← Back to US Funders Directory

Olive B Cole Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo

Olive B Cole Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,260,300 (FY 2025)
  • Success Rate: Information not publicly available (receives many requests but funds a small number)
  • Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle
  • Grant Range: Under $5,000 - $300,000+
  • Average Grant: $27,000-$33,000
  • Geographic Focus: DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, and Steuben counties, Northeast Indiana
  • Total Assets: $32.7 million (2024)

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
6207 Constitution Drive
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804

Phone: (260) 436-2182
Email: admin@obcole.org
Website: https://obcole.org
Office Hours: By appointment

Foundation Staff:

  • Emily Pichon, President - Primary contact for grant inquiries

Overview

Founded in 1954 by Richard R. Cole and named after his mother Olive B. Cole, this private charitable foundation has been improving the quality of life for residents of Northeast Indiana for seven decades. Initially funded through the transfer of Flint & Walling Manufacturing Company stock, the foundation's assets grew significantly when the company was sold to MASCO Corporation. With total assets of $32.7 million and annual giving of approximately $1.26 million, the Cole Foundation focuses primarily on four counties: Noble, DeKalb, LaGrange, and Steuben.

The foundation has strategically prioritized economic development and job creation while maintaining strong commitments to education through both institutional grants and individual scholarships. In keeping with the founder's intent, education remains a cornerstone of the foundation's grantmaking, with $241,250 allocated annually to Cole Scholarships for students from Noble and LaGrange counties. The foundation takes a hands-on approach to grantmaking, with officers visiting potential project sites and maintaining ongoing relationships with grantees.

Notable historical achievements include helping to found the Cole Center Family YMCA in 1974 and partnering with The Nature Conservancy to protect Douglas Woods, a 1,500-acre preserve representing the organization's largest nature preserve in Northeast Indiana.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through multiple funding mechanisms to address community needs:

Regular Grant Program: Reviewed quarterly, grants range from several thousand dollars to over $300,000 for major capital projects. Recent grants average $27,000-$33,000. Applications begin with a two-page letter; if aligned with foundation priorities, applicants are invited to complete a full application form.

Emergency/Immediate Need Grants: The Executive Committee has authority to award up to $5,000 on an emergency or immediate need basis, with actions ratified at the next board meeting.

Special K Committee Grants: Handles small grants (under $5,000) specifically for the Kendallville/Noble County area, enabling rapid response to local community needs.

Cole Scholarship Program: Provides up to $2,500 annually for up to four years to 32 new students each year. Administered by Questa Educational Foundation, scholarships are available for Noble County residents or graduates of Central Noble, East Noble, West Noble, Oak Farm Montessori, or Churubusco high schools. Teaching degree candidates receive enhanced funding with an additional $2,500 per year for junior and senior years. Total annual scholarship allocation: $241,250.

Priority Areas

Economic Development & Job Creation: The foundation's top strategic priority. Supports entrepreneurism, workforce development, and initiatives that create employment opportunities in the four-county region.

Education: Institutional support for educational facilities and programs, with recent contributions to Purdue Fort Wayne campus projects linking the university with Ivy Tech and the River Greenway Trail. K-12 public schools are excluded, but higher education and educational nonprofits are eligible.

Environmental Conservation: Partnerships with organizations like The Nature Conservancy to protect sensitive habitats and waterways, including the protection of Douglas Woods preserve.

Community Crisis Assistance: Responsive funding for immediate community needs, healthcare access (such as the $55,000 mobile clinic grant to St Martins Healthcare), and emergency services.

Recreation & Youth Development: Support for facilities and programs serving young people, including the founding support for Cole Center Family YMCA and continued funding for aquatic programs.

Healthcare: Grants for hospitals, health systems, and innovative healthcare delivery models serving the four-county area.

Cultural Programs & Civic Affairs: Support for arts, culture, and civic engagement initiatives that enhance quality of life.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Local governments
  • K-12 public schools
  • Religious organizations
  • National funding campaigns
  • Endowments

Additionally, while the foundation primarily serves DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, and Steuben counties, they will consider organizations outside this area if they demonstrably serve residents of these four counties.

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership (with 2025 compensation):

  • Emily Pichon, President ($66,735) - Primary contact for foundation matters and oversees day-to-day operations
  • Maclyn T. Parker, Chairman ($59,320) - Leads the board and represents the foundation in major grant announcements
  • Kristi Parker Celico, Secretary/Treasurer ($32,087) - Handles financial oversight and board administration

Organizational Structure:

The foundation operates through five specialized committees:

  1. Executive Committee: Authorized to make emergency grants up to $5,000 for immediate needs, with actions subject to board ratification
  2. Investment Committee: Manages the foundation's $32.7 million asset portfolio
  3. Scholarship Committee: Oversees the Cole Scholarship program and relationship with Questa Educational Foundation
  4. Compensation Committee: Handles personnel and compensation matters
  5. Special K Committee: Manages small grants (under $5,000) in the Kendallville/Noble County area

The foundation maintains a lean operation with only 2 full-time employees, allowing for low overhead and maximum resources directed to charitable purposes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Initial Letter of Inquiry
Submit a two-page letter to the foundation describing your project, funding request, and how it aligns with foundation priorities. Send to:

Olive B Cole Foundation Inc
6207 Constitution Drive
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804

Or email: admin@obcole.org

Step 2: Staff Review
Foundation staff will review the letter to determine if the request falls within policies and guidelines. This initial screening assesses geographic alignment (four-county focus), organizational eligibility (501(c)(3) or governmental entity), and mission fit.

