The Cole Family Foundation
The Cole Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Greensboro, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $525K. Net investment income was $29K.
The Cole Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cole Family Foundation gave $525K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $175K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $524,607
- +236.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -62.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $174,869
- +796.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,607
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Cole Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greensboro Science Center ($500K). Together the top 3 received $525K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 17 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Cole Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1998% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2023) to $525K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $525K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro Science Center Greensboro, NC | In support of the biodome and beyond capital campaign. | $500,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Greensboro, NC | To aid in establishing charitable funds for individuals, families, businesses, foundations, and nonprofit organizations that address a wide variety of community issues and priorities. | $19,607 |
| Lilabean Foundation Kensington, MD | To fund essential research for childhood brain cancer and raising awareness about the seriousness of this devastating disease. | $5,000 |
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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 | — | $30,387 | $531,914 | $524,607 | 3 | $524,607 | $29,009 | $20,806 |
| 2024 | $501,527 | $107,555 | $165,609 | $156,100 | 8 | $156,100 | $107,555 | $28,174 |
| 2023 | $560,705 | $15,761 | $26,777 | $17,500 | 2 | $17,500 | $17,002 | $27,762 |
| 2022 | $571,747 | $54,334 | $36,895 | $25,000 | 2 | $25,000 | $42,616 | $31,308 |
| 2021 | $563,343 | $58,730 | $379,999 | $370,000 | 2 | — | $48,731 | $38,303 |
| 2019 | $1,004,831 | $244,297 | $61,631 | $49,834 | 4 | — | $232,500 | $44,257 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cole Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Cole Family Foundation is led by Sue W. Cole, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sue W. Cole
President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne C. Shortridge
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne C. Yavor
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Cole Family Foundation
How much does The Cole Family Foundation give each year?
The Cole Family Foundation gave $525K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $156K across 8 grants.
What is The Cole Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cole Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $19,607, and its average grant was $174,869, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Cole Family Foundation give grants?
The Cole Family Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Greensboro, NC (2 grants).
Does The Cole Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Cole Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How much is The Cole Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Cole Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cole Family Foundation's EIN?
The Cole Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2227517. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 8, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work The Cole Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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