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.
The Coffey Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Coffey Foundation Inc gave $404K across 64 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $404,474
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- -1.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,320
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $9,256,221
- +15.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Coffey Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its 2023 filing. For agency grants, only previously funded agencies should apply; an agency not previously funded may be presented by a board member to the full board for consideration. Eligible agencies must be Caldwell County 501(c)(3) organizations. Funds may support ongoing program expenses, new programs, special projects, and administrative expenses, but may not be used for political or economic development purposes or be restrictive regarding creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national origin. Previously funded agencies should submit a printed application with supporting attachments. The listed materials include the organization’s board and staff organization chart, most recent IRS Form 990, condensed operating budget, and information showing its value to Caldwell County.
- 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.
- Deadline
- Previously funded agencies should mail the printed application and supporting attachments by June 3, 2026, to assure…
- Contact
Application contact: Kelly Melton
Mailing address: 4517 Pinefrost Place, Lenoir, NC 28645
Phone: (828) 493-1420
Website: https://thecoffeyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Coffey Foundation Inc funds
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.
Organizations only. It also paid 25 individual scholarships ($170,474), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
323 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 323 grants of 323 (100%).
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 2025 grant dollars across all 64 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Coffey Foundation Inc gives
- 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
| 24 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $169,000 |
| UNC Chapel Hill - Quinten Walker Curtis Granite Falls, NC | College Scholarships | $8,000 |
| UNC Chapel Hill - Rachel Kripner Lenoir, NC | College Scholarships | $8,000 |
| UNC Chapel Hill - Kathryn Diane Whisnant Lenoir, NC | College Scholarships | $8,000 |
| UNC Asheville - Chandler Gray Dixon Granite Falls, NC | College Scholarships | $8,000 |
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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 | $9,256,221 | $1,743,043 | $511,862 | $404,474 | 64 | $422,746 | $1,662,155 | $410,841 |
| 2024 | $8,025,040 | $701,437 | $495,015 | $392,200 | 65 | $406,091 | $612,513 | $432,254 |
| 2023 | $7,822,582 | $405,347 | $497,974 | $399,847 | 64 | $407,249 | $314,622 | $393,339 |
| 2022 | $7,919,011 | $569,892 | $526,668 | $430,000 | 71 | $446,295 | $489,519 | $405,834 |
| 2021 | $7,889,555 | $785,274 | $474,976 | $378,771 | 59 | — | $705,574 | $451,015 |
| 2020 | $7,577,355 | $374,824 | $461,491 | $368,067 | 60 | — | $292,470 | $393,229 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
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.
Notable 2025 grants included $25,000 to The Foundation of CCC&TI Inc, $15,000 to Caldwell County Yokefellow, and $10,000 each to Caldwell County Habitat for Humanity and Communities in Schools. The foundation also awarded $8,000 college scholarships to students associated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, and UNC Asheville.
The scholarship program is for Caldwell County residents attending a Caldwell County public high school who rank in the top 5% of their senior class by weighted GPA, have not received scholarships covering 80% of their chosen college’s cost of attendance, and have been accepted to an accredited four-year college. The selection criteria include academic achievement, leadership, character, service, resourcefulness, initiative, communication, and financial resources. Scholarship applications are provided to school counselors in March; students submit completed applications and materials by the date set by their counselor.
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.
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.
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 (27 grants), Granite Falls, NC (6 grants), Hudson, NC (2 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. It also paid 25 individual scholarships ($170,474), which are not listed by name. 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.
Data update history
(7)
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
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Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Broyhill Family Foundation Inc
Lenoir, NC
The foundation primarily funds college-program endowments and scholarships, youth development, health care research and programs, and established charitable programs, with priority for Caldwell County and surrounding areas in North Carolina. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $6,000, though awards ranged widely; it discourages unsolicited requests from organizations without an existing giving relationship and asks prospective applicants to submit a brief letter of inquiry first.
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The foundation supports charitable organizations in North Carolina, with 2025 grants spanning civic and education work as well as food and household assistance, housing, health care, and related services. Its 33 grants in 2025 ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. It accepts applications through a foundation form and contact with William F. Howard III.
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Stevens Family Foundation Inc
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The Jonas Foundation
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The Jonas Foundation funds community assistance, health care, housing, education, and arts programs, primarily in North Carolina, with most 2025 grants supporting organizations in Caldwell County. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $145,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Coffey Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-coffey-foundation-inc-morg_97982c46cf0d44a185ee1ec0c456b4bd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_566047501_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Coffey Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-coffey-foundation-inc-morg_97982c46cf0d44a185ee1ec0c456b4bd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Coffey Foundation Inc'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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