The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Bluefield, West Virginia. Its 2026 filing reports grants to organizations and projects including university support, community services, local facilities, and arts and civic initiatives.
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc gave $254K across 11 grants in 2026 (avg $23K), mostly in West Virginia. 60% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $254,050
- +13.7% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 11
- -26.7% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $23,095
- +55.1% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $4,677,177
- +4.1% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (6 of 10, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (99% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its 2025 filing says to contact the foundation; it lists no required form or materials, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: 7
Mailing address: 1 Country Club Hill, Bluefield, WV 24701
Phone: (304) 327-0511
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Bluefield State University ($113K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $254K.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 61 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2026 filing shows that 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in West Virginia and 1% to recipients in Virginia. Listed recipients were principally in Bluefield and other Mercer County communities, with one recipient in Rocky Gap, Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 6 of 10 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $41K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $24K repeat.
- 30% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 80% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 90% 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 (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2021) to $254K (2026). In 2026 it made 11 grants totaling $254K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bluefield State University Bluefield, WV | Dorm Furniture | $60,000 |
| Bluefield State University Bluefield, WV | Tuition Assistance - Van Purchase | $52,500 |
| City of Bluefield Bluefield, WV | Mercer County Airport Runway Extension Project | $43,000 |
| WV Community Services for Women Inc Bluefield, WV | Hvac and Signage at Stadium Drive Facility | $37,000 |
| Women's Center of Mercer County Inc Bluefield, WV | Kitchen Remodel at South St Facility | $32,000 |
| The Salvation Army of Mercer County Princeton, WV | Partial Grant Towards Van Purchase | $7,500 |
| Bluefield Beautification Corporation Bluefield, WV | City Park Tree Pruning | $5,500 |
| Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour Bluefield, WV | General Contribution | $5,000 |
| Bluefield Arts and Revitalization Corporation Bluefield, WV | Roof Travelers Hotel | $4,260 |
| Westminister at Wade Bluefield, WV | Student Food Program | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Paul & Carol 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $4,677,177 | $575,643 | $393,397 | $254,050 | 11 | $261,942 | $303,504 | $290,907 |
| 2025 | $4,494,931 | $383,007 | $274,449 | $223,377 | 15 | $230,225 | $140,609 | $258,045 |
| 2024 | $4,386,373 | $214,502 | $252,223 | $197,598 | 15 | $203,837 | $123,990 | $231,455 |
| 2023 | $4,424,094 | $563,105 | $172,579 | $141,500 | 12 | $147,251 | $84,085 | $210,593 |
| 2022 | $4,033,568 | $3,708,025 | $43,074 | $24,813 | 8 | $28,777 | $69,490 | $137,753 |
| 2021 | $368,617 | $41,699 | $27,164 | $21,000 | 4 | — | $35,573 | $24,176 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $291K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2026 grants show support for a range of purposes, including dorm furniture and tuition assistance at Bluefield State University, airport runway extension, facility improvements, and community and arts activities. The Women’s Center of Mercer County describes its own mission as helping women and children in crisis through shelter and assistance and promoting stability, dignity, and self-reliance. Bluefield Arts and Revitalization describes its mission as using the arts to create educational, employment, and entertainment opportunities in downtown Bluefield.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation gave 11 grants totaling $254,050. Grant amounts ranged from $3,290 to $60,000, with a median grant of $7,500. Notable awards included $60,000 and $52,500 to Bluefield State University, $43,000 to the City of Bluefield, $37,000 to WV Community Services for Women Inc, and $32,000 to Women’s Center of Mercer County. Other recipients included The Salvation Army of Mercer County ($7,500), Bluefield Beautification Corporation ($5,500), Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour ($5,000), Bluefield Arts and Revitalization Corporation ($4,260), Westminister at Wade ($4,000), and Dogwood Theatricals ($3,290).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Charles M Cole Sr as president; William P Cole as vice president; Lea-Anne L Greene as secretary/treasurer; and Jason P Cole, Charles M Cole Jr, Garry Moore, and Thomas J Cole as directors.
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc is led by Charles M. Cole Sr., President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 7 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Charles M. Cole Sr.
President
Secretary & Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Charles M. Cole Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jason P. Cole
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Cole
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Garry Moore
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Lea-Anne L. Greene
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
William P. Cole
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "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 Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc
How much does The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc give each year?
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc gave $254K across 11 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $223K across 15 grants.
What is The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's median grant in 2026 was $7,500, and its average grant was $23,095, across 11 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc give grants?
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc gives mostly in West Virginia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bluefield, WV (9 grants).
Does The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 9% of The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Bluefield State University ($112,500 across 2 grants), City of Bluefield ($43,000) and WV Community Services for Women Inc ($37,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc?
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $262K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $291K (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 Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2026 grants show support for a range of purposes, including dorm furniture and tuition assistance at Bluefield State University, airport runway extension, facility improvements, and community and arts activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1830656. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Paul & Carol Cole Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-paul-and-carol-cole-foundation-inc-morg_9c63af9678274d5a8b5a79dec43eb61a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541830656_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Paul \& Carol Cole Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-paul-and-carol-cole-foundation-inc-morg_9c63af9678274d5a8b5a79dec43eb61a},
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 Paul & Carol 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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