Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Saint Paul, MN EIN: 41-1885527

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation is a private foundation, based in Saint Paul, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $865K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $100K. Net investment income was $113K.

Key facts about Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation

In short: Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation gave $100K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
41-1885527
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$100,000
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$33,333
Median grant
$25,000
Total assets
$865,404
Primary geography
Minnesota (100% 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

$865K

+5.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$100K

-20.0% YoY

Grant Count

3

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$33K

-46.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation reported a distributable amount of $53K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 188% 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

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Saint PaulEdinaMinneapolisWoodbury

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K0 grants2020 2 grants2021 3 grants2022 2 grants2023 2 grants2024 3 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2021) to $125K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $100K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Guild: $50KGuild$50KChildren's Minnesota Foundation: $25KChildren's MinnesotaFoundation$25KBig Brothers Big Sisters: $25KBig Brothers Big Sisters$25K

The largest 2025 recipient was Guild ($50K). Together the top 3 received $100K.

Grant Size Distribution

12 grants across all recorded years

8<$50K2$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 12 (67%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Guild St. Paul, MNCharity$50,000
Children's Minnesota Foundation Edina, MNCharity$25,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Minneapolis, MNCharity$25,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$865,404$823,340$871,954
Revenue$152,389$86,748$138,998
Expenses$110,325$135,361$108,935
Qualifying Distributions$100,000$125,000$100,200
Net Investment Income$113,152$76,387$130,263
Distributable Amount$53,057$89,635$49,811

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 31, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 26, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation is led by Shirley Scott, Chair on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Shirley Scott

    Chair

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Babcock

    Secretary Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Kenneth Cotten

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation

How much does Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation give each year?

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation gave $100K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $125K across 2 grants.

What is Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation's typical grant size?

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $33,333, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation give grants?

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.

Does Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charity" (3 grants).

How large is Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation?

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation reported $865K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $100K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $53K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation's EIN?

Robert L and Lila A Cotten Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1885527. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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

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