This fund supports programs in the arts, education, economic development, environment, and cultural preservation, primarily in Maine where Cummings lived and worked.

Grant Size: Generally grants will be awarded under $7,500, with larger requests being considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application Deadline: September 15th

General Information
 The King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust was established by King Cummings in 1982 and funded at his death in 1989. In 1996, the Cummings Trust transferred its assets and became a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation. A former trustee, Lee L. Cummings of Orono, continues to serve as one of the fund's advisors, along with Warren Cook of Kingfield, Harold Woodsum of Cape Elizabeth, Cathy Witherspoon of Kingfield and Cooper Friend of Ellsworth.

Grant Guidelines
The King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust Fund seeks to support programs in the arts, education, the environment and cultural preservation in geographic areas in Maine where King Cummings lived, worked and/or had an interest, namely Franklin County, Somerset County, Piscataquis County, Washington County (especially the Easport area), Newport and Islesboro. Exceptions will be given to proposals for projects having statewide impact or impact on broader regions of the state that include areas or communities specified above.

Priority will be given to projects and initiatives that are seeking solutions to challenges and problems in the issue areas or in the geographic areas listed above. Recognizing that one organization is less likely to solve complicated problems working independently, priority will be given to projects and initiatives that are intentionally using collaboration and networks as a strategy to leverage resources, foster innovation and produce results. Additionally, proposals are encouraged from existing projects or initiatives that seek to increase their effectiveness by intentionally collaborating with other organizations or building networks that draw in other individuals or groups committed to solving issues of common concern.

The Cummings Charitable Trust Fund advisory committee will also give preference to:

• proposals for matching funds or challenge grants
• proposals for funds to initiate new and innovative projects
• proposals that demonstrate evidence of local support
• proposals from organizations and community groups based in, or serving, rural areas.

The Cummings Charitable Trust Fund does not normally provide grants for capital projects. Exceptions are typically made for organizations supported in the past by King Cummings or by the King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust Fund.

Project Evaluation
All grant recipients will be required to submit a Project Evaluation Report  approximately ten months after receiving payment of the grant.  For guidance on how to create an evaluation plan for your project, we have provided a resource guide, Developing a Project Evaluation Plan, that you may find helpful in preparing your proposal.

Eligibility Requirements
1) Applicants must be nonprofit, 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations, public schools, public agencies working for the State of Maine, or Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior or have a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) organization, public school, public agency, or Indian tribal government (click here for more information on applying with a fiscal sponsor).

2) Grants cannot be made for lobbying or religious activities.

3) Grants cannot pay for program expenses that have already been incurred.

Please note that organizations, that have received grants from other Maine Community Foundation Funds in the last 12 months are still eligible to apply to the Cummings Fund.

How To Apply
Grant application forms are available from the MaineCF offices or can be downloaded below.  When completing the narrative, please consider the fund’s guidelines in responding to the required questions.

Applications for grants from the King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust Fund should be sent to:

King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust Fund
Maine Community Foundation
245 Main Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605

When to Apply
Applications must be postmarked by September 15. Awards will be announced in late November. All applicants will receive notice of the committee's decisions.

Contact
If you have questions or would like to discuss an idea before submitting a proposal, please feel free to contact Peter Taylor via email or by phone at (877) 700-6800.

List of recent grants from the King and Jean Cummings Charitable Trust Fund

King & Jean Cummings Fund Application   (pdf format)    (word processor version)

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