The Nathan Cummings Foundation is a family foundation inspired by Jewish social justice traditions, aiming to realize a more just, vibrant, sustainable, and democratic society. It partners with social movements, organizations, and individuals offering creative solutions to climate change and inequality, focusing on racial, economic, and environmental justice (REEJ). Utilizing its grants, investments, and voice, the foundation commits to changemaking, emphasizing long-term goals over temporary solutions.
The grant program of the Nathan Cummings Foundation is designed to address the interconnected issues of racial, economic, and environmental justice (REEJ) by supporting organizations and initiatives that tackle the root causes and oppressive manifestations of inequality and climate change. The foundation aims to advance environmental justice by supporting efforts to prevent and repair environmental disparities, promote inclusive participation in the green economy, and embrace regenerative economic models. To promote racial justice, it funds initiatives that increase civic engagement, address the racial wealth gap, and combat systemic racism and oppression. For economic justice, the foundation supports projects aimed at improving economic security, increasing access to capital for historically excluded groups, and reducing monopoly power to level the playing field. The foundation offers various grants, including Venture Grants for short-term exploratory work, Advancement Grants for scaling promising solutions, and Enterprise Grants for deep, multi-year partnerships. Funding ranges generally from $50,000 to $250,000, with significant budgets allocated to support new partners in each focus area.