Cooke Foundation Limited
Cooke Foundation Limited is a private grantmaking foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Established as a trust in 1920 and incorporated in 1971, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic work throughout Hawaii and select mainland locations.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.0M
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-9.0% YoY
Grant Count
56
+21.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-25.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cooke Foundation Limited reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to assure the continuance of, and also to expand and extend all worthy endeavors for the betterment and welfare of the people of Hawaii.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Humanities
- Education
- Environment
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Human services
- Historic preservation
Grantmaking
The foundation made 52 grants totaling $1,336,350 in the most recent reporting period.
Grant Range
$2,617–$391,859
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in Hawaii, with additional support for initiatives in California, New York, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year 2025):
- Total assets: $16,034,277
- Total revenues: $1,455,170
- Total expenses: $1,646,067
- Investment income and dividends: $633,888
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $821,282
Employees: 0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,034,277 | $16,225,174 | $16,988,102 |
| Revenue | $1,455,170 | $662,091 | $797,912 |
| Expenses | $1,646,067 | $1,785,622 | $1,692,320 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,528,113 | $1,662,715 | $1,555,575 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,337,216 | $525,028 | $676,627 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,349,737 | $1,267,211 | $1,236,962 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Cooke Foundation Limited
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Honolulu Museum of Art ($200,000), Punahou School ($200,000), Honolulu Academy of Arts ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 808 CLEANUPS HONOLULU, HI | EXPANDING STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL | $20,000 |
| ACTON DIGITAL INC HONOLULU, HI | EMPOWERING NATIVE HAWAIIAN YOUTH & KUPUNA THROUGH EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY | $10,000 |
| ALOHA DIAPER BANK KANEOHE, HI | ESSENTIALS (DIAPERS, WIPES, POTTY KIDS) FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN | $10,000 |
| CHAMBER MUSIC HAWAII HONOLULU, HI | CHAMBER MUSIC HAWAII 2024-25 SEASON | $15,000 |
| DOE-KALAHEO HIGH SCHOOL KAILUA, HI | HALE HALAWAI PROJECT | $5,000 |
| DOWNTOWN ART CENTER HONOLULU, HI | DOWNTOWN ART CENTER'S ART EXHIBITIONS FOR FY 2026 | $20,000 |
| FEEDING HAWAII TOGETHER HONOLULU, HI | EXPANDING CAPACITY TO MEET GROWING FOOD INSECURITY | $20,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTER OF OAHU HONOLULU, HI | HOOLA NA MANAO (HOPE AND HEALING PROJECT) | $10,000 |
| HALE HALAWAI OHANA O HANALEI HANALEI, HI | JUNIOR LEADERS PROGRAM (JLP) | $10,000 |
| HAMAKUA YOUTH FOUNDATION HONOKAA, HI | HAMAKUA YOUTH CENTER | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Gregory C. Wrenn
Leadership serves without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREGORY WRENN | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE COOKE | VICE PRES/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH DUNFORD | VICE PRES/TREAS/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AMBER MAKAIAU | VICE PRES/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROLINE BOND DAVIS | VICE PRES/SEC/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| FRED COWELL | VICE PRES/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 827 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813-4317
- Phone: (808) 566-5524
- Fax: (808) 521-6286
- Email: info@cookefoundationlimited.org
- Website: www.cookefoundationlimited.org
- EIN: 23-7120804
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cooke Foundation Limited fund?
The foundation's mission is to assure the continuance of, and also to expand and extend all worthy endeavors for the betterment and welfare of the people of Hawaii. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Humanities • Education • Environment • Health and diseases/conditions • Human services • Historic preservation
How do I apply for a grant from Cooke Foundation Limited?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,401,350 (fiscal year 2025) • Annual grants: approximately $1.4 million • Typical grant range: $2,617–$391,859 **Recent Grants (2025):** • Honolulu Museum of Art: $200,000 (Beretania Campus Capital Improvements) • Punahou School: $200,000 (Academy Learning Commons) • Honolulu Museum of Art: $100,000 (Annual unrestricted general support) The foundation made 52 grants totaling $1,336,350 in the most recent reporting period.
Where does Cooke Foundation Limited make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects in Hawaii, with additional support for initiatives in California, New York, and Virginia.
What size grants does Cooke Foundation Limited award?
In 2025, Cooke Foundation Limited awarded 56 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cooke Foundation Limited required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Cooke Foundation Limited reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cooke Foundation Limited's EIN?
Cooke Foundation Limited's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7120804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cooke Foundation Limited's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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