The Helen C Cobbs Foundation
The Helen C Cobbs Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Roanoke, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $234K. Net investment income was $163K.
Key facts about The Helen C Cobbs Foundation
- EIN
- 27-6251236
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $234,100
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $16,721
- Median grant
- $13,006
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,499,773
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Helen C Cobbs Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Helen C Cobbs Foundation's 14 itemized 2024 grants were Virginia (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Roanoke, VA (10 grants) and Salem, VA (4 grants). 79% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Helen C Cobbs Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Helen C Cobbs Foundation
- How to evaluate The Helen C Cobbs Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
-3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$234K
+9.4% YoY
Grant Count
14
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+1.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helen C Cobbs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $296K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Helen C Cobbs Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Helen C Cobbs Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Roanoke, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $234K. Net investment income was $163K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with The Helen C Cobbs Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 14 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,499,773 | $4,678,577 | $4,740,271 |
| Revenue | $175,218 | $260,374 | $285,769 |
| Expenses | $303,355 | $322,068 | $358,981 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $288,387 | $264,855 | $295,567 |
| Net Investment Income | $162,814 | $204,581 | $224,711 |
| Distributable Amount | $296,230 | $274,911 | $284,341 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Presbyterian Community Center Inc ($39,017), Roanoke College ($39,017), Family Service of Roanoke Valley ($19,508).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PRESBYTERIAN COMMUNITY CENTER INC Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR RENT, ELECTRIC BILLS, & FOOD FOR NEEDY | $39,017 |
| ROANOKE COLLEGE Salem, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT & COBBS SCHOLARS | $39,017 |
| FAMILY SERVICE OF ROANOKE VALLEY Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $19,508 |
| RESCUE MISSION OF ROANOKE INC Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR BATTERED WOMEN'S PROGRAM | $19,508 |
| ROANOKE AREA MINISTRIES (RAM HOUSE) Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR RENT, ELECTRIC BILLS, & FOOD FOR NEEDY | $19,508 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF ROANOKE VALLEY INC Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,006 |
| CHILD HEALTH INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (CHIP) Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,006 |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF GREATER ROANOKE Salem, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,006 |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF VIRGINIA SKYLINE COUNCIL INC Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,006 |
| HOLLINS UNIVERSITY CORPORATION Roanoke, VA | DONATION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,006 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olin R Melchionna Jr Co Spilman | Trustee | 7.5 | $25,659 |
| Elizabeth M Melchionna Co Spilman | Trustee | 2.5 | $8,553 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Helen C Cobbs Foundation?
The Helen C Cobbs Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Roanoke, VA. It holds $4.5M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Helen C Cobbs Foundation?
As of 2024, The Helen C Cobbs Foundation holds $4.5M in total assets with $175K in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $234K in 2024.
Where does The Helen C Cobbs Foundation operate?
The Helen C Cobbs Foundation has awarded grants in Virginia.
What size grants does The Helen C Cobbs Foundation award?
In 2024, The Helen C Cobbs Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $234K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Helen C Cobbs Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Helen C Cobbs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $296K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Helen C Cobbs Foundation's EIN?
The Helen C Cobbs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6251236. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.