Cole-belin Education Foundation
The Cole-Belin Education Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 and based in Phoenix, Arizona. Also known as the Marlin Cole and Connie Belin Charitable Foundation, it operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with no paid staff. The foundation primarily supports educational institutions and programs, with a particular emphasis on gifted education and teacher training initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$250K
+25.1% YoY
Grant Count
34
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+25.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving focuses primarily on education, with secondary interests in arts and culture, environment, health, historic preservation, libraries, research, and youth development. The foundation supports various education programs including general operating budgets, graduate student support (particularly for statistics departments), teacher training, and literacy/education initiatives.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 29 grants totaling approximately $250,323. Recent grantees include the Belin-Blank Center, Living History Farms, 1000 Friends of Iowa, Second Chance Wildlife Center, and various other educational and community organizations.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $100,000
Average Grant
amounts vary by program: general operating budget ($4,965 average), education programs ($7,500 average), teacher training ($65,000 average), literacy/education programs ($5,000 average)
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Iowa, with additional grantmaking in New York and Maryland. Sample grants have supported organizations in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Gaithersburg (Maryland), and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $4,722,114
- Total revenues: $524,819
- Total expenses: $365,300
- Total giving: $250,323
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $5,033,266
- Total revenues: $456,164
- Total expenses: $275,577
- Total giving: $209,367
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Laurie Belin – President (7.5 hours/week, $15,000 compensation)
- Dr. Thomas Richard Belin – Vice President (1 hour/week)
- Joy Elizabeth Belin – Director (1 hour/week)
- James M. Belin – Secretary/Treasurer (1 hour/week, $51,875 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURIE BELIN | PRESIDENT | 7.5 | $15,000 |
| DR THOMAS RICHARD BELIN | VICE-PRESIDE | 1 | — |
| JOY ELIZABETH BELIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES M BELIN | SECRETARY/TR | 40 | $73,127 |
Contact Information
Address: 3420 E. Shea Blvd. Suite 149 Phoenix, AZ 85028
Phone: (602) 253-3588
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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