Cook Family Foundation
The Cook Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Owosso, Michigan. It partners with nonprofit organizations to support the Shiawassee County community, with a stated vision of a diverse, healthy, thriving community where children can access good education, the natural environment is protected and enjoyed, and people have support to build meaningful lives.
Cook Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Cook Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $117K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,345,830
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $117,292
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $30,177,686
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Cook Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application in letter or grant format. The 2025 filing identifies Tom Cook, Executive Director, as the application contact. The foundation also encourages prospective applicants to discuss their goals and request with it.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted throughout the year. The stated deadline for consideration at the June 2026 board meeting is May 8, 2026; rolling applications are reviewed according to their timing relative to the next board meeting.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted throughout the year.
- Contact
Application contact: Tom Cook Executive Director
Mailing address: P O Box 278 120 W Exchange St, Suite 202, Owosso, MI 48867
Phone: (989) 725-1621
Website: https://www.cookfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Cook Family Foundation
Who Cook Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Shiawassee District Library ($705K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 77 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on Shiawassee County and considers grants serving its residents. Environmental grants are for protecting natural areas in the county or the Shiawassee River watershed. It prefers organizations based in the community but is open to requests from other organizations serving local residents or protecting the watershed. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Cook Family Foundation gives
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 304% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $581K (2022) to $2.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shiawassee District Library Owosso, MI | Community Development | $705,000 |
| Various Others Owosso, MI | Other Grants | $310,026 |
| Various Others Owosso, MI | Technology Training & Networking | $281,991 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Scholarships and Related-Special | $217,681 |
| Shiawassee Resd Owosso, MI | Child Development | $183,986 |
| Catholic Charities of Shia & Genes Owosso, MI | Community Development | $101,000 |
| Shiawassee Economic Dev Partners Corunna, MI | Community Development | $99,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Scholarships and Related-DC | $90,146 |
| Safecenter (Rave) Owosso, MI | Capacity Building | $80,000 |
| Shiawassee YMCA Owosso, MI | Capacity Building | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cook Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,177,686 | $2,266,945 | $2,887,710 | $2,345,830 | 20 | $2,629,073 | $1,566,244 | $1,955,682 |
| 2024 | $30,798,225 | $2,693,909 | $2,808,779 | $2,351,907 | 20 | $2,530,363 | $1,265,941 | $1,921,414 |
| 2023 | $30,918,195 | $24,114,181 | $1,073,867 | $613,873 | 8 | $770,937 | $786,634 | $973,785 |
| 2022 | $7,868,039 | $-86,517 | $968,856 | $581,340 | 12 | $890,694 | $291,586 | $565,864 |
| 2021 | $8,923,698 | $1,746,788 | $941,510 | $618,727 | 17 | $874,621 | $609,381 | $662,056 |
| 2020 | $8,120,135 | $1,215,787 | $1,483,117 | $1,236,746 | 20 | — | $365,352 | $577,527 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cook Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to collaborate with organizations in support of education, the environment, the arts, and community stewardship, and to promote a more equitable and sustainable society. It says it does not seek to promote one particular cause or address only certain concerns. Its stated grantmaking aims include strengthening community leaders, building nonprofit capacity, forming partnerships, and bringing organizations and other community partners together to address local needs.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations, particularly those serving Shiawassee County residents. Among its 2025 grantees, Friends of the Shiawassee River says its mission is to maintain and improve water quality and habitats in the river watershed, build community appreciation and knowledge of the river, and increase recreational access and responsible use. The University of Michigan, which received two grants, describes its mission as representing and advocating for its member physicians.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $2,345,830. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $705,000, with a median grant of $40,000. Notable awards included $705,000 to Shiawassee District Library for community development; $217,681 and $90,146 to the University of Michigan for scholarship-related purposes; $183,986 to Shiawassee RESD for child development; and $101,000 to Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee for community development.
The foundation states that applicants must submit an application and encourages prospective applicants to discuss their organization’s goals and request with the foundation. The application process is open throughout the year, with applications reviewed at quarterly board meetings. Its 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; applications should be in letter or grant format and are subject to a stated restriction focused on the State of Michigan and Shiawassee County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Paul Cook as president; Bailey Leppert as secretary and treasurer; and Ken Algozin, Tom Cook, Anna Owens, Susie Phillips, and Matthew Van Epps as trustees. Staff listed on the website include Thomas B. Cook and Anna Owens as co-executive directors, Rachel Osmer as associate director, Jamie Semans as program coordinator, and Lorraine Austin as executive assistant.
Cook Family Foundation is led by Paul C. Cook, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul C. Cook
President
Trustee → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Anna E. Owens
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Matt Van Epps
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Susie Phillips
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Thomas B. Cook
Executive Di
Secretary Treasurer → Executive Di, 2022
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $45K (2025)
Bailey Leppert
Secretary Tr
Trustee → Secretary Tr, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jacqueline P. Cook (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Bruce L. Cook (2020–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $45K, to Thomas B Cook (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Cook Family Foundation
How much does Cook Family Foundation give each year?
Cook Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 20 grants.
What is Cook Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Cook Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $117,292, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Cook Family Foundation give grants?
Cook Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Owosso, MI (13 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants) and Corunna, MI (2 grants).
Does Cook Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Cook Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Capacity Building" (8 grants) and "Community Development" (4 grants).
Who are Cook Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Cook Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Shiawassee District Library ($705,000), Various Others ($592,017 across 2 grants) and University of Michigan ($307,827 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cook Family Foundation?
Cook Family Foundation reported $30.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cook Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to collaborate with organizations in support of education, the environment, the arts, and community stewardship, and to promote a more equitable and sustainable society. It says it does not seek to promote one particular cause or address only certain concerns. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cook Family Foundation?
Submit an application in letter or grant format. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cook Family Foundation's EIN?
Cook Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2283809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cook Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cook Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cook-family-foundation-morg_6f6cc6691da840e994bef94ddefb09ec
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382283809_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cook Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cook-family-foundation-morg_6f6cc6691da840e994bef94ddefb09ec},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cook Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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