Wentworth Institute of Technology Awarded $750k Cummings Grant

Wentworth Institute of Technology 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, Wentworth will receive $750,000 over 10 years.

The grant will support the Boston Pipeline Initiative, led by Wentworth's Center for Culture and Community. By embedding mentorship at every stage of the educational journey, from pre-college access through graduation, the initiative creates a continuity of care that strengthens academic confidence and increases student retention.

Funding from the Cummings Foundation will directly support staffing and provide stipends for participating students, removing financial barriers that often force students to choose between educational enrichment and earning income. The initiative encompasses several key Wentworth programs:

• Beacon Pathways: A dual-enrollment program providing Boston Public Schools students with free access to college-level coursework.
• RAMP: A seven-week summer bridge experience offering project-based STEM learning, career exposure, and peer mentorship to help incoming students navigate the transition to college.
• Bridges Academy: A year-long college success program extending summer mentorship into the academic year to sustain first-year momentum.
• Industry Mentorship Program: An initiative pairing upper-class students with industry partners to build professional networks and prepare them for Wentworth's two required co-ops.

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."

About Wentworth Institute of Technology

Founded in 1904, Wentworth Institute of Technology is a leading university advancing the fields of the built environment, engineering, and applied technology. With deep expertise in architecture, design, and construction, along with strengths in engineering, computing, emerging technologies, and management, Wentworth offers interdisciplinary, experiential education that prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving world. Through immersive learning and strong industry partnerships, Wentworth delivers a high return on investment while empowering graduates to drive innovation and create meaningful societal impact today and into the future.

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.