The Cole Foundation Inc
The Cole Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Fallston, Maryland. Its 2024 filing reports $80,000 in grants to 19 charitable organizations, including organizations addressing homelessness, addiction recovery, health care, food access, and services for children with disabilities.
The Cole Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Cole Foundation Inc gave $80K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), top state Maryland. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $80,000
- -31.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -32.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,211
- +1.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $2,309,202
- +3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (41% 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 Cole Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2106 Lippizan Court, Fallston, MD 21047
Phone: (410) 242-0600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cole Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Off the Streets ($15K). Together the top 10 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
133 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 133 grants of 133 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For 2024 grant dollars, the reported recipient-state shares were Maryland 41%, Pennsylvania 24%, Ohio 12%, Tennessee 12%, and Michigan 4%. These figures describe the locations of recipients, not stated geographic eligibility rules.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Cole Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 19 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 36% 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 $80K (2024) to $210K (2020). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $80K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Off the Streets Lancaster, PA | Prevents Homelessness | $15,000 |
| Miracles in Action Cincinnati, OH | Under-Served Mayan Villages of Need | $10,000 |
| Skyline Church of Christ Jackson, TN | To Love God and Love People | $10,000 |
| Empower 4 Life Inc Kingsville, MD | Inspire Hope and Promote Health | $8,000 |
| Addiction Connections Resources Fallston, MD | Supports Addiction Recovery | $5,000 |
| Charhope Foundation Street, MD | Supports Addiction Recovery | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Baltimore, MD | Food for Homebound | $4,000 |
| Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation Havre De Grace, MD | Advancing Health Care | $4,000 |
| Aarons Acres Lancaster, PA | Camp for Disabled Children | $3,000 |
| The Empowerment Plan Detroit, MI | Help Achieve Financial Stability | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Cole Foundation Inc?
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 | $2,309,202 | $194,211 | $111,582 | $80,000 | 19 | $80,000 | $156,170 | $220,009 |
| 2023 | $2,225,133 | $108,253 | $139,959 | $116,000 | 28 | $116,000 | $81,664 | $115,336 |
| 2022 | $2,256,111 | $-64,632 | $159,306 | $136,000 | 33 | $136,000 | $47,678 | $120,302 |
| 2021 | $2,483,154 | $300,050 | $147,045 | $117,000 | 22 | $117,000 | $273,811 | $132,184 |
| 2020 | $2,327,044 | $29,464 | $227,981 | $210,000 | 31 | — | $42,160 | $116,550 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cole Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $220K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants and grantee descriptions show support for organizations working in areas including housing and homelessness, addiction recovery, health care, food assistance, disability services, and clean water.
Grantees describe their own missions in these areas. For example, The Empowerment Plan says it employs and empowers unhoused individuals while producing sleeping-bag coats for people in need. Aaron’s Acres describes year-round recreational programs for young people with disabilities, and Helping Up Mission says it works to restore hope to people suffering from addiction and poverty.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $80,000 through 19 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, with a median grant of $3,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $15,000 to Off the Streets for homelessness prevention; $10,000 each to Miracles in Action and Skyline Church of Christ; and $8,000 to Empower 4 Life Inc. Other grants included $5,000 each to Addiction Connections Resources and Charhope Foundation, and $4,000 each to Meals on Wheels and Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation. Additional recipients included Aaron’s Acres ($3,000), The Empowerment Plan ($3,000), Helping Up Mission ($2,000), and Homes for Our Troops ($2,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara S Ford as president; Beth L Mack as vice preside; and Chelsea Heuman, Ellen L Cole, Bonnie J Cole, Alison March, and Brendan Ford as directors.
The Cole Foundation Inc is led by Barbara S. Ford, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara S. Ford
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bonnie J. Cole
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ellen L. Cole
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alison March
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Brendan Ford
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Chelsea Heuman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Beth L. Mack
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bette Ann Tassone (2020–2023) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Cole Foundation Inc
How much does The Cole Foundation Inc give each year?
The Cole Foundation Inc gave $80K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $116K across 28 grants.
What is The Cole Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Cole Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,211, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cole Foundation Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Cole Foundation Inc give grants?
The Cole Foundation Inc's top state is Maryland, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (24%) and Ohio (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (2 grants), Fallston, MD (2 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does The Cole Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on The Cole Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Cole Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Cole Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Off the Streets ($15,000), Miracles in Action ($10,000) and Skyline Church of Christ ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Cole Foundation Inc?
The Cole Foundation Inc reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $80K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $220K (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 Cole Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants and grantee descriptions show support for organizations working in areas including housing and homelessness, addiction recovery, health care, food assistance, disability services, and clean water. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cole Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 Cole Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Cole Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1907361. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Cole Foundation Inc 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 October 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 Cole Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-cole-foundation-inc-morg_a6e60c987d3141d7b3c183e7b744e7df
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521907361_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Cole Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-cole-foundation-inc-morg_a6e60c987d3141d7b3c183e7b744e7df},
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 Cole 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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