Cotton Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Johns Island, SC EIN: 20-5900654

Cotton Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Johns Island, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $886K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $162K. Net investment income was $95K.

Key facts about Cotton Family Foundation Inc

In short: Cotton Family Foundation Inc gave $162K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-5900654
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$161,700
Grants made (2025)
8
Average grant
$20,213
Median grant
$8,750
Total assets
$885,536
Primary geography
Maine (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$886K

-2.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$162K

+4.3% YoY

Grant Count

8

+14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$20K

-8.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cotton Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $43K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Cotton Family Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving grew 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 379% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.

Cities

LewistonTopshamAugustaBrunswickCharlestonRocklandJohns IslandKingfieldBrooklynCamdenFort BraggGrass ValleyHarpswellKiawah Island

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K3 grants2019 7 grants2020 3 grants2021 4 grants2022 7 grants2023 7 grants2024 8 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2019) to $162K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $162K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2025

Maine Public: $100KMaine Public$100KMedical University of South Carolina Foundation: $25KMedical University of SouthCarolina Foundation$25KMaine Coast Heritage trust: $10KMaine Coast Heritage trust$10KTedford Housing: $10KTedford Housing$10KKiawah Conservancy: $8KKiawah Conservancy$8KMaine Huts & Trails: $5KMaine Huts & Trails$5KThe Krenov Foundation: $3KThe Krenov Foundation$3KSt Thomas Church Camden: $1KSt Thomas Church Camden$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Public ($100K). Together the top 8 received $162K.

Grant Size Distribution

29 grants across all recorded years

26<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 29 (90%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Maine Public Lewiston, MEGeneral Operating purpose$100,000
Medical University of South Carolina Foundation Charleston, SCGeneral Operating purpose$25,000
Maine Coast Heritage trust Topsham, MEGeneral Operating purpose$10,000
Tedford Housing Brunswick, MEGeneral Operating purpose$10,000
Kiawah Conservancy Johns Island, SCGeneral Operating purpose$7,500
Maine Huts & Trails Kingfield, MEGeneral Operating purpose$5,000
The Krenov Foundation Grass Valley, CAGeneral Operating purpose$3,000
St Thomas Church Camden Camden, MEGeneral Operating purpose$1,200

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$885,536$910,605$683,998
Revenue$111,792$99,568$52,516
Expenses$178,080$170,907$117,328
Qualifying Distributions$163,200$156,543$107,534
Net Investment Income$95,112$82,169$39,237
Distributable Amount$43,026$45,107$44,641

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 27, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 25, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 3, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Cotton Family Foundation Inc is led by Leonard Cotton, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Leonard Cotton

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ashley Cotton

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anne Cotton

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Cotton Family Foundation Inc

How much does Cotton Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Cotton Family Foundation Inc gave $162K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $155K across 7 grants.

What is Cotton Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Cotton Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,750, and its average grant was $20,213, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Cotton Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Cotton Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maine: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Carolina (20%).

Does Cotton Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Cotton Family Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Cotton Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Cotton Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Public ($100,000), Medical University of South Carolina Foundation ($25,000) and Maine Coast Heritage trust ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Cotton Family Foundation Inc?

Cotton Family Foundation Inc reported $886K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $163K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $43K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Cotton Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Cotton Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5900654. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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