Private foundation · Lincoln, NE

Cooper Foundation

View org profile →Find similar funders →Open to proposals
Typical grant size
$5K $10K $15K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
118
Repeat grantees
71
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

DeadlinesAPPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED AT BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETINGS
ContactCOOPER FOUNDATION · 4024767571
MaterialsAPPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE. EACH APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE A REQUEST NARRATIVE THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: AMOUNT REQUESTED AND ITS PURPOSE, WHO WILL BENEFIT, FUNDING GOAL AND PLAN TO ACHIEVE THAT FUNDING, AND THE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES THE GRANTEE HOPES TO ACHIEVE AND THE BENCHMARKS THAT WILL BE USED TO MEASURE THEIR SUCCESS. EACH APPLICATION SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION: PROJECT BUDGET, OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IF APPLICABLE, BALANCE SHEET, INCOME/EXPENSE STATEMENT, THE MOST RECENT BUDGET VS ACTUAL COMPARISION, YEAR-END FINANCIAL REPORT, AND A LISTING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF.
RestrictionsGRANTS ARE MADE PRIMARILY TO NEBRASKA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

Victoria Grasso
PRESIDENT
$139K
E Arthur Thompson
CHAIR
$18K
Richard J Vierk
TRUSTEE
$2K
Brad Korell
TREASURER
$2K
Connie Duncan
VICE CHAIR
$2K
Jasmine Kingsley
TRUSTEE
$2K
Michelle Suarez
TRUSTEE
$2K
Tyre J Mcdowell
TRUSTEE
$2K
Kim Robak
TRUSTEE
$2K
Jack D Campbell
TRUSTEE
$2K
Robert Nefsky
TRUSTEE
$1K
Pamela Hilton Snow
TRUSTEE
$1K
Jane Hood
TRUSTEE
$2K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
2.5%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
438
Total grants awarded
$4.9M
Total amount
$11K
Average grant
$50K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$698K
54 grants
2023
$658K
54 grants
2022
$945K
79 grants
2021
$1.0M
63 grants
2020
$663K
82 grants
2019
$910K
106 grants

Top recipients

University of Nebraska-lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues
12 grants · NE
$420K
7 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$230K
8 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$215K
United Way of Lincolnlancaster County
7 grants · NE
$141K
5 grants · NE · ≈ likely match
$75K
3 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$75K
5 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$73K
4 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$70K
5 grants · NE · ✓ Exact match
$61K
Outnebraska
3 grants · NE
$60K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

University of Nebraska-lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$50K
Clyde Malone Community Center
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$30K
University of Nebraska-lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$26K
Asian Community & Cultural Center
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$25K
United Way of Lincolnlancaster County
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$23K
Solidago Conservancy
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Lincoln Arts Council
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Sunrise Communications Inc
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Willa Cather Foundation
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Lux Center for the Arts
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Live Yes Studios Inc (payee Lincoln Community Foundation)
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence Coalition
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
YWCA Lincoln
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$20K
Lincoln Police Department
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$16K
Nebraska Land Trust Inc
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$15K
Civic Nebraska
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$15K
Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$15K
Visionary Youth
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$15K
I Be Black Girl
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$15K
Northeast Family Center
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$15K
Nebraska Sports Council
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$15K
Carnegie Arts Center Inc
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
University of Nebraska-lincoln Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$10K
The Bridge Behavioral Health
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Voz de Esperanza Dba Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Educare Lincoln
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Poverty Impact Network Inc
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Boys and Girls Club Lincoln Lancaster County
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Unl Harris Center for Judaic Studies
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Nebraska Cultural Endowment
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Lincoln Community Playhouse
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Junior Achievement of Lincoln Inc
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Meadowlark Music Festival
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Nebraska Diaper Bank
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Share a Fare Inc
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Cause Collective
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Indian Center Inc
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Echo Collective
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$10K
Bikelnk
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$9K
Nebraska Transition College
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$8K
Mid-america Arts Alliance
PROGRAM
MO · TY 2024
$8K
Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$8K
Give Nebraska
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$7K
Lincoln Community Foundation
PROGRAM
NE · TY 2024
$5K
Honesty Project Corp
OPERATING
NE · TY 2024
$5K
Nebraska Wesleyan University
SCHOLARSHIP
NE · TY 2024
$4K
Doane University
SCHOLARSHIP
NE · TY 2024
$4K
Hastings College
SCHOLARSHIP
NE · TY 2024
$4K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.