ABC of Andover receives major boost from Cummings Foundation

 A Better Chance of Andover awarded $120,000 and 3 years of funding from Cummings Grant

Andover, May 23, 2024 – A Better Chance of Andover is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. The Andover-based organization was selected from 715 applicants during a competitive review process and will receive $120,000 over three years.

Since 1967, A Better Chance of Andover has been opening doors to educational opportunities, one student at a time. This transformative college-preparatory program provides accepted students with a strong academic foundation, effective study skills, and enrichment experiences needed to excel in competitive four-year colleges while securing generous financial aid packages. A Better Chance of Andover is inspired by a single-minded mission: To reduce inequity in education by providing young people of color with academic and leadership opportunities.

“We are thrilled to be chosen for Cummings Foundation’s grant, which will significantly impact the lives of many academically talented young women in our college preparation program. Over our 56-year history, alumni have entered high-level colleges and universities and become leaders in their professions and communities. Many of our alumni have shared that the ABC experience considerably shaped their life,” said Bonnie Zahorik, A Better Chance of Andover’s president.

The Cummings Foundation award will bolster A Better Chance of Andover’s four-year commitment to each accepted Scholar in our impactful leadership program.

Cummings $30 Million Grant Program primarily supports Massachusetts nonprofits based in and serving Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties, plus six communities in Norfolk County: Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy, and Wellesley.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial property. Its buildings are all managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space, most of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“Greater Boston is fortunate to have a robust, dedicated, and highly capable nonprofit sector that supports and enhances the community in myriad ways,” said Cummings Foundation executive director and trustee Joyce Vyriotes. “The entire Cummings organization is thankful for their daily work to help all our neighbors thrive.”

The majority of the grant decisions were made by nearly 100 community volunteers. They worked across a variety of committees to review and discuss the proposals and then, together, determine which requests would be funded. Among these community volunteers were business and nonprofit leaders, mayors, college presidents, and experts in finance and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

“We believe strongly that grant decisions will be more equitable when made by a diverse group of community members,” said Vyriotes. “We’re incredibly grateful to the dozens of individuals who participated in our democratized philanthropic process.”

The Foundation and volunteers first identified 150 organizations to receive three-year grants of up to $300,000 each. The winners included first-time recipients and nonprofits that had previously received Cummings grants. Twenty-five of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected by a panel of community volunteers to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million each.

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including housing and food insecurity, workforce development, immigrant services, social justice, education, and mental health services. The nonprofits are spread across 49 different cities and towns.

Cummings Foundation has now awarded $500 million to greater Boston nonprofits. The complete list of this year’s 150 grant winners, plus nearly 2,000 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.