The Cummings-Christensen Family Foundation makes a small number of large, unrestricted donations, concentrating most of its giving into a national disease-research organization focused on juvenile diabetes and into an intermediary donor-advised vehicle. Their grants are primarily simple donations rather than program-specific grants, suggesting a preference for high-impact, flexible funding and the use of a charitable fund to manage philanthropy. The foundation’s activity is limited in number but substantial in size per grant.
A large share of the Cummings-Christensen Family Foundation’s recent giving is built around two recurring channels: juvenile diabetes research and a donor-advised charitable vehicle in Cincinnati. Those two lines sit alongside a smaller set of grants to Madison institutions and a few national health and community organizations, showing a foundation that combines highly concentrated funding with a broader local portfolio. In the recent grants list, Juvenile Diabetes Research received $125,000 in 2023, $125,000 in 2024, and $125,000 in 2025, making it the clearest repeated operating relationship in the data. Fidelity Charitable Gift also appears at the top of the list, with $285,059 in 2023, $172,885 in 2024, and $174,350 in 2025, indicating that a significant portion of the foundation’s dollars move through a charitable fund. Other notable recipients include United Way of Dane County, Meriter Foundation, and The Goodman Center, which place part of the foundation’s activity in Madison. The pattern suggests a family foundation that uses both unrestricted donations and intermediary giving channels rather than highly specialized program grants.
Type 1 diabetes research is the clearest named cause area in the grant list. Juvenile Diabetes Research received $125,000 in each of three consecutive years, reflecting a repeated commitment rather than a one-time award. The foundation also supports community infrastructure in Madison. United Way of Dane County received $55,000 in both 2023 and 2024, while Meriter Foundation received $36,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Arts and youth-serving organizations are present as well: Children's Theater of Madison received $50,000 in 2023 and $40,000 in 2024, and Overture Center for the Arts received $25,000 in 2023 and 2024. Health access appears through Planned Parenthood of Wi, which received $25,000 in 2023, $25,000 in 2024, and $21,000 in 2025.
Typical grants are modest relative to the foundation’s annual payout: the p25 is $3,000, median grant size is $5,500, and p75 is $12,000. The recent list also shows a small set of much larger awards, including repeated $125,000 grants and a large charitable-fund payment. Recipients often appear across multiple years, which points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is not a grantmaker to individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant descriptions are mostly simple donations, consistent with unrestricted or general support.
$702K
$5.1M
$871K
$719K
Most grants fall between $3K and $12K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$12K
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Highly concentrated: few (6) grants totaling ~$1M, with repeat, large donations to two main recipients (three grants each). Preference for big, unrestricted donations and use of an intermediary (Fidelity Charitable) rather than many small, diversified grants.
Notable grantees: Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Juvenile Diabetes Research (JDRF / juvenile diabetes research organization), Various small local human-service recipients (represented among the remaining grants)
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Wisconsin, where 55% of grants go. Madison appears repeatedly in the recipient list, including United Way of Dane County, One City Early Learning Center, The Goodman Center, and Meriter Foundation. Outside Wisconsin, the foundation’s larger recipients include Cincinnati, Ohio through Fidelity Charitable Gift, New York, New York through Juvenile Diabetes Research and Smile Train, and Santa Rosa, California through Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. All recorded grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients.
The recurring pattern is juvenile diabetes research and local Madison institutions. Juvenile Diabetes Research received $125,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Madison-based recipients such as United Way of Dane County, Meriter Foundation, and The Goodman Center also appear multiple times.
The typical grant size is relatively small compared with the foundation’s annual grant volume: p25 is $3,000, median is $5,500, and p75 is $12,000. The data also includes larger repeat gifts, such as $125,000 awards and a $285,059 donation through a charitable fund.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Juvenile Diabetes Research appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; United Way of Dane County appears in 2023 and 2024; Meriter Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The Goodman Center appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Wisconsin is the top state by grant count, with 55% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Madison is the most visible city in the recent list, but the data also includes recipients in Cincinnati, New York, Santa Rosa, and Steamboat Springs.
It is a family foundation that gives through simple donations rather than program-specific grants. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. A significant share of dollars also moves through Fidelity Charitable Gift, suggesting use of a charitable fund or donor-advised vehicle.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT | CINCINNATI, OH | $255,090 | 2026 | DONATION |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY | MADISON, WI | $60,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| CTM | MADISON, WI | $40,000 | 2026 | DONATIONS |
| MERITER FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $32,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| THE GOODMAN CENTER | MADISON, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF WI | MADISON, WI | $21,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| HAZELDEN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| SMILE TRAIN | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| OPERTION FRESH START | MADISON, WI | $12,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| NATIONAL RESOURCE DEFENSE COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $11,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| MAD AGRICULTURE | BOULDER, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE | Steamboat Springs, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT AGRICULTURE |
| PCRF | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | MADISON, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| INTEGRATED COMMUNITY | Madison, WI | $8,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| LIFTUP ROUTT COUNTY | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $8,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $7,500 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN |
| NOLS ANNUAL FUND | Lander, WY | $7,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO | MADISON, WI | $7,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | MADISON, WI | $6,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| STEAMBOAT STARS | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $5,500 | 2026 | DONATION |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| FRIENDS OF THE YAMPA | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| FOUNDATION FOR MADSION PUB SC | MADISON, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| PORCHLIGHT | MADISON, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| ROUTT COUNTY UNITED WAY | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| WESTERN RESILIENCE CENTER | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| BOOKTRAILS | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | MADISON, WI | $4,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB STEAMBOAT | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $4,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION |
| STEAMBOAT READING | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $4,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| BAGLY | BOSTON, MA | $3,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN |
| COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER | MADISON, WI | $2,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| RIVER FOOD PANTRY | MADISON, WI | $2,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| REAP | MADISON, WI | $2,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| WISCONSIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA | MADISON, WI | $1,500 | 2026 | DONATION |
| CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE | MADISON, WI | $1,400 | 2026 | DONATION |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MADISON | MADISON, WI | $1,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| LEELANAU CONSERVANCY | LELAND, MI | $1,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| YVCF - YAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUND | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $500 | 2026 | DONATION |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2026 | DONATION |
| GREENWOOD WILDLIFE REHABILITATION C | BOULDER, CO | $500 | 2026 | SUPPORT ANIMAL REHAB |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT | CINCINNATI, OH | $174,350 | 2025 | DONATION |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| SONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS FOUNDATION | SANTA ROSA, CA | $60,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT
$255,090DONATION
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH
$125,000DONATION
CTM
$40,000DONATIONS
MERITER FOUNDATION
$32,000DONATION
THE GOODMAN CENTER
$25,000DONATION
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF WI
$21,000DONATION
HAZELDEN
$20,000DONATION
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$15,000DONATION
COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE ALLIANCE
$10,000SUPPORT AGRICULTURE
PCRF
$10,000DONATION
OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$10,000DONATION
INTEGRATED COMMUNITY
$8,000TO SUPPORT INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SERVICES
NOLS ANNUAL FUND
$7,000DONATION
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
$7,000DONATION
STEAMBOAT STARS
$5,500DONATION
FRIENDS OF THE YAMPA
$5,000DONATION
FOUNDATION FOR MADSION PUB SC
$5,000DONATION
ROUTT COUNTY UNITED WAY
$5,000DONATION
WESTERN RESILIENCE CENTER
$5,000DONATION
BOOKTRAILS
$5,000DONATION
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB STEAMBOAT
$4,000TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
STEAMBOAT READING
$4,000DONATION
BAGLY
$3,000DONATION
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$2,000TO SUPPORT WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER
$2,000DONATION
REAP
$2,000DONATION
CLEAN LAKES ALLIANCE
$1,400DONATION
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MADISON
$1,000DONATION
YVCF - YAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUND
$500DONATION
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH
$125,000DONATION