Elevate Youth awarded $100,000 Cummings grant
Elevate Youth awarded $100,000 Cummings grant
Boston nonprofit receives 4 years of funding from Cummings Foundation
BOSTON, May 17, 2021 - Elevate Youth is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 - $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. The Boston-based organization was chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process. It will receive $100,000 over 4 years.
Elevate Youth was founded in 2017 as a response to the issue of diversity in the outdoors and lack of access to nature for youth in underserved communities. The nonprofit empowers youth from these neighborhoods through regular outdoor experiences alongside positive adult role models.
“Receiving the prestigious Cummings Grant will provide critical support for our organization, during an exciting period of growth following the pandemic,” said Elevate Youth executive director Alec Griswold. “Throughout this difficult year, we’ve really come to terms with the importance of our work more than ever, and we’re thrilled that the Cummings Foundation recognizes the value we offer.”
The funds will be utilized to expand and enhance Elevate Youth’s successful outdoor programming, create healthy coalitions through their focus on health and wellness, and build an anti-racist organization through multiple DEI initiatives.
The Cummings $25 Million Grant Program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties.
Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 10 million square feet of debt free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the foundation.
“We aim to help the needs of people in all segments of our local community,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joel Swets. "It is the incredible organizations we fund, however, that do the actual daily work to empower our neighbors, educate our children, fight for equity, and so much more."
With the help of about 80 volunteers the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each. Among the winners were first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings Foundation grants. Forty of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected to have their grants elevated to 10 Year Awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 each.
We have adopted a democratic approach to philanthropy which empowers an impressive roster of dedicated volunteers to decide more than half of all our grant winners each year," said Swets. “We benefit from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives; they benefit from a meaningful and fulfilling experience; and the nonprofits also benefit from increased exposure and new advocates."
This year's grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes including social justice, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. The nonprofits are spread over 43 different cities and towns.
The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 800 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $300 million to Greater Boston nonprofits.
About Elevate Youth
Boston-based Elevate Youth was founded in 2017 by Executive Director Alec Griswold with the goal of getting more kids out in nature. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit collaborates with various youth organizations and schools across Boston and Cambridge to create meaningful and lasting outdoor experiences for youth who don’t regularly have the opportunity. Additional information, including how you can get involved, can be found at www.elevateyouthoutdoors.org.
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings and has grown to be one of the three largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn, and Veterinary School at Tufts, LLC in North Grafton. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alec Griswold, Elevate Youth, 857-995-8050, alec@elevate-youth.org
Contact: Alison Harding, Cummings Foundation, 781-932-7093, aeh@cummings.com