundation's website for information. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible.
Grant Range
$30,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in:
- Buffalo, NY (primary service area)
- Selected cities in the U.S. and Canada
- Recent grants indicate activity in North Carolina and Canada
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2025:
- Total Assets: $46.4 million
- Total Revenues: $2.2 million
- Total Expenses: $2.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $45.3 million
- Total Revenues: $4.07 million
- Total Expenses: $2.99 million
The foundation ranks in the top 10% of foundations by asset size nationally.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $46,423,823 | $45,318,217 | $40,430,917 |
| Revenue | $2,249,288 | $4,066,178 | $1,359,053 |
| Expenses | $2,892,364 | $2,989,217 | $2,604,793 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,640,254 | $2,791,574 | $2,401,093 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,060,111 | $3,880,076 | $1,179,585 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,268,265 | $2,070,659 | $1,988,289 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
235 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Cradle Beach ($115,600), Feedmore Wny of Buffalo ($100,000), Ministry Seven ($87,297).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVENTHEALTH HENDERSONVILLE HENDERSONVILLE, NC | ADOLESCENT GIRLS RECOVERY CENTER | $74,667 |
| ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 BUFFALO, NY | ROOF REPLACEMENT | $50,000 |
| BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUFFALO, NY | RELOCATION OF SAFE SPACE DROPIN CENTER | $26,634 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BUFFALO BUFFALO, NY | PROVIDING BUILDING SECURITY UPGRADES FOR SAFETY & PROTECTION | $33,264 |
| BROTHERS OF MERCY CLARENCE, NY | CALL LIGHT INSTALLATION FOR NURSING FACILITY | $84,463 |
| BUFFALO ARTS STUDIO BUFFALO, NY | TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT FOR ARTS EDUCATION | $7,882 |
| BUFFALO CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY BUFFALO, NY | OPEN TECH INNOVATION STUDIO AT BCAT | $51,520 |
| BUFFALO HEARING AND SPEECH BUFFALO, NY | AUDIOLOGY CLINIC UPGRADES | $13,710 |
| BUFFALO PREP BUFFALO, NY | LAPTOPS AND UPDATED TECHNOLOGY | $50,000 |
| BUFFALO STRING WORKS BUFFALO, NY | STRING INSTRUMENTS FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN | $24,998 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Mary Jo Hunt - Executive Director and Secretary (30 hours/week, $80,000 compensation)
- Charles F Kreiner Jr - President
- Christopher T Greene - Vice President
- William L Joyce - Treasurer
- LaVonne Ansari PhD - Director
- Amy L Clifton - Director
- Theodore I Putnam MD - Director
- Kelly Wischerath - Office Administrator
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES F KREINER JR | PRESIDENT | 1 | $14,750 |
| CHRISTOPHER T GREENE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | $14,750 |
| WILLIAM L JOYCE | TREASURER | 1 | $14,750 |
| LAVONNE ANSARI PHD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $14,750 |
| AMY L CLIFTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $14,750 |
| THEODORE I PUTNAM MD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $14,750 |
| MARY JO HUNT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY | 30 | $80,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated active grantmaking in recent years, with notable investments including:
Support for Cradle Beach's inclusive swimming pool renovations, reflecting commitment to serving children with special needs
Funding for SickKids Toronto's Death After Cardiac Death (DCD) Pediatric Transplant Research Project, advancing innovative cardiac transplant research for children
Support for The Tool Library's building purchase campaign
Emergency response funding for disaster relief in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene
Ongoing support for medical research institutions including the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute
The foundation maintains an active grant program with recent fiscal year activity showing consistent philanthropic engagement across its priority areas.
Cummings Foundation grant winners: $2.5M awarded to 11 MetroWest nonprofitsFrequently Asked Questions
What does James H Cummings Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's purpose is to provide grants exclusively for charitable purposes with emphasis on: • **Medical Science & Research**: Advancing medical science, research, and education in selected cities in the U.S. and Canada • **Medical Education**: Supporting educational initiatives in the medical field • **Vulnerable Populations**: Charitable work among underprivileged boys and girls, and aged and infirm persons in designated areas • **Capital Projects**: Priority given to medical proposals…
How do I apply for a grant from James H Cummings Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 40-62 grants in recent fiscal years • Median grant size: $30,000 • Grant range: $2,600 to $116,000 • Recent grants include: $115,600 to Cradle Beach for inclusive swimming pool renovations, $100,000 to United Way of Henderson County for emergency response and home repairs, and $87,297 to Hendersonville Rescue Mission for homeless shelter roof replacement **Application Process:** Applicants should refer to the foundation's website for information. Organizations must ha…
Where does James H Cummings Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in: • Buffalo, NY (primary service area) • Selected cities in the U.S. and Canada • Recent grants indicate activity in North Carolina and Canada
What size grants does James H Cummings Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, James H Cummings Foundation Inc awarded 62 grants totaling $2.4M — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James H Cummings Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, James H Cummings Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James H Cummings Foundation Inc's EIN?
James H Cummings Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-0864200. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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