The Coffey Foundation Inc
The Coffey Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lenoir, North Carolina, established in 1954. The foundation was created by Harold F. Coffey, president of Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Company, to provide financial support to local nonprofit agencies and to offer educational opportunities to deserving students in Caldwell County. With no heirs, the Coffey family established the foundation as a legacy to give back to the citizens of Caldwell County and improve quality of life in the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$392K
-1.9% YoY
Grant Count
65
+1.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-3.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Coffey Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $432K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to provide financial support to local, efficient, and effective 501(c)(3) agencies that improve the quality of life for Caldwell County citizens, and to provide financial resources to deserving Caldwell County students pursuing education beyond high school.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education (76% of giving)
- Social & Human Services (15% of giving)
- Health (2% of giving)
The foundation established the Coffey Scholarship Program in 1981, providing grants to highly qualified, college-bound Caldwell County students.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications only from previously funded agencies. Agencies not previously funded may be presented by a board member to the full board for consideration. Online applications from previously funded agencies must be submitted by May 10, 2025 for consideration for 2024 funding.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on Caldwell County, North Carolina. Approximately 82% of grants stay in North Carolina overall, with the vast majority directed to Caldwell County organizations and students.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,025,040
- Total Giving: $392,200
- Total Revenues: $701,437
- Total Expenses: $495,015
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,025,040 | $7,822,582 | $7,919,011 |
| Revenue | $701,437 | $405,347 | $569,892 |
| Expenses | $495,015 | $497,974 | $526,668 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $406,091 | $407,249 | $446,295 |
| Net Investment Income | $612,513 | $314,622 | $489,519 |
| Distributable Amount | $432,254 | $393,339 | $405,834 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Caldwell County Yokefellow ($15,000), Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity ($13,500), Caldwell Arts Council ($13,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY - NICHOLAS RICHARD PILATO GRANITE FALLS, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $4,000 |
| BRYN MAWR COLLEGE - AUTUMN ELIZABETH SOOTS LENOIR, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,000 |
| BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY - LILLIA JEWEL CHAPMAN GRANITE FALLS, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $8,000 |
| WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY - FRANKLIN LEE HAAS LENOIR, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,000 |
| UNC CHAPEL HILL - SIMON TIMOTHY HAWKINS LENOIR, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $4,000 |
| NC STATE UNIVERSITY - ZARINA SANTOS VILLACORTE GRANITE FALLS, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $4,000 |
| UNC WILMINGTON - MOLLIE GRACE CHURCH GRANITE FALLS, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,000 |
| EMBRY RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY - KATHERINE ELIZABETH CLARK LENOIR, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $8,000 |
| UNC CHAPEL HILL - QUINTEN WALKER CURTIS GRANITE FALLS, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $8,000 |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY - MARY CATHERINE FORD LENOIR, NC | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder: Harold F. Coffey
Trustees:
- Betty Lou Miller, Director
- Deborah Ashley Smith
- Elizabeth Shull Fox
- Harriet Hines
- Jennie Goodman Deal
- Lauren Brooks Clark
- Rahn Chase
- Robert O Floyd Jr
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETTY LOU MILLER | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,450 |
| HARRIET HINES | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,200 |
| JENNIE GOODMAN DEAL | TRUSTEE | 2 | $2,450 |
| DEBORAH ASHLEY SMITH | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,700 |
| RAHN CHASE | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,200 |
| ROBERT O FLOYD JR | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,200 |
| LAUREN BROOKS CLARK | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,200 |
| ELIZABETH SHULL FOX | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,450 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to award scholarships through the Harold F. Coffey Scholarship Program. Recent scholarship recipients have been recognized by Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, indicating ongoing support for higher education in the region.
[PDF] 2023-24 Report Final.qxp_Layout 1 - Caldwell Community CollegeFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Coffey Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to provide financial support to local, efficient, and effective 501(c)(3) agencies that improve the quality of life for Caldwell County citizens, and to provide financial resources to deserving Caldwell County students pursuing education beyond high school. Primary funding areas include: • **Education** (76% of giving) • **Social & Human Services** (15% of giving) • **Health** (2% of giving) The foundation established the Coffey Scholarship Program in 1981, p…
How do I apply for a grant from The Coffey Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $28,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • The Foundation of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute: $25,000 • Caldwell County Yokefellow: $15,000 • Habitat for Humanity - Caldwell County: $13,500 • Caldwell House: $10,000 • UNC Chapel Hill: $8,000 • Western Carolina University: $4,000 • Helping Hands Clinic: $3,500 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications only from previously funded agencies. Agencies not previously…
Where does The Coffey Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on Caldwell County, North Carolina. Approximately 82% of grants stay in North Carolina overall, with the vast majority directed to Caldwell County organizations and students.
What size grants does The Coffey Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Coffey Foundation Inc awarded 65 grants totaling $392K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Coffey Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Coffey Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $432K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Coffey Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Coffey Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6047501. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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