The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area

LEXINGTON, KY EIN: 45-3278636 Website

The Robert E. Frazier Tri-City Area Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 2012 and headquartered in Cumberland, Kentucky. The foundation serves the tri-city area of Cumberland, Benham, and Lynch in Harlan County, Eastern Kentucky. It operates as a charitable grantmaking organization dedicated to supporting qualified nonprofits and governmental entities within its service region.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$401K

+33.1% YoY

Grant Count

+20.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

+10.9% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary purpose is to use earned income to support charitable contributions and grants. Funding priorities include:

Youth athletics and sports programs (uniforms, equipment, supplies, and operating support for girls softball and volleyball teams)
Post-secondary scholarships for tri-city area students
Community development and infrastructure projects
Youth programs and educational initiatives
Food assistance and social services
Historic preservation and community facilities
Parks and recreation improvements

Grantmaking

Spring grant applications are available through the foundation office. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on April 30. Applicants unable to print applications may request one by email, regular mail, or by visiting the office at 506 W. Main Street, Cumberland, KY.

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation exclusively serves the tri-city area of Eastern Kentucky, specifically:

Cumberland, Kentucky
Benham, Kentucky
Lynch, Kentucky

Grants are awarded to qualified nonprofits and governmental entities within these three communities.

Grant Distribution by State

Kentucky $1.8M (100%)

States

Kentucky

Cities

BENHAMCUMBERLANDHARLANLYNCH

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

2023 Financial Data:

Total Assets: $6,321,290
Total Revenues: $211,803
Total Expenses: $403,910
Number of Employees: 0

IRS Classification:

501(c)(3) private foundation
EIN: 45-3278636
Ruling Date: October 2011

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	—	—	—
Revenue	—	—	—
Expenses	—	—	—
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	—	—	—
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

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

136 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tri-cities Heritage Development Corporation Inc ($60,000), Merdizo Center Ministries Inc ($25,000), City of Cumberland Kentucky (#1) ($21,658).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CITY OF BENHAM KENTUCKY (#1) BENHAM, KY	RENOVATIONS TO CITY HALL BUILDING.	$20,000
CITY OF BENHAM KENTUCKY (#2) BENHAM, KY	PARTIAL FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE OF HISTORIC BENHAM THEATER AND OLD MARKET BUILDING.	$20,000
CITY OF CUMBERLAND TOURIST AND CONVENTION COMMISSION CUMBERLAND, KY	COPIER/PRINTER.	$7,152
CITY OF CUMBERLAND KENTUCKY (#1) CUMBERLAND, KY	EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FOR POLICE VEHICLE.	$21,658
CITY OF CUMBERLAND KENTUCKY (#2) CUMBERLAND, KY	FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PERIMETER FENCING FOR MUNICIPAL MAINTENANCE LOT.	$20,000
CITY OF LYNCH KENTUCKY (#1) LYNCH, KY	PARTIAL FUNDING FOR PURCHASE OF TWO POLICE VEHICLES.	$20,000
CITY OF LYNCH KENTUCKY (#2) LYNCH, KY	PARTIAL FUNDING TO DEMOLISH AND REMOVE THREE DILAPIDATED HOUSES AND PERFORM REPAIRS TO CITY HALL BUILDING AND REPLACE OFFICE FURNITURE DESTROYED BY FLOODING.	$20,000
CUMBERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HARLAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (#1) CUMBERLAND, KY	AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT FOR GRADES 3-5 MATH INTERVENTION.	$6,500
CUMBERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HARLAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (#10) CUMBERLAND, KY	RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR USE BY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING OUTSIDE BREAK TIME.	$952
CUMBERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HARLAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (#11) CUMBERLAND, KY	BARTER THEATRE TICKETS, TRANSPORTATION, SUBSTITUTE STIPENDS, AND MEAL ALLOWANCES FOR GRADES 7 AND 8 CULTURAL AWARENESS EXPOSURE TO PERFORMING ARTS.	$2,271

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Board of Directors:

Charles D. Cole (President)
Alma Cornett (Secretary)
Roger Roper (Treasurer)
Shelia Dixon
Chris Hogue

Charles D. Cole, a Sturgill Turner member, serves as President and has been instrumental in the foundation's growth and community impact.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
CHARLES D COLE	PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	4	$12,000
ALMA CORNETT	SECRETARY/DIRECTOR	2	—
CHRISTOPHER B HOGUE	DIRECTOR	2	—
ROGER M ROPER	DIRECTOR	2	—
SHELIA J DIXON	DIRECTOR	2	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

In June 2024, the foundation celebrated surpassing $4 million in cumulative grant awards to the tri-city area. The spring 2024 grant cycle awarded more than $115,000 to recipients including Cumberland Elementary School, the three cities within the service area, the Cumberland Tourism Commission, local food pantries, the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce, and Harlan County Fiscal Court.

Tri-Cities, Prosser Transportation Projects Receive $20.3 Million Federal

The foundation continues to support youth athletics, educational programs, community infrastructure, and social services across Cumberland, Benham, and Lynch.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area fund?

The foundation's primary purpose is to use earned income to support charitable contributions and grants. Funding priorities include: • Youth athletics and sports programs (uniforms, equipment, supplies, and operating support for girls softball and volleyball teams) • Post-secondary scholarships for tri-city area students • Community development and infrastructure projects • Youth programs and educational initiatives • Food assistance and social services • Historic preservation and community fac…

How do I apply for a grant from The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area?

**Grant Activity:** • The foundation has distributed more than $4 million in cumulative grants to the tri-city area • Grants are awarded biannually • In spring 2024, the foundation awarded more than $115,000 in grant funding, bringing cumulative grants past the $4 million milestone • Made 29 grants in 2023 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023-2024):** • Meridzo Center Ministries: $25,000 (post-secondary scholarships) • Cumberland Elementary School (Math Counts program, Family Resource and Youth Serv…

Where does The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area make grants?

The foundation exclusively serves the tri-city area of Eastern Kentucky, specifically: • Cumberland, Kentucky • Benham, Kentucky • Lynch, Kentucky Grants are awarded to qualified nonprofits and governmental entities within these three communities.

What size grants does The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area award?

In 2024, The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area awarded 30 grants totaling $401K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area's EIN?

The Robert E Frazier Tri-city Area's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3278636. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.