The Frances L. & Edwin L. Cummings Memorial Fund is dedicated to supporting organizations in New York City and Northeastern New Jersey that offer programs and services in social welfare, education, and health, with a special focus on youth programs. They aim to fill community needs in areas that are currently underfunded, emphasizing the development and expansion of innovative and new programs.
The grant program by the Frances L. & Edwin L. Cummings Memorial Fund primarily supports the initiation or expansion of innovative programs for organizations based in New York City and surrounding urban areas in Northeastern New Jersey. The fund's interests include social welfare programs addressing child welfare, youth development, juvenile delinquency, housing/homelessness, and employment/job training. In education, it focuses on public school system reforms and support for disadvantaged children, including STEM and literacy initiatives, staff development, and college guidance. In health care, the emphasis is on connecting disadvantaged populations to healthcare and mental health services. Although less frequently, the Fund also supports pre-screened, high-priority medical research. The assistance provided includes funding for new program development, staffing, capacity building, and consulting services suited to the strategic needs of recipient organizations.