Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper is a private foundation based in Genoa, Nevada. Established in 1997, the Cooper Foundation supports local nonprofit organizations focused on health, education, and recreation in Nebraska communities served by Midwest Bank.
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper at a glance
In short: Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper gave $46K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Nebraska. 44% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $45,895
- +20.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,391
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $818,500
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (11 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that applications must identify the grant purpose, amount requested for that purpose, and the organization’s status. It lists Kelly Harris as the application contact. Grants and scholarships are restricted to uses originally requested or intended and subsequently approved by the foundation.
- Review Cycle
- October 1 for grants; scholarship deadlines vary by locality. The scholarship pages instruct applicants to contact their guidance counselor and submit an application by April 1.
- Deadline
- October 1 for grants; scholarship deadlines vary by locality.
- Contact
Application contact: Kelly Harris
Mailing address: PO Box 574, Genoa, NV 89411
Phone: (775) 750-0075
Website: http://jimandlilcooperfoundation.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 Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper
Who Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Pierce Public Schools ($5K). Together the top 10 received $27K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its grantmaking as serving Midwest Bank communities in Nebraska, including Deshler, Creighton, Lincoln, Norfolk, Pierce, Pilger, Plainview, Wisner, and York. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 25 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $798; repeat grants $999. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2024) to $46K (2021). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pierce Public Schools Pierce, NE | Trumpet, Scholarships | $4,795 |
| Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln, NE | Aluminum Welding Station, Scholarship | $4,200 |
| Creighton Community Public Schools Creighton, NE | Elementary Basketball Court Renewal, Digital Lab Equipment, Scholarships | $3,640 |
| Deshler Public Schools Deshler, NE | Electric Car Program, Scholarships | $3,500 |
| Plainview Public Schools Plainview, NE | Weight Training Equipment, Scholarships | $2,500 |
| Creighton Ambulance Service Creighton, NE | Emergency Communication Devices | $1,860 |
| Pierce Volunteer Fire Rescue Pilger, NE | Guardian Angel Lights | $1,700 |
| Norfolk Public Schools Norfolk, NE | Scholarships | $1,500 |
| CASA of York York, NE | Training | $1,500 |
| Pilger Fire and Rescue Pilger, NE | Update Equipment and Training | $1,500 |
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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 | $818,500 | $58,550 | $56,806 | $45,895 | 33 | $50,095 | $51,386 | $38,619 |
| 2024 | $816,756 | $107,739 | $46,563 | $37,979 | 27 | $42,229 | $90,742 | $37,890 |
| 2023 | $755,580 | $24,929 | $48,602 | $40,117 | 35 | $44,167 | $15,779 | $38,777 |
| 2022 | $779,253 | $44,954 | $50,594 | $41,500 | 28 | $45,650 | $37,129 | $39,523 |
| 2021 | $784,893 | $66,760 | $55,369 | $46,010 | 29 | $49,660 | $56,051 | $44,592 |
| 2020 | $773,502 | $43,603 | $51,510 | $41,350 | 27 | — | $32,341 | $38,958 |
| 2019 | $781,409 | $48,134 | $50,772 | $40,915 | 28 | — | $36,877 | $38,410 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper reported a distributable amount of $39K 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 supports health, education, and recreation. Its website describes health grants for supplies, equipment, and programming for organizations such as EMTs, firefighters, police departments, hospitals, and health clinics. Education grants have supported areas including STEM, music, athletics, libraries, art, robotics, early childhood programs, supplies, and equipment. Recreation grants have supported parks, recreation programs, lifeguard education and equipment, and recreational athletics.
For example, Northern Hills Child Care, a 2025 recipient, describes its mission as nurturing children’s potential through inclusion, resilience, and social-emotional development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $45,895 through 33 grants. Awards ranged from $400 to $4,795, with a median of $1,000. Notable grants included $4,795 to Pierce Public Schools for a trumpet and scholarships; $4,200 to Lincoln Public Schools for an aluminum welding station and a scholarship; and $3,640 to Creighton Community Public Schools for an elementary basketball court renewal, digital lab equipment, and scholarships. Other recipients included Creighton Ambulance Service ($1,860 for emergency communication devices), CASA of York ($1,500 for training), and Northern Hills Child Care ($500).
The foundation’s website describes annual community grants and educational scholarships. Its Cooper Foundation Scholarship provides one-year awards to graduating seniors in Midwest Bank communities; the stated award is $1,500 in each community other than Norfolk, where three one-time $500 scholarships are awarded. The Anne Cooper Memorial Scholarship is a separate annual $2,000 award for one graduating senior.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kelly Harris as president and Holly Burner, Damie Cooper, Cooper Schell, and Lu Schell as directors.
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper is led by Kelly Harris, President since 2022 (on filings since 2019); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kelly Harris
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Cooper Schell
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Damie Cooper
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Holly Burner
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Lu Schell
Director
President & Manag → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper
How much does Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper give each year?
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper gave $46K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $38K across 27 grants.
What is Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's typical grant size?
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,391, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper that year got $798 on average.
Where does Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper give grants?
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, NE (7 grants), Plainview, NE (5 grants), York, NE (4 grants) and Pierce, NE (3 grants).
Does Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's largest grantees?
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's largest 2025 grantees include Pierce Public Schools ($4,795), Lincoln Public Schools ($4,200) and Creighton Community Public Schools ($3,640), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper?
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper reported $819K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper fund?
The foundation supports health, education, and recreation. Its website describes health grants for supplies, equipment, and programming for organizations such as EMTs, firefighters, police departments, hospitals, and health clinics. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper?
The filing states that applications must identify the grant purpose, amount requested for that purpose, and the organization’s status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's EIN?
Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0899329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
Live grants for the work Jim B Cooper & Lillian F Cooper funds
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