Open Foundations · Nebraska

Cooper Foundation

Lincoln, Nebraska · EIN 470401230. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $1.0M across 65 grants in 2025, a median of $15K each.

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$1.0M
paid in 2025
65
grants paid
$15K
median grant
26%
to first-time recipients
$30.3M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
COOPER FOUNDATION
Address
870 WELLS FARGO CENTER 1248 O, LINCOLN, NE, 68508
Phone
4024767571
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
APPLICATIONS 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.
Submission deadline
APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED AT BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETINGS
Restrictions on awards
GRANTS ARE MADE PRIMARILY TO NEBRASKA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2025, IRS filing object id 202630939349101273. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The words that come up most often across the purposes it wrote on its 2025 grants. These are the foundation's own words, not a category we assigned.

scholarship

Biggest grants in 2025

The 15 largest of the 65 grants paid in 2025, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1University of Nebraska-lincoln En Thompson Forum on World IssuesNE$80,398PROGRAM
2United Way of Lincolnlancaster CountyNE$39,000PROGRAM
3Nebraska State Historical Society FoundationNE$30,000PROGRAM
4Southeast Community College Educational FoundationNE$27,000PROGRAM
5Bravebe Child Advocacy CenterNE$25,000OPERATING
6Center for Immigrant & Refugee AdvancementNE$25,000OPERATING
7Center for PeopleNE$25,000OPERATING
8Clyde Malone Community CenterNE$25,000OPERATING
9Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders CountyNE$25,000OPERATING
10Hope SpokeNE$25,000OPERATING
11Nebraska Arts Council Development CorpNE$25,000PROGRAM
12Rabble Mill Dba the BayNE$25,000OPERATING
13The Hub Central Access Point for Young AdultsNE$25,000PROGRAM
14Center for Legal Immigration AssistanceNE$20,000OPERATING
15Food Bank of LincolnNE$20,000OPERATING

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202080$643K
202162$955K
202277$938K
202354$658K
202454$698K
2025 (partial year)65$1.0M

Where the money went

Share of 2025 grant dollars by recipient state
Nebraska99%
Missouri2%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Brad KorellTREASURER · 2025
Connie DuncanTRUSTEE · 2025
E Arthur ThompsonTRUSTEE · 2025
Jack D CampbellTRUSTEE · 2025
Jasmine KingsleyTRUSTEE · 2025
Kim RobakTRUSTEE · 2025
Michelle SuarezTRUSTEE · 2025
Richard J VierkCHAIR · 2025
Tyre J McdowellVICE CHAIR · 2025
Victoria GrassoPRESIDENT · 2025

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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