Nathan Cummings Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Nathan Cummings Foundation was endowed by Nathan Cummings
(1896–1985), founder of Consolidated Foods, now called Sara Lee Corporation. Cummings was also a prominent art collector and supporter of Jewish causes.
In his lifetime, Cummings made contributions to hospitals, universities, and the arts.
His endowment created the Nathan Cummings Arts Center at Stanford University
and the Joanne and Nathan Cummings Art Center at Connecticut College
in New London. He made major contributions to the National Gallery of Art
in Washington DC, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, New York, and to the Art Institute of Chicago
. He established the Nathan Cummings Foundation in 1949. The foundation received most of his estate (then estimated at $200 million) upon his death in 1985.
The foundation′s current President and C.E.O is Lance E. Lindblom, he will be succeeded in January 2012 by Simon Greer
.
.
The Nathan Cummings Foundation funds the following areas:
The Foundation's approach to grantmaking embodies some basic themes in all of its programs:
Nathan Cummings
Nathan Cummings was the founder of Consolidated Foods, which later became known by one of its product lines, Sara Lee Corporation.-Early life:...
(1896–1985), founder of Consolidated Foods, now called Sara Lee Corporation. Cummings was also a prominent art collector and supporter of Jewish causes.
In his lifetime, Cummings made contributions to hospitals, universities, and the arts.
His endowment created the Nathan Cummings Arts Center at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the Joanne and Nathan Cummings Art Center at Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
in New London. He made major contributions to the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
in Washington DC, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, New York, and to the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
. He established the Nathan Cummings Foundation in 1949. The foundation received most of his estate (then estimated at $200 million) upon his death in 1985.
The foundation′s current President and C.E.O is Lance E. Lindblom, he will be succeeded in January 2012 by Simon Greer
Simon Greer
Simon Greer is an American labor and community organizer and social change leader. He is the current President and CEO of the Jewish Funds for Justice . Starting in January 2012, he will head the Nathan Cummings Foundation, an American foundation funding the social justice sector, as President and...
.
Areas of funding
The Foundation seeks to build a socially and economically just society that values nature and protects the ecological balance for future generations. It promotes humane health care, social justice as a core Jewish value, and fosters arts and culture that enriches communities. It gives solely to organizations in the United States of America and supports some programmatic work in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
The Nathan Cummings Foundation funds the following areas:
- Human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
- Economic, socialSocialThe term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
and cultureCultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
in general - EqualitySocial equalitySocial equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and the...
and non-discriminationDiscriminationDiscrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be... - Expression, opinionOpinionIn general, an opinion is a subjective belief, and is the result of emotion or interpretation of facts. An opinion may be supported by an argument, although people may draw opposing opinions from the same set of facts. Opinions rarely change without new arguments being presented...
and infoInfoInfo is a common shortening of information.It may also refer to:* .info, a generic top-level domain* info:, a URI scheme for information assets with identifiers in public namespaces* .info , a computer magazine... - Immigrants
- JusticeJusticeJustice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
- LaborLabour movementThe term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
- LandLandformA landform or physical feature in the earth sciences and geology sub-fields, comprises a geomorphological unit, and is largely defined by its surface form and location in the landscape, as part of the terrain, and as such, is typically an element of topography...
- Living standard and foodFoodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
Mission statement
According to the foundation's mission statement, it is "rooted in the Jewish tradition and committed to democratic values and social justice, including fairness, diversity, and community." The foundation "seeks to build a socially and economically just society that values nature and protects the ecological balance for future generations; promotes humane health care; and fosters arts and culture that enriches communities."The Foundation's approach to grantmaking embodies some basic themes in all of its programs:
- concern for the poor, disadvantaged, and underserved;
- respect for diversity;
- promotion of understanding across cultures;
- and empowerment of communities in need.
Funded programs
Some of the projects funded by the Cummings Foundation have been:- April 2004, Government Accountability ProjectGovernment Accountability ProjectThe Government Accountability Project is a leading United States whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating of whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, GAP’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability...
(inc): $100,000, to support corporate whistleblowers.
- June 2003, Focus Project,dba OMB WatchOMB WatchOMB Watch is a 501 nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. OMB Watch was formed by Gary Bass in 1983 to lift the veil of secrecy shrouding the White House Office of Management and Budget...
(inc): $100,000, to develop an estate tax model.
- October 2002, Strategic concepts in organizing and policy education, Los Angeles, CA: $300:000,addressing CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's healthcare crisis.
- Applied Research Center, Oakland, CA: $250,000 to support research on healthcare for immigrants.