The Center for Arts at the Armory has been selected as one of 150 nonprofits to receive funding through Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which awarded $35 million this year. Chosen through a competitive review process that drew a record 959 applicants, the Somerville-based organization will receive $75,000 over three years.

The Cummings’ grant will support the Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) [1], one of Arts at the Armory’s five signature programs. The SWFM addresses barriers to healthy food access for vulnerable populations in Somerville by providing a SNAP match and accepting SNAP benefits. “Our Farmers Market is a beacon in the community during the winter months and ensures that healthy, locally produced food is available to all regardless of economic status,” says Stephanie Scherpf, CEO of Arts at the Armory. “We are fortunate that our market is so well-supported–the Cummings grant is well-timed as we will be cycling out of a 3-year maximum award from The Somerville Health Foundation for SWFM this year.”

This year, the Woburn-based Cummings Foundation increased its annual grant program from $30 million to $35 million and shifted to fully unrestricted funding, allowing recipients to direct grant dollars where they are needed most.

Foundation executive director and trustee Joyce Vyriotes noted that the changes reflect growing concerns among Greater Boston nonprofits about rising costs, increased demand for services, and sustained uncertainty around public funding.

“Nonprofit professionals are closest to the challenges facing their communities, making them best positioned to determine where and how new funds will drive the greatest impact,” said Vyriotes. “By providing increased, flexible funding, we hope to strengthen organizations’ long-term stability and help them respond to evolving community needs.”

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide range of causes, including housing and food insecurity, education, workforce development, healthcare, mental health services, social justice, immigrant support, and youth programming.

The annual grant program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties, as well as Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy, and Wellesley.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation reinvests in the areas where it owns commercial real estate. Its buildings are all managed at no cost to the Foundation by its affiliate, Cummings Properties, a Woburn-based commercial developer that leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space. All rental profits support the Foundation.

Since its founding, Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $650 million to Greater Boston nonprofits. The complete list of this year’s grant recipients, along with additional information about the Foundation and its grant programs, is available at CummingsFoundation.org.

About The Center for Arts at the Armory

The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) is a non-profit organization that resides in a historic Armory building, serving Somerville and the Greater Boston community through arts, cultural, and community events, exhibitions, markets, classes, and more. The mission of Arts at the Armory is to provide an inclusive and accessible venue that creates opportunities for artists and cultural workers, brings diverse audiences together, enriches and transforms lives, and promotes the creative economy. In addition to the many events that CAA hosts that are produced independently of CAA, CAA has five signature programs: The Spotlight Series, The Performance Opportunity Program (POP), The Feet Keep the Beat Percussive Dance Festival, The Somerville Winter Farmers Market, and ROOTED Armory Cafe Visual Arts Exhibitions. About Cummings Foundation

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester, Mass., and has grown to become one of the largest private foundations in New England. In addition to its annual grant program, the Foundation directly operates two not-for-profit retirement communities: New Horizons at Marlborough and New Horizons at Choate, in Woburn. Additional information is available at CummingsFoundation.org.

The Center for Arts at the Armory is located at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.