06/10/2026
Facebook:
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell Awarded $25,000Cummings Grant
The nonprofit receives 3 years of funding from Cummings Foundation
Lowell, MA 2026 – The Open Pantry 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 Lowell-based organization will receive $25,000over three years.
The grant will enable us to continue to provide for clients with critical food needs and without transportation, making us essential. We give high-quality groceries each week. We do this with two part-time paid employees and 50 rotating volunteers.
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 Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
On average over 50% of our clients live 200% below the poverty line. Children make up 30% of our clients and elderly 10%. The ethnic make-up of our clients reflects our community. About 50% of our clients walk to us, making us indispensable. Food distributions are tied to household size. Households with children are now struggling more due to the loss or decrease in other programs such as SNAP.
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Wi******er, 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.
Contact: Rebecca Wisniewski, The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell, [email protected]
Contact: Alison Harding, Cummings Foundation, 781-932-7093, [email protected]
PHOTOS: Help Geoff Bryant, Maureen Peirce, Tracy Horton and Donna Hall With Client
