Cooper Foundation
The Cooper Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Waco, Texas, established in 1943. It operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to strengthening the Waco community through philanthropic support and community engagement.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$102.6M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
24
-4.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$87K
+9.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to make Waco a better and more desirable community in which to live. The organization values the work of local nonprofits and provides financial support to advance community goals.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Arts
- Humanities
- Community Improvement
- Civic and Community Engagement
Grantmaking
The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations located in and working in the Waco area. Typical grant awards range from $7,500 to $316,978.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily serves Waco, Texas and the surrounding area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $99.5 million to $102.6 million (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $2.1 million to $2.75 million (2024)
Revenue: $9.28 million (2024)
Liabilities: $706,000 (2024)
Staffing: 3-5 employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $102,640,611 | $99,474,302 | $86,534,551 |
| Revenue | $12,992,344 | $9,281,321 | $1,652,034 |
| Expenses | $2,964,276 | $2,750,444 | $2,792,777 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $12,908,917 | $9,259,684 | $1,625,864 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
133 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Cooper Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Felicia Goodman: Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR ROLAND GOERTZ | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| DAVID LACY | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| SHARON SHIELDS | SECRETARY-TREASURER | 2 | — |
| DALE FISSELER | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| MICHAEL MORRISON | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| VIRGINIA DUPUY | TRUSTEE EMERITUS | 1.5 | — |
| WILLIAM NESBITT | TRUSTEE EMERITUS | 1.5 | — |
| REVEREND LESLIE KING | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| JOSEPH W NESBITT | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| FELICIA CHASE GOODMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $155,609 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation awarded community grants in 2025, with announcements made regarding grant recipients and funding allocations to local nonprofits.
Cooper Foundation and Midwest bank announce grantsData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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