The Columbia Foundation
The Columbia Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbia, Missouri. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations in Missouri and Georgia, including organizations working in the arts, education, and community services.
The Columbia Foundation at a glance
In short: The Columbia Foundation gave $145K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Georgia. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $145,011
- -21.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,667
- -21.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,925
- Total assets
- $5,376,671
- +4.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (6 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (81% 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 Columbia Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Alfredo Martin
Mailing address: 1391 E Boone Industrial Blvd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (917) 520-1121
Website: HTTP://THECOLUMBIAFOUNDATION.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Columbia Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Atlanta Opera ($57K). Together the top 10 received $143K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 59 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Columbia, Missouri. In 2024, 81% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia and 19% to recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Columbia Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 13 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 54% 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 $43K (2020) to $184K (2023). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $145K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Atlanta Opera Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds | $56,682 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MO Columbia, MO | General Operating Funds | $15,000 |
| Atlanta Chamber Players Inc Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds | $13,000 |
| The Howard School Inc Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds | $12,300 |
| Piedmont Park Conservancy Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| Robert W Woodruff Arts Center Inc Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds | $7,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Columbia Columbia, MO | General Operating Funds | $6,925 |
| Front Runners Saint Louis, MO | General Operating Funds | $6,000 |
| Robert W Woodruff Arts Center Inc Atlanta, GA | General Operating Funds - the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Columbia Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,376,671 | $495,801 | $261,131 | $145,011 | 15 | $153,269 | $405,919 | $281,884 |
| 2023 | $5,142,001 | $3,142,048 | $219,827 | $184,365 | 15 | $201,791 | $1,330,204 | $174,791 |
| 2022 | $3,235,191 | $1,790,613 | $133,605 | $116,075 | 10 | $118,409 | $717,219 | $106,417 |
| 2021 | $2,245,946 | $188,189 | $141,673 | $121,358 | 12 | $123,698 | $111,336 | $123,272 |
| 2020 | $2,200,162 | $2,360,246 | $51,929 | $43,134 | 7 | — | $292,463 | $15,599 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Columbia Foundation reported a distributable amount of $282K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2024 filing says requests of up to $2,500 from Missouri nonprofit organizations are eligible, preferably from organizations focused on children, education and literacy, or the arts; those areas are not required.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Atlanta Opera says it reimagines opera for a global audience, while Atlanta Chamber Players says it presents chamber music and commissions new works. The Howard School says it educates students with language learning disabilities and differences. Piedmont Park Conservancy says it works to preserve and enhance Piedmont Park as an urban green space and cultural and recreational resource.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $145,011. Grant amounts ranged from $182 to $56,682, with a median of $6,925. Notable grants included $56,682 to The Atlanta Opera, $15,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri, $13,000 to Atlanta Chamber Players, and $12,300 to The Howard School. The listed purposes for these grants were general operating funds.
The 2024 filing states that applications are available online and gives a March 31 deadline. That deadline has passed for 2026. It also states that requests of up to $2,500 from Missouri nonprofit organizations are eligible, with a preference for organizations focused on children, education and literacy, or the arts; these focus areas are not required.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Columbia Foundation is led by Alfredo Martin, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alfredo Martin
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beau Martin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Martin
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alfredo Mubarah (2020) — Executive 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 Columbia Foundation
How much does The Columbia Foundation give each year?
The Columbia Foundation gave $145K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $184K across 15 grants.
What is The Columbia Foundation's typical grant size?
The Columbia Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,925, and its average grant was $9,667, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Columbia Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does The Columbia Foundation give grants?
The Columbia Foundation gives mostly in Georgia: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (12 grants) and Columbia, MO (2 grants).
Does The Columbia Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Columbia Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Columbia Foundation's largest grantees?
The Columbia Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Atlanta Opera ($56,682), Robert W Woodruff Arts Center Inc ($15,182 across 3 grants) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MO ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Columbia Foundation?
The Columbia Foundation reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $153K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $282K (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 Columbia Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2024 filing says requests of up to $2,500 from Missouri nonprofit organizations are eligible, preferably from organizations focused on children, education and literacy, or the arts; those areas are not required. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Columbia Foundation?
The Columbia Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thecolumbiafoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Columbia Foundation's EIN?
The Columbia Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2874852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Columbia Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Columbia Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-columbia-foundation-morg_cfb95ebacbe64bc88b1e4591d9c93901
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462874852_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Columbia Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-columbia-foundation-morg_cfb95ebacbe64bc88b1e4591d9c93901},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Columbia Foundation'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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