The Coby Foundation Ltd. is a private foundation located in New York City that focuses exclusively on supporting projects in the textile and fashion fields. Established in 1994 by Irene Zambelli Silverman in memory of her mother, the Foundation represents the nation's only foundation dedicated solely to grants in the fashion and textile field.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.8M
+20.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$789K
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
23
+4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+0.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Coby Foundation Ltd reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to foster creativity and commitment among professionals in the fashion and textiles field. The Foundation funds projects in the textile and needle arts, with a particular emphasis on exhibitions and programs that combine excellent scholarship and effective interpretation.
Eligible projects may be in the arts or humanities, contemporary or historical, but all must have a public benefit. Supported project types include:
- Exhibitions and exhibition planning
- Research and documentation
- Conservation
- Publication and associated digital projects
- Scholarly monographs
- Public programs
The Foundation considers projects from any era or culture within its focus areas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 16 grants totaling $789,000. Recent grantees have included:
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation limits its funding to non-profit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. This geographic restriction was established from the Foundation's beginning to have greater impact on institutions in those regions and to build relationships with professionals working there.
Institutions receiving funding have been located from Maine to Delaware and from Boston to Erie, including states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $16,785,774
- Total revenues: $3,937,234
- Total expenses: $1,165,114
- Investment income and dividends: $329,161
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,785,774 | $13,990,851 | $13,270,834 |
| Revenue | $3,937,234 | $1,707,024 | $2,150,349 |
| Expenses | $1,165,114 | $1,066,251 | $769,945 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $976,438 | $884,467 | $611,469 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,770,058 | $1,576,837 | $2,043,995 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,041,795 | $883,587 | $788,540 |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Coby Foundation Ltd
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Hudson Heritage Network ($80,000), Maine State Museum ($60,000), New York Historical Society ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Hudson Heritage Network Elmsford, NY | CONSERVATION TREATMENT | $80,000 |
| Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore, MD | Exhibition | $15,000 |
| Maine State Museum Augusta, ME | Exhibition | $60,000 |
| Mattatuck Museum Waterbury, CT | Exhibition | $20,000 |
| New York Historical Society New York, NY | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| Trustees of Smith College Northhampton, MA | Exhibition | $25,000 |
| Schweinfurth Art Center Auburn, NY | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| Ars Nova Workshop Philadelphia, PA | Exhibition | $35,000 |
| Institute of Contemporary Art Boston Boston, MA | Exhibition | $15,000 |
| Reginald F Lewis Museum Baltimore, MD | Public Program | $14,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Margi Hofer – Executive Director
- Dr. Leslie Shanken – Trustee
- Martha C. Howell – Trustee
- Dr. Carol Groneman – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR LESLIE SHANKEN | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MARTHA C HOWELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR CAROL GRONEMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BROOKE PICKERING-COLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WARD L E MINTZ | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $76,004 |
| SCOTT I FULMER | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| LEA PAINE HIGHET | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MARGARET K HOFER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $25,778 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation continues to support significant projects in textiles, fashion, and the needle arts. Recent exhibitions funded include works spanning diverse cultures and time periods, from contemporary installations to historical textiles and fashion design.
The Foundation maintains an active grant program and welcomes inquiries from eligible organizations. Prospective applicants can contact the Foundation at margi@cobyfoundation.org or (646) 504-5450.
Special Announcement - Coby FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Coby Foundation Ltd fund?
The Foundation's mission is to foster creativity and commitment among professionals in the fashion and textiles field. The Foundation funds projects in the textile and needle arts, with a particular emphasis on exhibitions and programs that combine excellent scholarship and effective interpretation. Eligible projects may be in the arts or humanities, contemporary or historical, but all must have a public benefit. Supported project types include: • Exhibitions and exhibition planning • Research …
How do I apply for a grant from The Coby Foundation Ltd?
**Grant Types & Sizes:** • Typical awards range from $1,000 to $100,000 • The Foundation provides grants for exhibition implementation and exhibition planning • Grants support projects rather than operating or capital support **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the Foundation made 16 grants totaling $789,000. Recent grantees have included: • Greater Hudson Heritage Network ($80,000 for conservation treatment) • Friends of the Maine State Museum ($60,000 for exhibition) • The Frick Collection ($…
Where does The Coby Foundation Ltd make grants?
The Foundation limits its funding to non-profit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. This geographic restriction was established from the Foundation's beginning to have greater impact on institutions in those regions and to build relationships with professionals working there. Institutions receiving funding have been located from Maine to Delaware and from Boston to Erie, including states such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.
What size grants does The Coby Foundation Ltd award?
In 2024, The Coby Foundation Ltd awarded 23 grants totaling $789K — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Coby Foundation Ltd required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Coby Foundation Ltd reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Coby Foundation Ltd's EIN?
The Coby Foundation Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3781874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Coby Foundation Ltd's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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