The Coby Foundation Ltd
The Coby Foundation, Ltd. is a New York City–based private foundation that supports projects in textiles and fashion. Its funding is limited to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England.
The Coby Foundation Ltd at a glance
In short: The Coby Foundation Ltd gave $789K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), top state New York. 68% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $789,000
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,304
- +0.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $16,785,774
- +20.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 68% first-time grantees (15 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Coby Foundation Ltd
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Prospective applicants begin with an online eligibility quiz; eligible organizations may be invited to submit a letter of inquiry, and selected organizations may then be invited to submit a full proposal. Inquiries are reviewed on a rolling basis, and full proposals are reviewed three times a year, in January, May, and September. The Foundation funds direct project costs only, not staff salaries or overhead. For exhibition planning, applicants are asked to explain the subject and objects under consideration and identify scholarly contributors and project managers; the application must commit to an exhibition opening within two and a half years of the start of planning. A planning award does not assure implementation funding.
- Review Cycle
- The Foundation encourages submitting a letter of inquiry at least nine months before the project start or exhibition opening. Full-proposal deadlines are provided to organizations invited to apply.
- Deadline
- The Foundation encourages submitting a letter of inquiry at least nine months before the project start or exhibition…
- Contact
Mailing address: 2218 Broadway Suite 143, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (646) 504-5450
Website: https://cobyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Coby Foundation Ltd
Who The Coby Foundation Ltd funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Greater Hudson Heritage Network ($80K). Together the top 10 received $525K.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 101 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation limits its funding to nonprofit organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England. In 2024, recipient grant dollars were distributed among New York (49%), Massachusetts (17%), Pennsylvania (13%), Maine (8%), and Rhode Island (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Coby Foundation Ltd open to new grantees?
68%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 22 grantees (68%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 9% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $500K (2022) to $789K (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $789K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Hudson Heritage Network Elmsford, NY | Conservation Treatment | $80,000 |
| Maine State Museum Augusta, ME | Exhibition | $60,000 |
| New York Historical Society New York, NY | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| Schweinfurth Art Center Auburn, NY | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| The Frick Collection New York, NY | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| Penn Museum Philadelphia, PA | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI | Exhibition | $50,000 |
| Clark Art Institute Williamstown, MA | Exhibition | $40,000 |
| Lyndhurst Tarrytown, NY | Exhibition | $40,000 |
| Historic Deerfield Deerfield, MA | Exhibition | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Coby Foundation Ltd?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,785,774 | $3,937,234 | $1,165,114 | $789,000 | 23 | $976,438 | $3,770,058 | $1,041,795 |
| 2023 | $13,990,851 | $1,707,024 | $1,066,251 | $753,500 | 22 | $884,467 | $1,576,837 | $883,587 |
| 2022 | $13,270,834 | $2,150,349 | $769,945 | $500,000 | 19 | $611,469 | $2,043,995 | $788,540 |
| 2021 | $11,927,255 | $2,563,995 | $902,606 | $634,500 | 21 | $760,891 | $2,438,280 | $915,081 |
| 2020 | $10,265,866 | $1,293,659 | $800,716 | $596,000 | 16 | — | $1,163,147 | $734,727 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to foster a deeper understanding and public appreciation of textiles and the needle arts through innovative scholarship, engaging exhibitions, and expanded access to museum collections.
It supports museums and other 501(c)(3) cultural organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Funded activities include exhibition planning and implementation, public programs, publications, research and documentation, conservation, digitization, cataloging, and projects that bring communities together around textile making. The Foundation seeks projects that present innovative scholarship, highlight underrepresented artists and cultures, or feature textile collections that have been inadequately studied, preserved, or shared. It occasionally supports peer-reviewed fashion- and textile-related monographs and essay collections from nonprofit presses in its region.
Examples of grantees’ work include the Greater Hudson Heritage Network, whose stated mission is to provide services and assistance to historical agencies and museums; the Frick Collection, which operates an art museum and library program for public enjoyment and the advancement of fine-arts study; and Historic Deerfield, which welcomes visitors to experience a preserved village and rural landscape through the stories and material worlds of people who made New England home.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported awarding more than $850,000 to 26 projects. Its 2024 filing reported 23 grants totaling $789,000. In 2024, grants ranged from $14,000 to $80,000, with a median of $30,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $80,000 to Greater Hudson Heritage Network for conservation treatment; $60,000 to the Maine State Museum for an exhibition; and $50,000 each to the New York Historical Society, Schweinfurth Art Center, the Frick Collection, Penn Museum, and the Museum of Art Rhode Island School of Design for exhibitions. Other awards included $40,000 each to the Clark Art Institute, Lyndhurst, and Historic Deerfield for exhibitions, and $35,000 to Ars Nova Workshop for an exhibition.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dr. Leslie Shanken as chair; Scott I. Fulmer as vice chair; Lea Paine Highet as treasurer; Ward L. E. Mintz and Margaret K. Hofer as executive directors; and Martha C. Howell, Dr. Carol Groneman, and Brooke Pickering-Cole as directors.
The Coby Foundation Ltd is led by Ward L. E. Mintz, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ward L. E. Mintz
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$70K (2020) → $76K (2024)
Margaret K. Hofer
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
20 hrs/week
$26K (2024)
Leslie Shanken
Chair
Chairman → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Pickering-Cole
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Groneman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha C. Howell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lea Paine Highet
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott I. Fulmer
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $76K, to Ward L E Mintz (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Coby Foundation Ltd
How much does The Coby Foundation Ltd give each year?
The Coby Foundation Ltd gave $789K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $754K across 22 grants.
What is The Coby Foundation Ltd's typical grant size?
The Coby Foundation Ltd's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $34,304, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Coby Foundation Ltd that year got $35K on average.
Where does The Coby Foundation Ltd give grants?
The Coby Foundation Ltd's top state is New York, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (17%) and Pennsylvania (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (2 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does The Coby Foundation Ltd give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Coby Foundation Ltd's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Exhibition" (21 grants).
Who are The Coby Foundation Ltd's largest grantees?
The Coby Foundation Ltd's largest 2024 grantees include Greater Hudson Heritage Network ($80,000), Maine State Museum ($60,000) and Hispanic Society of America ($55,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Coby Foundation Ltd?
The Coby Foundation Ltd reported $16.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $976K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (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 The Coby Foundation Ltd fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to foster a deeper understanding and public appreciation of textiles and the needle arts through innovative scholarship, engaging exhibitions, and expanded access to museum collections. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Coby Foundation Ltd?
The Foundation 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 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.
Does The Coby Foundation Ltd accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Coby Foundation Ltd funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-coby-foundation-ltd-morg_da9bf08e4f794c30b19558f35a257710
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133781874_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Coby Foundation Ltd funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-coby-foundation-ltd-morg_da9bf08e4f794c30b19558f35a257710},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Coby Foundation Ltd'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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