What The Nathan Cummings Foundation does

The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) is a New York-based multigenerational private family foundation established in 1985 from the estate of Nathan Cummings, founder of the Sara Lee Corporation, and rooted in the Jewish tradition of social justice (tikkun olam). The foundation manages a $450 million endowment that has been 100% mission-aligned since a November 2017 board commitment, with all investments screened for alignment with Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice (REEJ) objectives and avoidance of extractive or inequitable systems. NCF operates a "Totality of Assets" framework that deploys grants, program-related investments (PRIs), endowment capital, people and relationships, knowledge, and voice to advance systemic change.

The foundation's product portfolio comprises three grant tiers (Venture Grants up to $100k, Advancement Grants up to $250k annually for up to two years, and invitation-only Enterprise Grants at $250k+), Program-Related Investments of $250k–$750k repayable within three to seven years, and mission-aligned endowment investing. Annual programmatic budgets include $15 million in grantmaking and $4 million in PRIs for FY2026, with $22 million (5% of endowment) committed to PRIs over coming years. The foundation has four focus areas (Racial Justice, Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, and Combating Antisemitism, launched 2026) and two place-based initiatives (U.S. South across 13 states with 40% of assets committed, and Israel-Palestine including the West Bank and Gaza). Distribution flows through a Temelio-based LOI portal with rolling review, supplemented by active sourcing in the U.S. South and invitation-only sourcing for Israel-Palestine.

Beyond grantmaking, NCF generates measurable impact through active ownership, having filed more than 200 shareholder resolutions over the past fifteen years on issues ranging from climate change to executive compensation. Revenue derives entirely from the endowment, not commercial operations; the foundation is led by President & CEO Rey Ramsey and governed by a board chaired since May 2026 by Amy Sorensen Ben Dov. Co-investments with Ford Foundation and Omidyar Network, including a $7.5 million investment in Anthropic via Project Alexandria, position NCF as a field-building collaborator in trustworthy AI governance in addition to its core REEJ work.

Name

The Nathan Cummings Foundation

Legal name

Nathan Cummings Foundation

Website

https://nathancummings.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Nathan Cummings Foundation is a New York-based private family foundation managing a $450 million 100% mission-aligned endowment to advance Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice (REEJ) through grants, program-related investments, shareholder activism, and place-based initiatives in the U.S. South and Israel-Palestine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation / Grantmaking Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Program-related investments
• Mission-aligned investing
• Shareholder activism
• Endowment management

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment & Investment Returns: As a private foundation, NCF generates revenue from its endowment portfolio, which is fully aligned with its mission. The foundation has committed to 100% mission-aligned investing, meaning all endowment returns are generated from investments that advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) is a multigenerational family foundation that provides grants, program-related investments (PRIs), and shareholder activism to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice (REEJ). It manages a $450 million endowment, of which $15 million is allocated annually to grantmaking and $22 million (5%) is committed to PRIs, with 100% of investments aligned to its mission.

Product overview

The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) is a multigenerational family foundation offering a portfolio of grant programs (Venture Grants up to $100k, Advancement Grants up to $250k, and invitation-only Enterprise Grants $250k+), Program-Related Investments ($250k-$750k range), and Mission-Aligned Investing services. The foundation operates across four interconnected focus areas: Racial Justice, Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, and Combating Antisemitism (launched 2026). Two place-based initiatives cover Israel-Palestine and U.S. South regions. The foundation also conducts Shareholder Activism through proxy voting and shareholder resolutions. The 'Totality of Assets' approach leverages Capital (grants, PRIs, endowment), People & Relationships, Knowledge, and Voice to advance Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice (REEJ).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venture Grants

