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.
Key facts about Cole-Belin Education Foundation
- EIN
- 42-1263748
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $244,900
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- Average grant
- $7,421
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cole-Belin Education Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Cole-Belin Education Foundation's 33 itemized 2025 grants were Iowa (85%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (16 grants), Urbandale, IA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). 64% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (8 grants).
Is Cole-Belin Education Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 33 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Cole-Belin Education Foundation
- How to evaluate Cole-Belin Education Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$245K
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
33
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+0.8% 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
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
**
Ready to take the next step with Cole-Belin Education Foundation?
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
Share of all 33 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Belin-Blank Center ($75,000), Civic Music Assocation ($25,000), Living History Farms ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BELIN-BLANK CENTER Iowa City, IA | TEACHER TRAINING | $75,000 |
| CIVIC MUSIC ASSOCATION Des Moines, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $25,000 |
| LIVING HISTORY FARMS Urbandale, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| 1000 FRIENDS OF IOWA Des Moines, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $10,000 |
| VOTERPUNCH Arroyo Grande, CA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $10,000 |
| MONTGOMERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY Red Oak, IA | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $7,000 |
| SECOND CHANCE WILDLIFE CENTER Gaithersburg, MD | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $7,000 |
| IOWA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL Des Moines, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| ASPCA New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET | $5,000 |
| CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION Des Moines, IA | EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
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 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS 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 | $52,637 |
Contact Information
Address: 3420 E. Shea Blvd. Suite 149 Phoenix, AZ 85028
Phone: (602) 253-3588
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cole-Belin Education Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from Cole-Belin Education Foundation?
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Cole-Belin Education Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Cole-Belin Education Foundation award?
In 2025, Cole-Belin Education Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $245K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Cole-Belin Education Foundation's EIN?
Cole-Belin Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1263748. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Cole-Belin Education Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.