James M. Cox Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work sits in biodiversity, conservation and the environment, early childhood education, health, or empowering individuals and families, it matches the foundation's four focus areas, but the foundation does not fund organisations submitting applications without an existing Cox relationship, so build that connection before you apply.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $10,000 and $1,150,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $100,000 or less across the filings, so a request in that region is typical, though its largest grant was $6,000,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- It does not fund general operating expenses, including annual programmes, scholarships, endowment funds or debt relief, so frame your request around capital campaigns, programme expansion, capacity-building or a special project.
- Applications are accepted by fixed deadlines of February 15, June 15 and October 15, after you create an account and complete an eligibility quiz, and organisations outside greater metro Atlanta must also submit an endorsement letter from a local Cox business leader.
- Because 71% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier years, relationships matter more here than a cold application.
Overview
James M. Cox Foundation is a US private foundation based in Atlanta, GA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The James M. Cox Foundation supports non-profit organisations addressing pressing issues facing people and the environment in communities where Cox does business. Its four focus areas are biodiversity, conservation and the environment; early childhood education; health; and empowering individuals and families for success. In conservation, it invests in organisations protecting habitats and species, preserving and restoring natural areas, and creating or enhancing trails, parks and green spaces. Its early-childhood education and literacy work supports teachers and children’s reading skills. In health, it seeks to expand access to quality care and improve the patient experience; it also funds initiatives that expand access to healthy food, affordable housing and support services. Grants typically support capital campaigns, programme expansion, capacity-building and special projects. Existing relationships are a key consideration, and successful applicants demonstrate strong leadership, sustainable operations, broad financial support and proven programme effectiveness.
Themes
- Biodiversity, conservation and environment
- Early childhood education
- Health
- Empowering individuals and families
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Georgia.
What They Don't Fund
- Scholarships for individual students, or nonprofit organizations for the purpose of granting scholarships benefiting an individual
- General operating expenses, including annual programs
- Seed money, or as the only funding source of an organization
- Endowment funds
- Debt relief
- Fundraising events, sponsorships, conferences and seminars
- Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation
- Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
- Religious organizations for general operating support, sanctuary construction/renovation or mission-focused work
- Organizations submitting applications without an existing Cox relationship
- Organizations or programs that discriminate based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or physical disability
- Organizations with a pending 501(c)(3) status
How to apply
Applicants create an account and complete the eligibility quiz; if eligible, they proceed to the application form.
Deadlines: Grant applications have deadlines on February 15, June 15 and October 15.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 71% 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 263 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Existing relationships are a key consideration when requests are assessed.
- Successful applicants demonstrate strong executive and volunteer leadership.
- Successful applicants have a track record of sustainable operations.
- Successful applicants have a broad base of financial support.
- Successful applicants show proven programme effectiveness.
- Organisations outside greater metro Atlanta must submit an endorsement letter from a local Cox business leader.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to organisations James M. Cox Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 101 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Atlanta Botanical Garden · Capital campaign support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Atlanta Police Foundation · Special project support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Atlanta BeltLine Partnership · Capital campaign support$4,150,0002024 tax year
- Shepherd Center Foundation · Capital campaign support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Atlanta Speech School · Special project support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta · Capital campaign support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation · Capital campaign support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- PATH Foundation · Capital campaign support$1,500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jessie S Mckellar — Assistant Secretary
- Barbara K Harty — Vice President / Trustee
- John M Dyer — Trustee
- Alexander C Taylor — Vice President / Trustee
- Nancy K Rigby — Treasurer / Secretary / Trustee
- James C Kennedy — Chairman / President / Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $72,869,241 | $42,762,667 | $797,810,159 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $42,635,831 | $40,020,834 | $921,083,861 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $49,447,955 | $42,648,000 | $1,147,195,965 | 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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Applying to James M. Cox Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required