Robert & Patricia Colby Foundation

BUFFALO, NY EIN: 16-1315877

The Robert & Patricia Colby Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 and based in Buffalo, New York. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and maintains a modest asset base while directing significant resources toward philanthropic activities across multiple states.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$129K

-85.3% YoY

Grant Count

5

-78.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$26K

-32.6% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation supports a diverse range of subject areas including:

  • Arts and Culture: Performing arts, music, and orchestral music
  • Education: Elementary and secondary education
  • Health: Focus on diseases and conditions, particularly cancers
  • Religion
  • Sports and Recreation

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

Grant Range

$6,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation provides funding to organizations across multiple states, including:

  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Massachusetts
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Florida
  • South Carolina

Grant Distribution by State

9states
+1 more states

Cities

Allison ParkBenzoniaBloomingtonBostonBrum MawrBuffaloCharlestonChicagoFort CambellFrankfortInterlochenOld BrookvilleSarasotaSpringvilleStanfordTraverse CityTroy

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total Assets: $127,181
  • Total Revenue: $164,198
  • Total Expenses: $894,756
  • Total Liabilities: $0

The foundation's annual expenses significantly exceed its asset base, indicating it distributes capital from reserves or other sources to support its grantmaking activities.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$246K$492K$738K$984K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$127,181$841,310
Revenue$1,419$164,198$48,354
Expenses$128,600$894,756$178,168
Qualifying Distributions$128,571$883,385$161,834
Net Investment Income$1,390$152,826$36,554
Distributable Amount$1,330$45,806$49,699

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$219K$439K$658K$877K23 grants202018 grants202112 grants202223 grants20235 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

EMMA WILLARD SCHOOL$83KLAKESIDE SHAKESPEARE THE…$25KSARASOTA OPERA$15KLYRIC OPERA CHICAGO$5KMULROY FAMILY FOUNDATION$1K

Grant Size Distribution

81 grants across all recorded years

76<$50K2$50–100K2$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is managed by two co-trustees who serve without compensation:

  • James M. Wadsworth – Co-Trustee
  • Michal Wadsworth – Co-Trustee

Contact Information:

  • Address: 140 Pearl Street, Suite 100, Buffalo, NY 14202
  • Telephone: 716-848-1230

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JAMES M WADSWORTHCO-TRUSTEE1
MICHAL WADSWORTHCO-TRUSTEE1

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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