Joe and Louise Cook Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Temple, TX EIN: 74-2541278

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.

Key facts about Joe and Louise Cook Foundation

EIN: 74-2541278
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $480,000
Grants made (2024): 1
Average grant: $480,000
Median grant: $480,000
Total assets: $7,585,731
Primary geography: Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

How Joe and Louise Cook Foundation gives

Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

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

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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

-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.

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

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

Texas $480K (100%)

Share of all 1 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Arkansas Illinois Minnesota Mississippi Tennessee Texas

Cities

TempleAustinGeorgetownRound RockChicagoEl PasoMalvernMesquiteNashvillePalestineFort WorthHoustonBeltonFarmingtonGilmerJackson

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.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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 recipients 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.

Joe and Louise Cook Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

Barbara Wendland

Trustee

On filings since 2020

2 hrs/week

No compensation reported
Carol Wendland

Trustee

On filings since 2020

2 hrs/week

No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

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 grant 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.