James M Cox Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Eagan, MN EIN: 47-0719195
EducationHigher educationHuman servicesFamily servicesChild welfare

JAMES M COX FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in Eagan, Minnesota. Its 2025 filing describes scholarships of $1,000 for high school seniors attending college or trade school who are in the eastern third of Nebraska.

Key facts about James M Cox Foundation

In short: James M Cox Foundation gave $121K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
47-0719195
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$121,000
Grants made (2025)
18
Average grant
$6,722
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$2,125,918
Primary geography
Nebraska (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
Deadline
April 1.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.1M

+9.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$121K

+10.0% YoY

Grant Count

18

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

+10.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James M Cox Foundation reported a distributable amount of $107K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How James M Cox Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants were predominantly for scholarships. The foundation also made grants for general operating support.

Among its education grantees, Northeast Community College Foundation says its purpose is to help the college advance its educational goals and provide financial support to students for tuition and other fees. Southeast Community College’s foundation describes its mission as supporting the college’s vitality and growth and creating educational opportunities. Doane University says it provides liberal-arts educational experiences to prepare students for careers and lives grounded in inquiry, ethics, and service. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $121,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $26,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed awards included $26,000 to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, $17,000 to Northeast Community College, $16,000 to the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and $8,000 each to Wayne State College and Southeast Community College; each was designated for scholarships. Other listed grants included $5,000 for general operating support to Hamilton Community Foundation and $5,000 for general operating support to Out of Poverty.

Review Cycle

April 1. This deadline is past as of September 28, 2026.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The filing states that scholarship applicants must be in the eastern third of Nebraska. In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska; the remaining grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (4%), Pennsylvania (4%), and Iowa (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of all 18 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

OmahaLincolnKearneyHendersonNorfolkWayneColumbusMilfordPeruAuroraChadronCouncil BluffsCurtisHamiltonSewardCreteFremontHastingsAnn ArborGrand Island

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K26 grants202022 grants202119 grants202214 grants202318 grants202418 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2021) to $121K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $121K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

University of Nebraska-Lincoln: $26KUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln$26KNortheast Community College: $17KNortheast Community College$17KUniversity of Nebraska Omaha: $16KUniversity of Nebraska Omaha$16KWayne State College: $8KWayne State College$8KSoutheast Community College: $8KSoutheast Community College$8KMetro Community College: $6KMetro Community College$6KNebraska Children's Home: $5KNebraska Children's Home$5KHamilton Community Foundation: $5KHamilton Community Foundation$5KGrace Childrens Home: $5KGrace Childrens Home$5KOut of Poverty: $5KOut of Poverty$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was University of Nebraska-Lincoln ($26K). Together the top 10 received $101K.

Grant Size Distribution

91 grants across all recorded years

91<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 91 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NEScholarship$26,000
Northeast Community College Norfolk, NEScholarship$17,000
University of Nebraska Omaha Omaha, NEScholarship$16,000
Wayne State College Wayne, NEScholarship$8,000
Southeast Community College Milford, NEScholarship$8,000
Metro Community College Omaha, NEScholarship$6,000
Nebraska Children's Home Omaha, NEScholarship$5,000
Hamilton Community Foundation Hamilton, OHGeneral Operating$5,000
Grace Childrens Home Henderson, NEScholarship$5,000
Out of Poverty Levittown, PAGeneral Operating$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $2,125,918 $349,238 $160,059 $121,000 18
2024 $1,936,798 $117,816 $148,998 $110,000 18
2023 $1,964,718 $95,101 $157,930 $108,560 14
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,125,918$1,936,798$1,964,718
Revenue$349,238$117,816$95,101
Expenses$160,059$148,998$157,930
Qualifying Distributions$140,285$130,439$128,289
Net Investment Income$329,080$93,593$76,810
Distributable Amount$106,867$109,059$102,597

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 5, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists US Bank N A as trustee.

James M Cox Foundation's only listed officer is US Bank N A, Trustee on filings since 2020 (compensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • US Bank N A

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $31K (2020) → $35K (2025)

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Jim Otto (2020–2024) — Co-President
  • Former: Patrick A. Grewe (2020–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Ronald C. Jensen (2020–2024) — Secretary
  • Former: Steve C. Otto (2020–2024) — Co-President
  • Former: US Bank NA (2023–2024) — Trustee

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

US Bank N a — Trustee: $35KUS Bank N aTrustee$35K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $35K, to US Bank N a (Trustee).

Contact

Application contact: Norman Otto James M Cox Foundation
Mailing address: 1500 Kingston Road, Lincoln, NE 68506
Phone: (402) 488-1951

Frequently asked questions about James M Cox Foundation

How much does James M Cox Foundation give each year?

James M Cox Foundation gave $121K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $110K across 18 grants.

What is James M Cox Foundation's typical grant size?

James M Cox Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,722, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does James M Cox Foundation give grants?

James M Cox Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (3 grants).

Does James M Cox Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 11% of James M Cox Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (16 grants).

Who are James M Cox Foundation's largest grantees?

James M Cox Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Nebraska-Lincoln ($26,000), Northeast Community College ($17,000) and University of Nebraska Omaha ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is James M Cox Foundation?

James M Cox Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $140K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $107K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does James M Cox Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants were predominantly for scholarships. The foundation also made grants for general operating support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from James M Cox Foundation?

The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is James M Cox Foundation's EIN?

James M Cox Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0719195. 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.

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