Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation
The Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation is a private foundation based in Barrington, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including religious organizations and organizations whose stated purposes include general exempt purposes.
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation at a glance
In short: Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation gave $934K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Georgia. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $934,000
- +18.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 32
- -17.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,188
- +44.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,748,053
- +0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 32, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (56% 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 Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1000 Garlands Lane Unit 1141, Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: (847) 381-1160
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Christian Foundation ($525K). Together the top 10 received $840K.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 180 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia (56%), Arizona (16%), Illinois (12%), Texas (6%), and Wisconsin (3%). These figures describe the locations of recipients, not necessarily where funded work takes place.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 32 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $613K (2022) to $934K (2025). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $934K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Christian Foundation Alpharetta, GA | Religious | $525,000 |
| Langham Partnership Cave Creek, AZ | General Exempt Purpose | $150,000 |
| Business Professional Network Plano, TX | General Exempt Purpose | $50,000 |
| Barrington White House Barrington, IL | General Exempt Purpose | $30,000 |
| Fort Wilderness Ministries McNaughton, WI | General Exempt Purpose | $25,000 |
| Russian Leadership Ministries Wheaton, IL | Religious | $20,000 |
| Louis Palau Association Beaverton, OR | General Exempt Purpose | $10,000 |
| Likewise Worship Huntington Beach, CA | Religious | $10,000 |
| Village Church of Barrington Barrington, IL | Religious | $10,000 |
| American Friends of Tyndale Wheaton, IL | General Exempt Purpose | $10,000 |
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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 | $10,748,053 | $1,069,119 | $1,035,755 | $934,000 | 32 | $934,000 | $906,974 | $1,011,141 |
| 2024 | $10,714,689 | $932,587 | $898,621 | $789,500 | 39 | $789,500 | $789,830 | $943,379 |
| 2023 | $10,652,889 | $894,648 | $898,672 | $813,550 | 35 | $811,050 | $731,169 | $828,820 |
| 2022 | $10,654,523 | $1,069,704 | $729,874 | $613,000 | 39 | $613,000 | $816,502 | $793,888 |
| 2021 | $10,264,119 | $1,799,473 | $760,473 | $679,250 | 35 | $679,286 | $1,350,218 | $766,278 |
| 2020 | $9,361,700 | $537,060 | $743,164 | $661,200 | 51 | — | $487,441 | $675,908 |
| 2019 | $9,554,396 | $1,379,885 | $721,391 | $634,415 | 60 | — | $1,088,478 | $615,475 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants include support for Christian and religious organizations. For example, Russian Leadership Ministries describes its work as preparing church pastoral and congregational leaders to share the Gospel in Russia. Fort Wilderness Ministries says it uses God’s Word, adventure programs, wilderness experiences, and Christian fellowship to influence lives.
Other supported organizations describe work in areas including worship leadership, youth outreach, Christian ministry leadership, character and leadership development, and creation care. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 32 grants totaling $934,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $525,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
The largest reported 2025 grants included $525,000 to National Christian Foundation for a religious purpose; $150,000 to Langham Partnership for a general exempt purpose; $50,000 to Business Professional Network for a general exempt purpose; and $30,000 to Barrington White House for a general exempt purpose. Other grants included $25,000 to Fort Wilderness Ministries and $20,000 to Russian Leadership Ministries.
In 2024, the foundation gave $345,000 to National Christian Foundation, $25,000 to Fort Wilderness Ministries, and $20,000 to Russian Leadership Ministries. National Christian Foundation describes its work as liquidating donated property and granting the proceeds to a related foundation and other charities it supports.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Virginia M. Combs as secretary-treasurer, and Earle M. Combs IV, Bonnie C. Etters, Eric B. Combs, and Leanne C. Turnquist as trustees.
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bonnie C. Etters
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Earle M. Combs IV
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric B. Combs
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leanne C. Turnquist
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia M. Combs
Secretary-Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Earle M. Combs III (2019–2023) — President
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 Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation
How much does Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation give each year?
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation gave $934K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $790K across 39 grants.
What is Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's typical grant size?
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $29,188, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation give grants?
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation gives mostly in Georgia: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arizona (16%) and Illinois (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Barrington, IL (3 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants), Wheaton, IL (2 grants) and Orlando, FL (2 grants).
Does Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 66% of Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Religious" (10 grants).
Who are Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's largest grantees?
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Christian Foundation ($525,000), Langham Partnership ($150,000) and Business Professional Network ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation?
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation reported $10.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $934K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants include support for Christian and religious organizations. For example, Russian Leadership Ministries describes its work as preparing church pastoral and congregational leaders to share the Gospel in Russia. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's EIN?
Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6168454. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/earle-and-virginia-combs-foundation-morg_c2f2e72b9f4d4b8baf414513a47ff49e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366168454_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Earle \& Virginia Combs Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/earle-and-virginia-combs-foundation-morg_c2f2e72b9f4d4b8baf414513a47ff49e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Earle & Virginia Combs Foundation'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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