Cooper Foundation
The Cooper Foundation is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Nebraska, founded in 1934 by Joseph H. Cooper, owner of the Cooper Theatres chain of movie theatres. The foundation supports the operations and core programs of strong, well-managed, and effective nonprofit organizations located in and working in Nebraska.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$698K
+6.0% YoY
Grant Count
54
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+6.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Cooper Foundation supports strong, sustainable organizations and innovative ideas of significant promise. The foundation funds programs and operations in the following areas:
- Arts
- Civic and community engagement
- Education
- Environment
- Human services
- Humanities
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications for:
Review Cycle
per year.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The highest priority is for organizations based in and serving Lincoln and Lancaster County, Nebraska. Requests from outside this area must serve a regional or statewide area and meet the foundation's funding priorities.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $27,569,201
- Total Annual Giving: $698,157
- Annual Revenue: $10,275,676
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Cooper Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Nebraska-lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues ($50,000), Clyde Malone Community Center ($30,000), University of Nebraska-lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues ($26,157).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER INC ALLIANCE, NE | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| MEADOWLARK MUSIC FESTIVAL LINCOLN, NE | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| METROPOLITAN OPERANEBRASKA AUDITIONS LINCOLN, NE | PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE KANSAS CITY, MO | PROGRAM | $7,500 |
| NEBRASKA CULTURAL ENDOWMENT OMAHA, NE | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| CIVIC NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NE | PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| I BE BLACK GIRL OMAHA, NE | OPERATING | $15,000 |
| LINCOLN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LINCOLN, NE | PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| NEBRASKA APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST LINCOLN, NE | PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| SUNRISE COMMUNICATIONS INC LINCOLN, NE | OPERATING | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Victoria Grasso — President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| E ARTHUR THOMPSON | CHAIR | 2 | $17,677 |
| KIM ROBAK | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,600 |
| BRAD KORELL | TREASURER | 2 | $1,700 |
| JACK D CAMPBELL | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,550 |
| CONNIE DUNCAN | VICE CHAIR | 2 | $1,700 |
| TYRE J MCDOWELL | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,600 |
| MICHELLE SUAREZ | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,650 |
| RICHARD J VIERK | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,750 |
| VICTORIA GRASSO | PRESIDENT | 40 | $138,712 |
| JASMINE KINGSLEY | TRUSTEE | 2 | $1,650 |
Contact Information
Address: 1248 O Street, Suite 870, Lincoln, NE 68508-1486
Phone: 402-476-7571
Website: www.cooperfoundation.org
Email: info@cooperfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cooper Foundation fund?
The Cooper Foundation supports strong, sustainable organizations and innovative ideas of significant promise. The foundation funds programs and operations in the following areas: • Arts • Civic and community engagement • Education • Environment • Human services • Humanities
How do I apply for a grant from Cooper Foundation?
**Grant Types & Support** The foundation accepts applications for: • Program support • General operating support • Technology • Staff positions • Advocacy • Capacity building **Grant Amounts** Typical awards range from $100 to $50,000. **Application Process** The Cooper Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Interested organizations should submit inquiries to determine if the organization and programming are a good fit for foundation funding. Organizations must be familiar with th…
Where does Cooper Foundation make grants?
The highest priority is for organizations based in and serving Lincoln and Lancaster County, Nebraska. Requests from outside this area must serve a regional or statewide area and meet the foundation's funding priorities.
What size grants does Cooper Foundation award?
In 2024, Cooper Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $698K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Cooper Foundation's EIN?
Cooper Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0401230. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cooper Foundation'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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