The Coffey Foundation Inc
The Coffey Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lenoir, North Carolina. Established in 1954, it supports nonprofit agencies working to improve quality of life for Caldwell County residents and provides educational resources to Caldwell County students pursuing education beyond high school.
Key facts about The Coffey Foundation Inc
In short: The Coffey Foundation Inc gave $404K across 64 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in North Carolina. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 56-6047501
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $404,474
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- Average grant
- $6,320
- Median grant
- $8,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (9 of 44, 2025)
- Total assets
- $9,256,221
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its 2023 filing. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Previously funded agencies should mail the printed application and supporting attachments by June 3, 2026, to assure…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.3M
+15.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$404K
+3.1% YoY
Grant Count
64
-1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Coffey Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $411K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Coffey Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 44 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support local, efficient, and effective 501(c)(3) agencies that improve quality of life for Caldwell County citizens, and to provide financial resources to deserving Caldwell County students pursuing education beyond high school.
Its 2025 grants included agency support and college scholarships. Among the funded organizations, Caldwell County Yokefellow says it assists people in immediate need of food, clothing, household goods, and financial assistance; Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity says it builds affordable housing for disadvantaged Caldwell County families; South Caldwell Christian Ministries says it assists people and families experiencing economic hardship with food and other assistance; and Caldwell Arts Council says it promotes the arts in Caldwell County.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 64 grants totaling $404,474. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $8,000. It reported 65 grants totaling $392,200 in 2024 and 64 grants totaling $399,847 in 2023.
Review Cycle
Previously funded agencies should mail the printed application and supporting attachments by June 3, 2026, to assure consideration for 2026 funding. The website says applicants will be notified in June.
Ready to take the next step with The Coffey Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated agency purpose centers on improving quality of life for Caldwell County citizens, and agency grants are limited to Caldwell County 501(c)(3) organizations. Its scholarship eligibility is also tied to Caldwell County residency and public high school attendance. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 64 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $368K (2020) to $430K (2022). In 2025 it made 64 grants totaling $404K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Foundation of CCC&TI Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $109K.
Grant Size Distribution
323 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 323 grants of 323 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Foundation of CCC&TI Inc Lenoir, NC | The contributions are not controlled by the foundation but by the recipients | $25,000 |
| Caldwell County Yokefellow Lenoir, NC | The contributions are not controlled by the foundation but by the recipients | $15,000 |
| Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity Lenoir, NC | The contributions are not controlled by the foundation but by the recipients | $10,000 |
| Communities in Schools Lenoir, NC | The contributions are not controlled by the foundation but by the recipients | $10,000 |
| Lenoir Soup Kitchen Lenoir, NC | The contributions are not controlled by the foundation but by the recipients | $8,500 |
| 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 |
| UNC Chapel Hill - Rachel Kripner Lenoir, NC | College Scholarships | $8,000 |
| Appalachian State University - Paul Jacob Norwood Lenoir, NC | College Scholarships | $8,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $404,474 | 64 |
| 2024 | $392,200 | 65 |
| 2023 | $399,847 | 64 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,256,221 | $8,025,040 | $7,822,582 |
| Revenue | $1,743,043 | $701,437 | $405,347 |
| Expenses | $511,862 | $495,015 | $497,974 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $422,746 | $406,091 | $407,249 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,662,155 | $612,513 | $314,622 |
| Distributable Amount | $410,841 | $432,254 | $393,339 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 25, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Betty Lou Miller, Harriet Hines, Jennie Goodman Deal, Deborah Ashley Smith, Rahn Chase, Robert O Floyd Jr, Lauren Brooks Clark, Elizabeth Shull Fox, and Lauren Robertson.
The Coffey Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 9 officers; all 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Betty Lou Miller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Deborah Ashley Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Jennie Goodman Deal
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Lauren Brooks Clark
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Rahn Chase
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Robert O. Floyd Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Elizabeth Shull Fox
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$1K (2022) → $2K (2025)
Harriet Hines
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$1K (2024) → $800 (2025)
Lauren Robertson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Bruce Vanderbloemen (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Ld Hines (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Leslie D. Hines Jr. (2020–2022) — Trustee
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 $3K, to Jennie Goodman Deal (Trustee). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Kelly Melton
Mailing address: 4517 Pinefrost Place, Lenoir, NC 28645
Phone: (828) 493-1420
Website: https://thecoffeyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Coffey Foundation Inc
How much does The Coffey Foundation Inc give each year?
The Coffey Foundation Inc gave $404K across 64 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $392K across 65 grants.
What is The Coffey Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Coffey Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $6,320, across 64 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Coffey Foundation Inc that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Coffey Foundation Inc give grants?
The Coffey Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lenoir, NC (42 grants), Granite Falls, NC (12 grants), Hudson, NC (6 grants) and Hickory, NC (2 grants).
Does The Coffey Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 64 grants with a stated purpose on The Coffey Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "College Scholarships" (45 grants).
Who are The Coffey Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Coffey Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Foundation of CCC&TI Inc ($25,000), Caldwell County Yokefellow ($15,000) and Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Coffey Foundation Inc?
The Coffey Foundation Inc reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $423K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $411K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Coffey Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support local, efficient, and effective 501(c)(3) agencies that improve quality of life for Caldwell County citizens, and to provide financial resources to deserving Caldwell County students pursuing education beyond high school. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Coffey Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its 2023 filing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does The Coffey Foundation Inc 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.
Here's the math on researching The Coffey Foundation Inc by hand.
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