Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 76-0201807

The Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Houston, Texas. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to help people in need and ensure that children are educated regardless of race, religion, or disabilities. The foundation supports charitable, religious, educational, and scientific organizations primarily through scholarships and educational grants.

Key facts about Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation

EIN
76-0201807
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,976,009
Grants made (2024)
64
Average grant
$30,875
Median grant
$9,317
Total assets
$37,514,448
Primary geography
Mississippi (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation accepts applications and maintains an online application portal at kgccf.smapply.org. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation's 64 itemized 2024 grants were Mississippi (70%), Texas (15%) and Louisiana (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mississippi State, MS (6 grants), Houston, TX (6 grants), Jackson, MS (5 grants) and Hattiesburg, MS (5 grants). 8% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

How Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 91% 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.

Next steps with Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$37.5M

+12.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.0M

-3.3% YoY

Grant Count

64

+6.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$31K

-9.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M 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 primary focus areas include:

  • Education: Higher education support, including student aid and scholarship funds
  • Human Services: Support for organizations serving vulnerable populations
  • Health Care: Healthcare-related initiatives
  • Youth Development: Programs supporting children and young people

The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to supporting educational institutions and providing direct financial aid to students.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$1,000–$1,500,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports organizations in:

  • Mississippi (primary focus)
  • Louisiana (primary focus)
  • Texas (primary focus)

The foundation also supports initiatives across various cities and states in the United States and Canada, including Houston, Chicago, and Toronto.

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of all 64 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

Baton RougeHoustonJacksonMississippi StateUniversityHattiesburgDenham SpringsSlidellClintonMandevilleHammondFrench CampWalkerBaltimoreBirminghamCambridgeGainesvilleMartinTuscaloosaAuburn

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets and Giving (2024):

  • Total assets: $37,514,448
  • Total revenues: $6,853,949
  • Total expenses: $2,600,426
  • Total giving: $1,976,009

Assets and Giving (2023):

  • Total assets: $33.3 million
  • Total revenues: $2.82 million
  • Total expenses: $2.56 million

Annual Giving:

  • Approximately $2.2 million in annual expenses
  • Giving rate: 3.1% of assets

Staffing:

  • 1 employee
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$37,514,448$33,255,700$32,985,451
Revenue$6,853,949$2,824,767$2,522,545
Expenses$2,600,426$2,561,958$2,727,103
Qualifying Distributions$2,185,026$2,256,043$2,409,433
Net Investment Income$6,532,887$2,551,640$2,244,277
Distributable Amount$2,410,675$2,089,472$2,060,148

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$552K$1M$2M$2M1 grants202061 grants202162 grants202260 grants202364 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Mississippi State University: $310K across 5 grantsMississippi State University$310K · 5 grantsMagnolia Speech School: $200KMagnolia Speech School$200KUniversity of Mississippi: $197K across 3 grantsUniversity of Mississippi$197K · 3 grantsMississippi College: $164K across 3 grantsMississippi College$164K · 3 grantsOptions Inc: $130KOptions Inc$130KUniversity of Southern Mississippi Foundation: $125KUniversity of SouthernMississippi Foundation$125KMississippi State University Foundation Inc: $100KMississippi State UniversityFoundation Inc$100KUniversity of Southern Mississippi: $76K across 3 grantsUniversity of SouthernMississippi$76K · 3 grantsBoys and Girls Country: $75KBoys and Girls Country$75KBriarwood School: $75KBriarwood School$75K

Grant Size Distribution

248 grants across all recorded years

186<$50K33$50–100K28$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Mississippi State University ($309,920 across 5 grants), Magnolia Speech School ($200,000), University of Mississippi ($196,896 across 3 grants).

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MSScholarships - Alonzo, Andino, Bailey, Gibson, Frazure, Hardy, Harrison, Horton, Howard, Jackson, Love, Moore, O'Bryant, Owah, Parker, Pittman, Rodgers, Russell, Sanders, Schulle, Shelly, Sidaway, Spencer, Tribble, Tynes, Vazeii$223,786
Magnolia Speech School Jackson, MSContributions - Operating expenses and capital campaign$200,000
Mississippi College Clinton, MSScholarships - F. Anderson, J. Bower, E. Brassfield, J. Childress, C. Cook, A. Decker, E. Ethis, J. Fulton, E. Hammons, Q. Hencricks, A. Pannell, A. Pool, S. Pool, N. Van, L. Wilson, G. Winters$141,193
University of Mississippi University, MSScholarships - Allen, Bird, Causey, Cook, Dawson, Gillentine, Hendon, Hernandez, Hill, Hooker, Lawson, May, McCurdy, A. Nguyen, T. Nguyen, Patel, Perry, Pilcher, Scales, Scruggs, Suh, Ta, White,$135,173
Options Inc Hammond, LAHorticulture Education Program$130,000
University of Southern Mississippi Foundation Hattiesburg, MSDuBard School for Language Disorders$125,000
Mississippi State University Foundation Inc Mississippi State, MSCivil & Environmental Engineering Building$100,000
Boys and Girls Country Hockley, TXGeneral support$75,000
Briarwood School Houston, TXTeacher Intensive Program and Scholarships$75,000
University of Mississippi University, MSScholarships - J. Benne, H. Clayton, C. Hartline; K. LaPorte, S. Rickles, J. Scruggs, C. Warren, J. Wilson$50,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation's leadership team includes:

  • Deborah Rochelle - President
  • Robert B Kneppler - Vice President
  • Ronald G Page - Treasurer
  • Carolyn Bost - Director
  • Julie Thompson - Director
  • Katy Pacelli - Executive Director

Leadership team members receive compensation of $16,000 for their part-time roles.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Deborah Rochelle — President: $16KDeborah RochellePresident$16KRobert B Kneppler — Vice President: $16KRobert B KnepplerVice President$16KRonald G Page — Treasurer: $16KRonald G PageTreasurer$16KJulie Thompson — Directror: $16KJulie ThompsonDirectror$16KCarolyn Bost — Director: $8KCarolyn BostDirector$8K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Deborah RochellePresident5$16,000
Robert B KnepplerVice President5$16,000
Ronald G PageTreasurer5$16,000
Carolyn BostDirector5$8,000
Julie ThompsonDirectror5$16,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has demonstrated consistent grant-making activity in recent years, with notable recent grants including:

2024

Mississippi State University: $223,786 for scholarships (2024)

2024

Magnolia Speech School: $200,000 for operating expenses and capital campaign (2024)

2024

Mississippi College: $141,193 for scholarships (2024)

The foundation has supported multiple educational institutions including Millsaps College, the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Mississippi College, and the University of Southern Mississippi through scholarship funds.

Recent teacher grant awards have been made to educators in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, supporting instructional projects in schools throughout the region.

Eight Livingston Parish Teachers Awarded Grants

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Education**: Higher education support, including student aid and scholarship funds • **Human Services**: Support for organizations serving vulnerable populations • **Health Care**: Healthcare-related initiatives • **Youth Development**: Programs supporting children and young people The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to supporting educational institutions and providing direct financial aid to students.

How do I apply for a grant from Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation?

The foundation accepts applications and maintains an online application portal at kgccf.smapply.org. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • **Mississippi** (primary focus) • **Louisiana** (primary focus) • **Texas** (primary focus) The foundation also supports initiatives across various cities and states in the United States and Canada, including Houston, Chicago, and Toronto.

What size grants does Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation award?

In 2024, Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Kelly Gene Cook Sr Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0201807. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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