Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia
The Lillian L. Colby Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 2012 under the trust agreement of Lillian L. Colby, an elementary school teacher at Thrasher Elementary School who passed away in 2010. Born in 1920 to a farming family in Eagleville, Tennessee, Colby lived a quiet, frugal life on Signal Mountain after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Despite earning a teacher's salary, she left behind a $5 million estate to establish the foundation. A widow for decades with no children, her thriftiness enabled her to create a lasting philanthropic legacy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$400K
-21.6% YoY
Grant Count
17
-26.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+6.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Lillian L. Colby Charitable Foundation strengthens the greater Chattanooga region by supporting effective, well-led organizations and innovative programs that enhance opportunities for underserved children and adults. Special consideration is given to organizations named in Mrs. Colby's Trust Agreement.
Core Values:
- Compassion: The foundation was established to aid the poor, homeless, hungry, battered, or otherwise in need of assistance, continuing this noble effort with compassion for the marginalized in the community.
- Individual Empowerment: The foundation values programs and projects that empower citizens to contribute economically and intellectually to the community and to live meaningful lives.
- Community: The board strives to be a reflection of the breadth and diversity of the community and engages with members and leaders to promote systemic change.
Funding Priorities:
The foundation places priority on innovative programs, projects, and organizations addressing root causes of poor outcomes in the following areas:
- Education: Mentoring; early childhood through post-secondary education; programs that break the cycle of poverty (support for individuals is excluded)
- Healthcare: Health equity; preventative care; community-based programs
- Community Needs: Other acute needs; hunger and food insecurity; homelessness
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16-17 grants in recent years.
Grant Range
s:** Based on recent activity, typical awards range from $8,000 to $67,500, with a median grant of $25,000.
Review Cycle
** The foundation uses an online application with deadlines on February 1 and August 1 annually.
Grant Types
Invitation Only
** Applicants should review guidelines and restrictions before applying through the online application portal at lilliancolby.org. The foundation's directors attend site visits and hear presentations from nonprofits by invitation only. Ms. Ogles provides back office support to the Board and serves as the primary Foundation contact for grant applicants. Application questions can be directed via the website.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Greater Chattanooga region, Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $8.3–$9.3 million (as of 2023-2024)
Annual Giving: $400,000–$435,000
Total Revenues (2023): $455,720
Total Expenses (2023): $570,893
Investment Income (2023): $225,676
Giving Rate: Approximately 4.7% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chattanooga Symphony & Opera ($60,000), A Step Ahead Foundation Chattanooga ($34,000), Chattanooga Area Food Bank ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTSBUILD CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION CHATTANOOGA CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $34,000 |
| CHATTANOOGA AREA FOOD BANK CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $30,000 |
| CHATTANOOGA ROOM IN THE INN CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| CHATTANOOGA SYMPHONY & OPERA CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $60,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER GREATER CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| LAUNCH CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| LIFT YOUTH CENTER INC RINGGOLD, GA | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $8,000 |
| METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE CHATTANOOGA, TN | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Catherine Colby, Chair
- Kathleen Hunt, Vice-Chair
- Stefanie Crowe, Treasurer
- Daisy Mauyra-Ballard, Secretary
- Heather DeGaetano, Director
- Dwayne Marshall, Director
- Henrietta Morris, Director
Staff Support:
- Ms. Ogles (provides back office support and serves as primary contact for grant applicants)
- Patti Lindblad (handles application questions)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE COLBY | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| KATHLEEN HUNT | VICE-CHAIR | 1 | — |
| STEFANIE CROWE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DAISY MAUYRA-BALLARD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| HEATHER DEGAETANO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DWAYNE MARSHALL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HENRIETTA MORRIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia fund?
**Mission:** The Lillian L. Colby Charitable Foundation strengthens the greater Chattanooga region by supporting effective, well-led organizations and innovative programs that enhance opportunities for underserved children and adults. Special consideration is given to organizations named in Mrs. Colby's Trust Agreement. **Core Values:** • **Compassion:** The foundation was established to aid the poor, homeless, hungry, battered, or otherwise in need of assistance, continuing this noble effort w…
How do I apply for a grant from Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia?
**Grant Types:** The foundation provides operating and program/project support. Generally, the foundation will not make grants to support capital projects and campaigns, nor will it make grants to individuals. **Grant Cycles:** The foundation uses an online application with deadlines on February 1 and August 1 annually. **Grant Sizes:** Based on recent activity, typical awards range from $8,000 to $67,500, with a median grant of $25,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2023-2024):** • Chattanooga Symp…
Where does Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia make grants?
Greater Chattanooga region, Tennessee
What size grants does Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia award?
In 2024, Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia awarded 17 grants totaling $400K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia's EIN?
Lillian L Colby Charitable Fdn Ia's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4420455. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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