The Columbia Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your organisation is in Missouri and works with children, education, literacy or the arts, the foundation's stated preferences fit your work, though none of these is required.
- Its filed criteria set a request limit of up to $2,500, and half of its grants to organisations across the filings were $5,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size; the filing also records one award above that stated maximum, so treat the limit as a guide.
- In the latest filing, 61% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests repeat support is common and that relationships may matter.
- Applications are accepted online up to the fixed deadline of March 31, so prepare yours well before that date.
- Because Missouri is its stated priority, an applicant based outside the state should expect to be weighed against that priority.
Overview
The Columbia Foundation is a US private foundation based in Columbia, MO.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation invites requests from non-profit organisations in Missouri, with a preference for work focused on children, education and literacy, and the arts; these areas are preferred but not required. Its filed criteria state a request limit of up to $2,500. Across the grant rows, awards were recorded as general operating funds. Recipients included performing-arts organisations, youth-serving organisations, schools, a church and a park conservancy. The records show giving to several kinds of organisation, with general operating support as the recorded purpose.
Themes
- Children
- Education
- Literacy
- Arts
Geographic Focus
Priority: Missouri. From its grants, not stated by the foundation: Georgia.
How to apply
Applications are available online.
Deadlines: March 31.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 61% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 39 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It prefers requests from non-profit organisations in Missouri focused on children, education and literacy, and the arts, although this focus is not required.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 45% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 61% of grant dollars went to organisations The Columbia Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $6,925 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Atlanta Opera · General operating funds$56,6822024 tax year
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri · General operating funds$15,0002024 tax year
- Atlanta Chamber Players · General operating funds$13,0002024 tax year
- Howard School · General operating funds$12,3002024 tax year
- Piedmont Park Conservancy · General operating funds$10,0002024 tax year
- Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center · General operating funds$10,0002024 tax year
- First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta · General operating funds$7,0002024 tax year
- Boys and Girls Club of Columbia · General operating funds$6,9252024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Sandra Martin — Secretary
- Beau Martin — Treasurer
- Alfredo Martin — Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $133,605 | $116,075 | $3,143,949 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $219,827 | $184,365 | $5,304,366 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $261,131 | $145,011 | $6,040,456 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Columbia Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (917) 520-1121
- Columbia, MO
Applying to The Columbia Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (917) 520-1121
- Columbia, MO