Cummings Community Giving

Cummings Properties is delighted to honor colleagues, long-term clients, and other select associates of the Cummings organization by contributing $1,000 to the local charity of their choice. This unique initiative is one of the many ways that "Cummings Buildings Power Charities."

Through Cummings Community Giving, which was originally created as Employee Directed Giving, our company seeks to support the communities where staff members, clients, and other valued associates live and work. Since 2012, this program has resulted in more than $3 million in donations to area nonprofits. Please see nonprofit eligibility requirements and FAQs  below.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to receive a $1,000 donation from Cummings Properties, an organization:

• Must be based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, or Suffolk County, or the city/town in which the program participant lives.
• Must have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, or the equivalent.
• Must be an independent organization. Regional or national organizations, or local chapters thereof, no matter how worthy, are ineligible (e.g., local chapter of American Cancer Society).
• Must not use the funds for a religious activity, political activity, or lobbying efforts.
• Must not discriminate based on race, color, gender, religion, age, disability, etc.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I am eligible to participate?

Cummings Community Giving is open to:

• Client firms that have leased commercial space with Cummings Properties for at least 20 years
• Regular full-time employees of Cummings Properties and its affiliated New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn, as well as part-time colleagues with at least five years of seniority (staff members with at least 10 years of seniority may select two nonprofits for gifts of $1,000 each)
• Other valued associates of the Cummings organization, by invitation

What is the timeline for Cummings Community Giving?

Eligible clients will receive an email in late July inviting submissions, and donation checks will be distributed in August. Eligible colleagues will receive an email in late October inviting submissions, and donation checks will be distributed the week of Thanksgiving. Other participants may be invited to participate on a rolling basis throughout the year.

How do I know whether the organization I select is a 501(c)(3)?

To determine whether your selected organization is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization, use Charity Navigator . Simply type the organization's name in the search bar, and verify that it is listed as IRS Subsection: 501(c)(3). Please contact Grants Manager Christina Berthelsen at cmb@cummings.com or 781-569-2337 with any questions.

Can I select a charity that received a grant in the past?

Yes. Being a past recipient of one or more grants from Cummings Properties or Cummings Foundation does not disqualify a nonprofit from receiving a Cummings Community Giving grant.

Can more than one participant select the same charity?

Yes. Up to five Cummings colleagues plus five non-colleague participants may select the same nonprofit, allowing for a maximum of $10,000 in donations per organization per year. Do you want to multiply the impact for your chosen charity? Talk to other invited participants about their favorite nonprofits; if they do not have one, consider asking them to select yours! Once a nonprofit reaches its limit, however, additional participants selecting it will be contacted and asked to choose alternate nonprofits.

Can my donation go toward a nonprofit membership or tickets for a nonprofit event?

No. Although we hope Cummings Community Giving will encourage involvement with local nonprofits, participants are prohibited by law from accepting any tangible benefits in return for this donation, such as memberships, gifts, event tickets, tuition credits, etc.

Do I need to make a donation, too?

No. Cummings Community Giving does not require any contribution from the invited participant.

If I am a Cummings Properties employee with more than 10 years of seniority, do I have to pick two different nonprofits to receive $1,000 each or may I select one organization to receive $2,000?

In order to expand the benefit of this charitable program, we ask that colleagues do not list the same organization twice in the selection form, but rather list two different nonprofits.