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Grants Program

Cummings (James H.) Foundation

Now that you have an understanding of what and where the Foundation provides funding, here is an overview of the application process and the application cycle.

All applications begin with the Letter of Intent (LOI) and must be submitted through our online portal.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors meets four times per year to review applications.
Grant requests for Buffalo, Toronto, and Hendersonville are reviewed at different times throughout the year. For more information, refer to the key dates outlined below.
Foundation staff will make site visits for all accepted grant requests.
If funding is awarded, organizations must submit proof of paid expenditures through the online portal to receive payment. Requests for payment must be submitted by the 15th of each month. While partial payments of grants is acceptable, we ask the requests be in the amount of $5,000 or more when feasible.
After receiving a grant, the Foundation requires that the receiving organization shares a final grant report that outlines the expenditures and evaluates outcomes associated with the grant. Grantee accountability, in this respect, will influence future grant request consideration by the Foundation.

2025 / 2026 Key Dates

The Foundation’s Board of Directors meets four times per year to review applications. Grant requests for Buffalo, Toronto, and Hendersonville are reviewed at different times throughout the year. The key dates are outlined below and updated annually.

	Eligible Locations	LOI Submission Opens	LOI Submission Closes	Application Deadline	Site Visits	Board Review
Cycle 1	Buffalo & Hendersonville	07/01/25	07/15/25	08/05/25	08/11-08/29/25	09/17/25
Cycle 2	Buffalo & Toronto	09/23/25	10/09/25	10/30/25	10/30- 11/21/25	12/10/25
Cycle 3	Buffalo & Hendersonville	12/2/25	12/16/25	01/13/26	01/14- 02/06/26	02/18/26
Cycle 4	Buffalo & Toronto	03/03/26	03/17/26	04/07/26	04/08- 04/30/26	05/13/26

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1️⃣ Direct Impact on Western New York (Primary Predictor)

This is the single most important factor.

Successful proposals:

Serve populations in Western New York, especially Buffalo/Niagara region

Benefit local health systems, education, or community services

Demonstrate measurable local impact

Predictor: Strong, specific regional relevance.

2️⃣ Clear Benefit to Underserved, At-Risk, or Vulnerable Populations

The Cummings Foundation prioritizes:

Low-income families

Individuals facing health disparities

Elderly, disabled, or chronically ill individuals

Children and youth needing service access

Communities with health or educational inequities

Predictor: Strong equity and community-impact alignment.

3️⃣ Feasible, Well-Defined Projects — Not Broad Research Programs

Most grants support:

Specific interventions

Purchase of equipment

Program expansion

Facility upgrades

Pilot programs with immediate community benefit

Less commonly funded:

Basic scientific research with no local translation

Large, multi-year research agendas

Projects lacking tangible community outcomes

Predictor: A focused, practical project with clear deliverables.

4️⃣ Strong Organizational Capacity & Sustainability Plan

Reviewers look for:

Well-established nonprofits

Strong governance and financial controls

Clear ability to maintain the program after the grant ends

Evidence the project fills a meaningful gap without duplicating existing services

Predictor: Demonstrated institutional stability and sustainability.

5️⃣ Clear, Measurable Outcomes

Successful applications specify:

What will be achieved

Who will benefit

How many people will be served

Metrics for evaluating success

Long-term community benefit

Predictor: Defined goals → increased reviewer confidence.

6️⃣ Realistic Budget & Justification

The Foundation favors:

Sensible, well-itemized budgets

Cost-effective interventions

Funding requests proportional to organizational capacity

Avoidance of excessive administrative or indirect costs

Predictor: Lean, transparent budgets aligned with impact.

7️⃣ Collaboration & Community Partnerships

Competitive projects demonstrate:

Partnerships with schools, health centers, universities, or local nonprofits

Coordinated community benefit

Non-duplicative efforts enhancing existing services

Predictor: Strong partners = greater community reach and sustainability.

8️⃣ Strong Leadership & Organizational Track Record

Funded applicants often show:

History of successful programs

Experience serving the target population

Strong leadership and alignment with mission

Evidence of past measurable impact

Predictor: Proven track record strengthens proposals.

🚫 COMMON PITFALLS (Why Applications Fail)

Pitfall	Why It Hurts
No clear connection to Western New York	Immediate disqualification
Unclear outcomes or impact	Reviewers cannot justify investment
Overly broad or research-heavy proposals	Not aligned with Foundation’s focus
Weak organizational capacity	Execution concerns
Budget inflation or vague justification	Reduces trust
Duplication of existing services	Low added value
No sustainability plan	Seen as short-lived impact

Specialties

Clinical Trials

Eligibility Requirements

The Foundation’s Board of Directors meets four times per year to review applications.
Grant requests for Buffalo, Toronto, and Hendersonville are reviewed at different times throughout the year. For more information, refer to the key dates outlined below.
Foundation staff will make site visits for all accepted grant requests.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Cummings (James H.) Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 120 West Tupper Street, Suite 201 Buffalo, New York 14201-2170

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