The Cole Foundation Trust

Foundation · Grantmaker Mobile, AL EIN: 56-2547408

The Cole Foundation Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Mobile, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $826K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $42K. Net investment income was $60K.

Key facts about The Cole Foundation Trust

EIN: 56-2547408
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $42,000
Grants made (2024): 7
Average grant: $6,000
Median grant: $5,000
Total assets: $826,422
Primary geography: Alabama (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The Cole Foundation Trust funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Cole Foundation Trust's 7 itemized 2024 grants were Alabama (65%) and Mississippi (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mobile, AL (4 grants). None of its 7 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

How The Cole Foundation Trust gives

Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Next steps with The Cole Foundation Trust

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$826K

+2.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$42K

-4.5% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

-4.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cole Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $47K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Cole Foundation Trust

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Alabama $28K (65%)

Mississippi $12K (27%)

Florida $2K (5%)

District of Columbia $1K (2%)

Share of all 7 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Alabama District of Columbia Florida Mississippi

Cities

MobileBrandonGulf ShoresOrange BeachPlantationWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$826,422	$809,930	$827,891
Revenue	$72,070	$38,411	$5,478
Expenses	$55,527	$56,404	$51,996
Qualifying Distributions	$43,450	$45,450	$37,450
Net Investment Income	$60,091	$26,131	$9,626
Distributable Amount	$47,481	$43,797	$45,660

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

37 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County ($11,500), Nature Conservancy in Alabama ($10,000), St John's Episcopal Church ($9,500).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
JUNIOR AUXILIARY OF RANKIN COUNTY Brandon, MS	$5,250 FOR OPERATIONS AND $6,250 FOR LAURA VALERY COLE SCHOLARSHIP FUND	$11,500
NATURE CONSERVANCY IN ALABAMA Mobile, AL	FOR PROJECTS IN SOUTHWEST ALABAMA	$10,000
ST JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Mobile, AL	OPERATIONS - IN MEMORY OF DR. BRANDY C. COLE	$9,500
WILMER HALL Mobile, AL	OPERATIONS	$5,000
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER Mobile, AL	OPERATIONS	$3,000
ST BENEDICT'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Plantation, FL	OPERATIONS - IN MEMORY OF DR. BRANDY C. COLE	$2,000
MEMORIAL TRUST OF THE NSCDA IN ALABAMA Washington, DC	OPERATIONS - IN MEMORY OF LAURA JONES CONVERSE	$1,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Katherine Vance	Trustee	0.1	—
Laura JC Menard	Trustee	0.1	—
Roger E Cole	Trustee	0.1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Cole Foundation Trust?

The Cole Foundation Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Mobile, AL. It holds $826K in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Cole Foundation Trust?

As of 2024, The Cole Foundation Trust holds $826K in total assets with $72K in annual revenue. It awarded 7 grants totaling $42K in 2024.

Where does The Cole Foundation Trust operate?

The Cole Foundation Trust has awarded grants in Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Mississippi.

What size grants does The Cole Foundation Trust award?

In 2024, The Cole Foundation Trust awarded 7 grants totaling $42K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Cole Foundation Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cole Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $47K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.