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of endowment aligned with mission values
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palestine Impact Initiative Fund (PII)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PII is a first-of-its-kind pooled vehicle channeling philanthropic capital to small and medium enterprises in the West Bank. Led by a Ramallah-based team through the Middle East Investment Initiative, PII is building infrastructure to direct impact capital toward Palestinian economic resilience at a time of 19% GDP contraction and 35% unemployment.
• Ra'a: A Palestinian Filmmakers IncubatorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Ra'a supports Palestinian filmmakers and screenwriters within Israel, providing education, mentorship, and production support at career junctures where systemic barriers push promising creators out of the field. An investment in Palestinian cultural leadership and authentic storytelling.
• ZimamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Zimam builds a platform for solutions-oriented Palestinian leadership and civic organizing in the West Bank. The fastest-growing youth movement in Palestine, bringing together thousands from across the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem across nine governorates.
• COMET-MEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024COMET-ME develops off-grid solar and water systems for Palestinian communities, providing renewable energy, clean water, broadband internet, and security systems to contested and under-resourced Palestinian communities, advancing environmental justice.
• New Israel FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NCF maintains a multi-decade relationship with the New Israel Fund and its work inside Israel supporting democracy, equality, and social justice.
• EcoPeacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024EcoPeace is a regional environmental justice organization co-led by Palestinian, Jordanian, and Israeli leaders, conducting feasibility studies for regional energy and transportation development that would tie the Middle East together economically.
• Standing TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Standing Together is a compelling voice for a shared, democratic future in Israel, supported by NCF's long-standing commitments.
• A Land for AllminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024A Land for All promotes shared future vision for Israel-Palestine, supported by NCF's regional engagement.
• Frontline SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Frontline Solutions conducted research for NCF's Values Proposition report, surveying 115 Outside Chief Investment Officers (OCIOs) on inclusive investment portfolios and barriers for diverse fund managers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ford Foundation: One of the largest U.S. foundations (~$13B endowment) with a similarly mission-driven, place-based and active-ownership approach. Direct co-investor with NCF in the $7.5M Anthropic round and Project Alexandria, making it a highly comparable anchor institution.
• Kresge Foundation: Large U.S. foundation (~$4B endowment) with comparable place-based strategies, PRI programs, and social-justice grantmaking. Offers overlapping REEJ-relevant programs and is a useful benchmark for program-related investment scale.
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation: Major U.S. foundation with deep focus on racial equity, community development, and place-based work in the U.S. South. Comparable in mission breadth and grantmaking-plus-PRI toolkit to NCF.
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation: Large U.S. foundation known for bold strategic bets (e.g., 100% mission-aligned investing, climate commitments). Operates a similarly structured 'big bets plus place-based plus grantmaking' model, making it a strong strategic peer.

Direct peers

• Omidyar Network: Pierre Omidyar's impact-investing vehicle that pioneered mission-aligned investing and spin-out funds like Project Alexandria. Operates with a similar 'totality of capital' approach (grants + investments + advocacy) and co-invested directly with NCF in Anthropic, making it a near-direct functional peer.
• Surdna Foundation: A multigenerational family foundation of comparable size that focuses on social justice, racial equity, and sustainable environments. Similar grantmaking-plus-impact-investing model makes it a tight comparator for NCF.
• Rockefeller Brothers Fund: Multigenerational family foundation of comparable scale with explicit focus on democratic practice, racial justice, and environmental sustainability. Shares NCF's family-foundation DNA and active-ownership orientation.
• Barr Foundation: Boston-based family foundation with comparable endowment size and focus on climate, arts, and social justice. Operates a similar combination of grants, PRIs, and active mission-aligned investing.
• Libra Foundation: Family foundation with similar scale and a portfolio approach blending grants, PRIs, and impact investing across social and environmental justice. Strong comparable on the multi-asset philanthropic model.
• Wallace Foundation: Large U.S. foundation of comparable size with disciplined multi-year strategic plans, focus-area portfolios, and substantial place-based components. Comparable governance and program-structure benchmarks for NCF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NCFImpact
• Facebookfacebook.com/NathanCummingsFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nathan-cummings-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/nathancummingsfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Nathan Cummings Foundation