Step 3: Full Application (if invited)
If your letter of inquiry aligns with foundation priorities, a Cole staff member will contact you to request completion of the formal grant application form. This form will be provided directly by staff.

Step 4: Site Visits & Due Diligence
Officers may visit potential project sites or request additional information by telephone or letter to better understand the project and organization.

Step 5: Quarterly Board Review
Complete applications are reviewed quarterly by the foundation board. Specific quarterly meeting dates are not publicly published.

For Emergency Needs:
Contact the foundation directly at (260) 436-2182. The Executive Committee can approve emergency grants up to $5,000 between regular board meetings.

For Small Grants (Noble County/Kendallville area):
Requests under $5,000 in the Kendallville/Noble County area are handled by the Special K Committee and may have an expedited review process.

Decision Timeline

  • Quarterly Review Cycle: Grants are reviewed quarterly, though specific meeting dates are not published
  • Emergency Grants: Executive Committee can act between meetings for urgent needs up to $5,000
  • Notification: Method and timing of notification are not specified in public materials; applicants should inquire when submitting

Success Rates

The foundation is transparent that they "receive many grant requests each year, but can fund only a small number of many worthwhile proposals." Specific success rate percentages are not published.

Grant Volume Trends:

  • 2024: 46 grants awarded
  • 2024: 38 awards (alternative count, possibly excluding scholarships)
  • 2023: 89 awards
  • 2022: 99 awards

The declining number of awards with relatively stable total giving suggests the foundation may be making fewer but larger grants, focusing on more substantial community impact projects.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Contact the foundation directly at admin@obcole.org or (260) 436-2182 to inquire about reapplication procedures and any waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

Priority Project Characteristics (directly from foundation materials):

The foundation explicitly favors grants where the project demonstrates:

  1. Innovative approaches to community challenges - The foundation values fresh thinking and new solutions rather than simply continuing existing programs
  2. Direct benefit to target county residents - Must clearly serve people in Noble, DeKalb, LaGrange, and/or Steuben counties
  3. Substantial grantee contribution - Foundation expects organizations to have significant skin in the game; they don't fund 100% of projects
  4. Long-term sustainability plan - Projects should continue beyond the grant period; the foundation wants to seed sustainable initiatives, not create ongoing dependencies
  5. Broad local support - Evidence of community buy-in, partnerships, and collaborative approaches strengthen applications

Strategic Alignment:

Given the foundation's stated top priority of economic development and job creation, proposals connecting to workforce development, entrepreneurship support, or business development will receive particular attention. Even if your project is in education, healthcare, or environmental conservation, articulating the economic impact and job creation potential can strengthen the application.

Historical Funding Patterns:

Analysis of known grants reveals the foundation supports:

  • Capital projects (YMCA pool maintenance: $150,000; Humane Fort Wayne building: $50,000; Trine University lab equipment: $300,000)
  • Equipment and infrastructure that enables service delivery (St Martins Healthcare mobile clinic: $55,000)
  • Land conservation and environmental protection (Douglas Woods partnership with Nature Conservancy)
  • Educational infrastructure (Purdue Fort Wayne campus projects)

This suggests the foundation prefers tangible, visible community assets over operating support or program funding.

Application Quality Matters:

Start with a compelling two-page letter. This is your first and potentially only chance to make an impression. The foundation uses this letter as a screening mechanism, so it must:

  • Clearly articulate the community need
  • Explain your innovative solution
  • Demonstrate your organization's capacity
  • Show alignment with foundation priorities
  • Include specific funding request and project budget
  • Prove you've done your homework about the foundation

Geographic Specificity:

Be explicit about how your project serves residents of the four target counties. If your organization is based outside this area, clearly demonstrate service delivery within DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, and Steuben counties with specific data about beneficiaries.

Relationship Building:

With only 2 staff members and a hands-on approach, personal relationships matter. The foundation visits project sites and engages directly with potential grantees. Consider:

  • Requesting a pre-application meeting (call to schedule: 260-436-2182)
  • Inviting foundation officers to visit your organization or see your current work
  • Attending community events in Noble County and the four-county area where trustees might be present
  • Building relationships over time rather than approaching only when seeking funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Lead with economic impact: With economic development and job creation as the top strategic priority, frame your proposal's impact on employment, workforce development, or entrepreneurship—even if your primary mission is education, health, or environment.

  2. Think capital, not operating: The foundation's funding pattern strongly favors capital projects, equipment, and infrastructure over general operating support or ongoing program costs. If you need operating support, frame it as part of a larger capital or capacity-building initiative.

  3. Start small and build: With multiple grant mechanisms (emergency, Special K, regular), consider starting with a smaller request to establish a relationship before pursuing major funding. The Special K Committee (under $5,000 for Noble County area) offers an entry point.

  4. Demonstrate sustainability: The foundation explicitly disfavors creating ongoing dependencies. Your proposal must articulate how the project will continue after grant funds are expended, showing earned revenue, other funding sources, or reduced costs over time.

  5. Perfect your two-page letter: This is the gatekeeper. Many organizations never advance beyond this stage. Invest time crafting a compelling, concise letter that demonstrates clear alignment with foundation priorities, innovation, and community impact.

  6. Emphasize collaborative approaches: The foundation values projects with "broad local support." Highlight partnerships with other organizations, letters of support from community leaders, and collaborative funding from multiple sources.

  7. Be patient and strategic about timing: Quarterly review means potentially months between submission and decision. Plan your cash flow accordingly and don't wait until you're desperate. The foundation receives many requests for limited funds—applying when you're well-positioned strengthens your case.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory