The Cousins Foundation Inc
The Cousins Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia, established in 1963. The foundation supports organizations that strengthen the spiritual, mental, and moral fiber of communities, with a special focus on children and programs designed to break the cycle of poverty.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$61.1M
+9.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-27.7% YoY
Grant Count
20
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
+8.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cousins Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation operates according to the Christian principle: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).
Primary funding areas include:
- Education: Investments in early childhood education, equitable K-12 educational opportunities, and targeted interventions for college and career readiness
- Health Services: Access to mental and physical health services
- Food Security: Access to healthy, sustainable food choices and infrastructure
- Community Empowerment: Support for safe, thriving communities
- Economic Mobility: Support resources for individual and family economic mobility, small business growth and sustainability, and job training and financial planning services
- Housing: Access to stable, safe housing options and creation of affordable housing
- Arts & Culture: Investments in community fine arts, historical sites, and museums
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s**: Typical awards range from $1,000 to $200,000.
Review Cycle
- The Grants Advisory Committee meets bi-annually to review LOIs and grant applications and recommend grants to partners
How to Apply
**:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, with 79% of grants staying within the state. Additional significant funding goes to Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, and Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023-2024:
- Total Assets: $55.8–$61.1 million
- Total Annual Giving: $1.3–$3.2 million
- Revenue (2023): $2,058,339
- Expenses (2023): $2.55 million
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since May 1964
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,144,048 | $55,760,843 | $51,597,750 |
| Revenue | $2,384,411 | $2,058,339 | $1,678,562 |
| Expenses | $2,276,819 | $2,551,414 | $2,760,627 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,561,108 | $1,887,692 | $1,730,149 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,762,996 | $1,414,617 | $1,287,033 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,781,835 | $2,537,495 | $2,473,556 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cousins Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ogelthorpe University ($200,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta ($100,000), Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGAPE YOUTH & FAMILY CENTER ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METRO ATLANTA ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF METRO ATLANTA ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| CITY OF REFUGE ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| COR INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| COVENANT HOUSE ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $40,000 |
| EAST LAKE FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| FLUX PROJECTS INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| KIDS-DOC-ON-WHEELS INC CLARKSTON, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: Thomas G. Cousins
- Donor: Thomas G. Cousins
- President/Trustee: Lillian C Gironella
- Trustee: Ann D Cousins
- Trustee: Grady Cousins
- Trustee: Dana Jackson
- Treasurer: Katie Long
- Assistant Secretary: Katie Long
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LILLIAN C GIORNELLI | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | — | — |
| WILLIAM C WREN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GRADY COUSINS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ANN D COUSINS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| THOMAS G COUSINS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| TIFFANY PADOLSKY | SECRETARY | — | — |
| SHIRLEY FRANKLIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| DANA JACKSON | TREASURER | — | — |
| PAULA ANDREWS | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants documented include:
$200,000 to Oglethorpe University
$100,000 to Leap Year
$100,000 to Paw Kids
$50,000 to Purpose Built Schools Atlanta
$50,000 to Agape Youth and Family Center
$50,000 to Christ Memorial Chapel
$25,000 to Hobe Sound Bible College
The foundation has also made significant gifts to support scholarships and endowments at University of Georgia, including a $5 million award.
The Cousins Foundation makes gift to support scholarships, endow ...Contact Information
Address: 830 Glenwood Ave SE, Suite 510-205, Atlanta, GA 30316
Phone: 404-233-4339
Website: www.cousinsfoundations.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cousins Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation operates according to the Christian principle: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Investments in early childhood education, equitable K-12 educational opportunities, and targeted interventions for college and career readiness • **Health Services**: Access to mental and physical health services • **Food Security**: Access to healthy, sustainable food choices …
How do I apply for a grant from The Cousins Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes**: Typical awards range from $1,000 to $200,000. **Recent Activity**: The foundation awarded 99 grants in 2024, distributing $8.8 million. **Application Process**: • Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) that includes basic information about the organization, the geographic area it serves, the population served, and the focus of the funding request • No application deadlines • The Grants Advisory Committee meets bi-annually to review LOIs and grant applications and recom…
Where does The Cousins Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Georgia, with 79% of grants staying within the state. Additional significant funding goes to Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, and Alabama.
What size grants does The Cousins Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Cousins Foundation Inc awarded 20 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cousins Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cousins Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cousins Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Cousins Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6043765. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cousins Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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