W.H. & Mary Ellen Cobb Grant Program

The W.H. & Mary Ellen Cobb Charitable Trust is a philanthropic fund established by W.H. and Mary Ellen Cobb, who originally hailed from Kentucky and later became residents of the Texas Panhandle. During their lifetime in Texas, the Cobbs operated a chain of clothing stores and developed a deep concern for child welfare in their local community. Despite not having children themselves, they directed their philanthropic interests toward the support of charitable efforts that benefit children, particularly in the Panhandle region. Their legacy continues through the charitable trust that provides targeted funding for organizations aligned with their mission. This trust supports nonprofit organizations whose core focus lies in delivering services to children. While the mission of the trust broadly centers around "helping children," it is geographically limited in scope to ensure impact within a specific community. Only organizations based in the Texas Panhandle are eligible for funding, with an emphasis on serving children within Amarillo and its surrounding areas. This regional restriction reflects the founders’ desire to reinvest in the community they lived in and supported during their lifetimes. Funding through this trust is designated for programs that directly benefit children. Though the specific allowable uses of funds are not detailed in the public guidance, the trust historically awards grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. There is no indication of a required cost match or specific restrictions on how the funds must be used, aside from the expectation that supported activities serve children’s needs. The trust operates annually, with an application deadline of August 1. The application process is facilitated by Bank of America’s Texas Philanthropic Solutions office, which manages the trust. Interested applicants are advised to consult the official procedures available via downloadable PDF or Word documents linked on the trust’s webpage. These documents provide in-depth application instructions, although they are not embedded directly within the summary text available online. Additional online resources, such as help documents, are also made accessible to assist applicants. Applicants who have questions or wish to confirm their eligibility or the suitability of their proposed program may contact the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions team via email at tx.philanthropic@bofa.com. When reaching out, applicants should be sure to include the foundation name in the email subject line to ensure proper routing of the inquiry. The trust’s website notes that more detailed contact information is included within the procedures document, though this content is hosted in a separate file and not displayed on the main page. Applications are not accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted before the firm deadline of August 1. The trust appears to offer recurring annual cycles, although the specific date of the next anticipated cycle is not published. Applicants should assume that opportunities will continue on an annual basis, and a prudent internal review date for potential reapplication would be approximately one year from the current due date. There are no preliminary deadlines such as letters of intent or concept papers noted in the public information.