Joe and Louise Cook Foundation
The Joe and Louise Cook Foundation is a private foundation based in Temple, Texas, designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation maintains significant assets and engages in philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.6M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$480K
-0.1% YoY
Grant Count
1
-95.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$480K
+1897.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joe and Louise Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $521K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
The foundation primarily directs its funding toward organizations and initiatives in Texas.
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated support for education-focused initiatives, including grants to support science teachers and STEM education programs, as well as music-related grants for nonprofits.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $7,585,731
- Total Giving: $480,000
- Revenue (2023): $479,480
- Expenses (2023): $582,862
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a strong asset base relative to its annual giving levels.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,585,731 | $7,295,938 | $7,382,569 |
| Revenue | $878,928 | $479,480 | $614,796 |
| Expenses | $588,723 | $582,862 | $629,532 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $483,645 | $483,006 | $514,846 |
| Net Investment Income | $773,850 | $383,524 | $516,199 |
| Distributable Amount | $520,652 | $484,307 | $494,081 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Journey of Faith United Methodist Church ($480,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JOURNEY OF FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ROUND ROCK, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $480,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barbara J. Wendland serves as trustee for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA WENDLAND | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CAROL WENDLAND | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joe and Louise Cook Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Arts, Culture & Humanities The foundation primarily directs its funding toward organizations and initiatives in Texas.
How do I apply for a grant from Joe and Louise Cook Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $1,000 to $480,000 • Total giving in the most recent fiscal year: $480,000 The foundation has demonstrated support for education-focused initiatives, including grants to support science teachers and STEM education programs, as well as music-related grants for nonprofits.
Where does Joe and Louise Cook Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Texas.
What size grants does Joe and Louise Cook Foundation award?
In 2024, Joe and Louise Cook Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $480K — an average of about $480K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joe and Louise Cook Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joe and Louise Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $521K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joe and Louise Cook Foundation's EIN?
Joe and Louise Cook Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2541278. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joe and Louise Cook 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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