The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) is an active private foundation that prioritizes systems-change work at the intersection of racial, economic, and environmental justice (REEJ). It funds both place-based strategies—notably in the U.S. South and Israel-Palestine—and long-term organizational partners, using a mix of unrestricted multi-year grants, project advancement grants, fellowships, and program-related investments. NCF emphasizes grassroots organizing, wealth-building/green jobs, land remediation, and support for marginalized populations, and it often leverages its full resources for deep, sustained engagement with grantees.
A defining feature of The Nathan Cummings Foundation Inc is its support for place-based systems-change work in Israel-Palestine and the U.S. South, paired with national racial, economic, and environmental justice grantmaking. Across the recent grants list, that shows up in repeated support for New Israel Fund, which received $900,000 in 2023, $896,400 in 2024, and $800,000 in 2025 for general support. The foundation also backs Jewish justice and coalition infrastructure through Social Good Fund’s Rise Up: Nourishing the Soul of Jewish Justice, funded at $400,000 in 2023, $350,000 in 2024, and $250,000 in 2025. Its portfolio includes general support, project grants, fellowships, and targeted place-based initiatives, with grantmaking that reaches grassroots organizers, advocacy groups, and intermediaries. The pattern suggests a funder that uses sustained, multi-year relationships to support movement infrastructure, policy work, and community-led organizing rather than one-off project bets alone. Individual fellowships are also part of the strategy, alongside organizational grants that can be unrestricted or project-specific.
In Jewish social-justice and coalition work, the foundation funded Bend the Arc - a Jewish Partnership for Justice with $300,000 in 2023 and $250,000 in 2024 for general support. Media and narrative work appears through Allied Media Projects Inc, which received $300,000 in 2023 and $250,000 in 2024 for Critical Minded. For climate and community control in the Gulf South, Project South Institution for the Elimination of Poverty & Genocide was awarded $250,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for Gulf South for a Green New Deal Community Controlled Fund. In economic opportunity and inclusive entrepreneurship, Panorama Global received $250,000 in 2025 for Hyphen Partnerships' Initiative for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. The foundation also supports public-interest policy and accountability through grants to Center for Political Accountability and Open Markets Institute.
Recent grants cluster around the $250,000 level, with a typical grant size profile of $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows repeat awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including New Israel Fund, Social Good Fund, Project South Institution for the Elimination of Poverty & Genocide, Allied Media Projects Inc, Majority Action, Auburn Theological Seminary, and Bend the Arc - a Jewish Partnership for Justice. The foundation is a regular funder and also funds individuals through a fellowship program. Unsolicited applications are accepted for the fellowship, general support, venture grants, and the Israel-Palestine place-based initiative; enterprise grants are not unsolicited.
Current and upcoming funding from Nathan Cummings Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must align with NCF's REEJ focus areas. 501(c)(4) organizations and individuals are not eligible. Social or direct service projects without an advocacy strategy are ineligible. Israel-Palestine portfolio is invitation-only.
Deadline: Rolling
$53.4M
$482.6M
$16.2M
$30.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 28% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Combination of rolling application/project advancement grants and invite-only multi-year enterprise grants; uses unrestricted multi-year funding for core partners, cohort fellowships (~$150k), and program-related investments ($250k–$750k). Place-based priorities (U.S. South, Israel-Palestine) receive a large share of new funding; many decisions are by invitation or rolling LOI.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, and the top state by grant count is New York, which accounts for 28% of grants. New York City appears repeatedly through grantees such as New Israel Fund, Bend the Arc - a Jewish Partnership for Justice, Auburn Theological Seminary, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc. Other frequent recipient cities in the recent list include Oakland, Atlanta, Richmond, Berkeley, Detroit, Washington, DC, Seattle, and Minneapolis. The portfolio also includes U.S. place-based giving for the Gulf South, with Atlanta-based Project South tied to that work.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. In the recent grants list, many awards sit at $250,000, with larger grants reaching $900,000.
Yes. It has an NCF Fellowship Program that supports individual fellows working on climate change or inequality. The fellowship is described as a U.S.-based program open to non-residents and typically includes three recipients.
Yes for the fellowship program, general support grants, venture grants, and the Israel-Palestine place-based initiative. Enterprise grants are not unsolicited, and one economic justice focus-area grantmaking stream is also marked as not accepting unsolicited applications.
Its funding centers on racial, economic, and environmental justice. The recent grants and active programs also show emphasis on Jewish social justice, the Gulf South, inclusive entrepreneurship, media and narrative change, public-interest accountability, and Israel-Palestine place-based work.
