Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M is a private foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Its 2025 filing reports 31 grants totaling $318,500, with support going to organizations in multiple states and the District of Columbia.
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M at a glance
In short: Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M gave $319K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Tennessee. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $318,500
- +17.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,274
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $2,770,781
- -4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (3 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M
- Contact
Application contact: Katie Waldrop
Mailing address: Home Federal Trust Department 515, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 541-6883
Email: katie.waldrop@homefederaltn.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Tennessee Medical Center ($175K). Together the top 10 received $276K.
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 134 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Tennessee (55%) and Virginia (21%), followed by New York (8%), Florida (6%), and the District of Columbia (4%). The listed grants also include recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 31 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $256K (2021) to $319K (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $319K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville, TN | Operational Support | $175,000 |
| Northern Piedmont Community Foundation Warrenton, VA | Operational Support | $30,000 |
| Blue Ridge School St George, VA | Operational Support | $12,500 |
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | Operational Expenses | $10,000 |
| American Red Cross Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Operational | $10,000 |
| The Highland School Warrenton, VA | Operations | $10,000 |
| Four Arts Society of Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL | Operational Support | $10,000 |
| Smithsonian Libraries Washington, DC | Operational Support | $8,000 |
| Roots and Wings Inc Delray Beach, FL | Operations | $5,000 |
| St Pauls Episcopal Church Delray Beach, FL | Religious Operations | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,770,781 | $301,318 | $435,832 | $318,500 | 31 | $318,500 | $213,014 | — |
| 2024 | $2,906,183 | $260,785 | $391,316 | $270,250 | 27 | $270,250 | $173,405 | $270,438 |
| 2023 | $3,036,546 | $412,519 | $410,644 | $286,500 | 26 | $286,500 | $325,387 | $253,482 |
| 2022 | $3,034,840 | $345,431 | $405,429 | $286,100 | 27 | $286,100 | $256,503 | $268,359 |
| 2021 | $3,091,840 | $284,400 | $374,165 | $255,500 | 23 | — | $196,968 | $272,054 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided.
The 2025 grants show support for a varied group of organizations. For example, the American Museum of Natural History received $10,000; its stated mission is to share knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through research and education. Northstar Academy received $2,500; it says it promotes educational excellence and career opportunities for students with disabilities and other challenges. Riverside School received $1,500; it says it educates students with dyslexia and similar language-based learning differences. Other recipients included arts and cultural organizations, schools, a community foundation, a church, and the American Red Cross.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $318,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $175,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest award was $175,000 to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for operational support. Other notable awards included $30,000 to Northern Piedmont Community Foundation for operational support and $12,500 to Blue Ridge School for operational support.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Katie Waldrop as the contact for application inquiries, says there is no prescribed form, and requests a description of the organization, group, or persons to whom distributions are made. It states that distributions are made in November and that no distributions are made to political groups.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sarah Cole Page, Margaret McKenry Nash, James R McKenry Jr, and Monica Cole Johnson as directors, and Home Federal Bank as trustee.
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Home Federal Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$35K (2021) → $36K (2025)
James R. McKenry Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2025)
Margaret McKenry Nash
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2025)
Monica Cole Johnson
Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2025)
Sarah Cole Page
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $20K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $36K, to Home Federal Bank (Trustee). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M
How much does Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M give each year?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M gave $319K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $270K across 27 grants.
What is Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's typical grant size?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $10,274, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M that year got $5K on average.
Where does Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M give grants?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M gives mostly in Tennessee: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (21%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants), Richmond, VA (4 grants), Scarborough, ME (3 grants) and Knoxville, TN (2 grants).
Does Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M give general operating support?
Yes: 68% of Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (7 grants).
Who are Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's largest grantees?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's largest 2025 grantees include University of Tennessee Medical Center ($175,000), Northern Piedmont Community Foundation ($30,000) and Blue Ridge School ($12,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $301K.
What does Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's EIN?
Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6137973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cole-foundation-robert-h-and-monica-m-morg_5923968c9db1400687d6dfeacd7e3c8f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_626137973_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cole Foundation Robert H \& Monica M funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cole-foundation-robert-h-and-monica-m-morg_5923968c9db1400687d6dfeacd7e3c8f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cole Foundation Robert H & Monica M's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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