Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation
The Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Established by Kay Kobata in 2014, it supports students and education, with a stated interest in agricultural sciences and related fields.
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation at a glance
In short: Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation gave $461K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Washington. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $461,000
- +38.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,074
- +32.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $8,063,469
- +2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (3 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The website describes an online scholarship application and essay, while the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 60 Livingston Ave, St Paul, MN 55107
Phone: (509) 835-6082
Website: https://www.kobatafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Washington State University ($80K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $277K.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($144,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 101 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the reported share of grant dollars by recipient state was 79% to Washington, 10% to Idaho, 4% to Oregon, 3% to Utah, and 1% to Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 20 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $294K (2020) to $535K (2023). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $461K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $144,500 |
| Washington State University Pullman, WA | Scholarships | $56,000 |
| University of Idaho Moscow, ID | Scholarships | $36,000 |
| Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA | College Support | $35,000 |
| Eastern Washington University Spokane, WA | Scholarships | $32,000 |
| Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA | Scholarships | $28,000 |
| Washington State University Pullman, WA | College Support | $23,500 |
| Eastern Washington University Spokane, WA | College Support | $12,000 |
| Utah State University Logan, UT | Scholarships | $12,000 |
| Whitworth University Spokane, WA | Scholarships | $12,000 |
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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 | $8,063,469 | $799,206 | $577,648 | $461,000 | 27 | $466,750 | $660,994 | $484,071 |
| 2024 | $7,841,911 | $704,131 | $444,070 | $334,000 | 26 | $339,613 | $587,148 | $445,940 |
| 2023 | $7,581,850 | $597,901 | $634,718 | $534,500 | 20 | $540,063 | $455,186 | $439,039 |
| 2022 | $7,618,667 | $267,553 | $611,346 | $512,706 | 14 | $517,881 | $157,365 | $441,061 |
| 2021 | $7,962,460 | $387,359 | $537,162 | $433,000 | 14 | $438,075 | $252,067 | $479,516 |
| 2020 | $8,112,263 | $4,843,698 | $360,229 | $293,500 | 13 | — | $350,180 | $330,186 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation reported a distributable amount of $484K 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
Kay Kobata established the foundation to encourage high school graduates to study agricultural sciences in college. The foundation describes its interests as including agriculture and related sciences, sustainable agriculture, and solutions that help farmers produce more with fewer resources. Its website also says its scholarship is not limited to students in agriculture-focused fields.
The 2025 grantees show support for higher education institutions. For example, Whitworth University describes its mission as providing “an education of mind and heart” through intellectual inquiry guided by Christian scholars. Corban University says it aims to equip students to bring character to their communities and competence to their careers. George Fox University describes itself as a Christ-centered community preparing students spiritually, academically, and professionally. Western Governors University says its mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $461,000. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $88,500, with a median of $8,000. Among the largest were $88,500 to an individual recipient Community College for college support, $56,000 to Washington State University for scholarships, $36,000 to the University of Idaho for scholarships, and $35,000 to Central Washington University for college support. Other recipients included Eastern Washington University, Walla Walla Community College, Utah State University, and Whitworth University.
The foundation’s website describes an online scholarship application requiring a 750- to 1,000-word essay and lists suggested essay topics. Separately, the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary Kobata as president, Faith Anderson as trustee, James Anderson as vice president, and Daren Kobata as secretary/treasurer.
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation is led by Gary Kobata, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Kobata
President
Secretary → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Faith Anderson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
James Anderson
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Daren Kobata
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $2K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Connie Kobata (2020–2024) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Kay Kobata (2020–2021) — Past Chairman · Filing note: Deceased
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Gary Kobata (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation
How much does Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation give each year?
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation gave $461K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $334K across 26 grants.
What is Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's typical grant size?
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $17,074, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation give grants?
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Idaho (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Spokane, WA (4 grants), Pullman, WA (2 grants) and Ellensburg, WA (2 grants).
Does Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (23 grants) and "College Support" (4 grants).
Who are Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's largest grantees?
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Washington State University ($79,500 across 2 grants), Central Washington University ($63,000 across 2 grants) and Eastern Washington University ($44,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($144,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation?
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $467K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $484K (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 Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation fund?
Kay Kobata established the foundation to encourage high school graduates to study agricultural sciences in college. The foundation describes its interests as including agriculture and related sciences, sustainable agriculture, and solutions that help farmers produce more with fewer resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation?
The website describes an online scholarship application and essay, while the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's EIN?
Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4797575. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Live grants for the work Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sam I Kobata & Sons Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sam-i-kobata-and-sons-foundation-morg_460b7548339c480e95f0ab2ab9ce2990
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464797575_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sam I Kobata \& Sons Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sam-i-kobata-and-sons-foundation-morg_460b7548339c480e95f0ab2ab9ce2990},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Sam I Kobata & Sons 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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