Grantees are spread nationally, with 100% of grants going to U.S. recipients in the dataset. New York is the top state by grant count at 28%, and recent recipients also appear in California, Georgia, Michigan, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Who can apply: Must align with Nathan Cummings Foundation's REEJ priorities. 501(c)(4)s and individuals are not eligible. Certain geographies or place-based portfolios (Israel-Palestine) may be invitation-only.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $800,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOCIAL GOOD FUND | RICHMOND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | RISE UP: NOURISHING THE SOUL OF JEWISH JUSTICE |
| PANORAMA GLOBAL | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | HYPHEN PARTNERSHIPS' INITIATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
| INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF-RELIANCE INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEND THE ARC A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | BOULDER, CO | $225,000 | 2025 | FIRST PEOPLES WORLDWIDE |
| THE CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAJORITY ACTION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SOLUTIONS PROJECT INC | OAKLAND, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | GROUNDBREAK COALITION |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR SOUTHERN EQUITY | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TIDES FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES FUNDS GREEN NEW DEAL NETWORK |
| THE CHISHOLM LEGACY PROJECT | BURTONSVILLE, MD | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INITIATIVE FOR MEDICINES ACCESS & KNOWLEDGE (I-MAK) INC | LEWES, DE | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FAIR COUNT INC | ATLANTA, GA | $175,000 | 2025 | DEFENDING AMERICAN VALUES COALITION |
| UNITED FOR RESPECT EDUCATION FUND | SACRAMENTO, CA | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FINANCIAL SERVICES STAKEHOLDER PROJECT | CHICAGO, IL | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UPROSE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ECONOMIC LIBERTIES PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TIDES FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | NEW YORK RENEWS EDUCATION FUND |
| LOCAL PROGRESS POLICY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOBS TO MOVE AMERICA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| POLICYLINK | OAKLAND, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER FOR MEDIA JUSTICE | OAKLAND, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KENTUCKY COALITION INC | LONDON, KY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITIES FIRST |
| ASHOKA | ARLINGTON, VA | $150,000 | 2025 | SOUTHERN SOLUTIONS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL |
| PROTEUS FUND INC | AMHERST, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | REFRAME |
| ROANOKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC | AULANDER, NC | $148,750 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMON FUTURE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $137,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADVANCEMENT PROJECT EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $137,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $130,000 | 2025 | SOUTHERN CITIES ECONOMIC INCLUSION INITIATIVE |
| THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | ADVANCING A CLIMATE & CORPORATE POWER AGENDA |
| LIBERATION IN A GENERATION | LORTON, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| POWERSWITCH ACTION | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| T'RUAH | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER | OAKLAND, CA | $110,000 | 2025 | FULL SPECTRUM LABS & THE ADASINA PROGRAM |
| NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION | ALBANY, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | LAND, CAPITAL, AND MARKET ACCESS FOR YOUNG AND BIPOC FARMERS |
| CONGRESS HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | THE BLACKBONE PROJECT |
| FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOMEWORLD COLLECTIVE INC | SOMERVILLE, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWS UNITED FOR JUSTICE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | COLLABORATIVE FOR JEWISH ORGANIZING |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF CDFI CEOS | ORLANDO, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND: COMMUNITY BUILDERS OF COLOR COALITION |
| SOCIAL GOOD FUND | RICHMOND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | UNITED FRONTLINE TABLE |
| GREEN AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM |
| BLACK GIRL VENTURES FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROJECT EQUITY | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
NEW ISRAEL FUND
$800,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOCIAL GOOD FUND
$250,000RISE UP: NOURISHING THE SOUL OF JEWISH JUSTICE
PANORAMA GLOBAL
$250,000HYPHEN PARTNERSHIPS' INITIATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL SELF-RELIANCE INC
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEND THE ARC A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
$225,000FIRST PEOPLES WORLDWIDE
THE CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MAJORITY ACTION
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SOLUTIONS PROJECT INC
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION
$200,000GROUNDBREAK COALITION
PARTNERSHIP FOR SOUTHERN EQUITY
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TIDES FOUNDATION
$200,000CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES FUNDS GREEN NEW DEAL NETWORK
THE CHISHOLM LEGACY PROJECT
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INITIATIVE FOR MEDICINES ACCESS & KNOWLEDGE (I-MAK) INC
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FAIR COUNT INC
$175,000DEFENDING AMERICAN VALUES COALITION
UNITED FOR RESPECT EDUCATION FUND
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FINANCIAL SERVICES STAKEHOLDER PROJECT
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM EDUCATION FUND
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UPROSE INC
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN ECONOMIC LIBERTIES PROJECT
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TIDES FOUNDATION
$150,000NEW YORK RENEWS EDUCATION FUND
LOCAL PROGRESS POLICY INSTITUTE
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JOBS TO MOVE AMERICA
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
POLICYLINK
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE CENTER FOR MEDIA JUSTICE
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KENTUCKY COALITION INC
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$150,000COMMUNITIES FIRST
ASHOKA
$150,000SOUTHERN SOLUTIONS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL
PROTEUS FUND INC
$150,000REFRAME
ROANOKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC
$148,750GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMON FUTURE
$137,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ADVANCEMENT PROJECT EDUCATION FUND
$137,500GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES INSTITUTE INC
$130,000SOUTHERN CITIES ECONOMIC INCLUSION INITIATIVE
THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE
$125,000ADVANCING A CLIMATE & CORPORATE POWER AGENDA
LIBERATION IN A GENERATION
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
POWERSWITCH ACTION
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
T'RUAH
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER FOR POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER
$110,000FULL SPECTRUM LABS & THE ADASINA PROGRAM
NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION
$100,000LAND, CAPITAL, AND MARKET ACCESS FOR YOUNG AND BIPOC FARMERS
CONGRESS HEIGHTS COMMUNITY TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$100,000THE BLACKBONE PROJECT
FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOMEWORLD COLLECTIVE INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWS UNITED FOR JUSTICE INC
$100,000COLLABORATIVE FOR JEWISH ORGANIZING
AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF CDFI CEOS
$100,000GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND: COMMUNITY BUILDERS OF COLOR COALITION
SOCIAL GOOD FUND
$100,000UNITED FRONTLINE TABLE
GREEN AMERICA
$100,000REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
BLACK GIRL VENTURES FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PROJECT EQUITY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT