Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation
The Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Michigan. It supports nonprofit and public organizations, with a stated emphasis on West Michigan and a focus on programs that strengthen faith and religion, education, arts, healthcare, essential needs, and civic and community life.
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation at a glance
In short: Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation gave $4.3M across 188 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Michigan. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,329,589
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 188
- +5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,030
- +3.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $42,837,551
- -1.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (30 of 152, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. It directs applicants to its website for forms and materials; requests are submitted by email, not through the website.
- Contact
Application contact: Carrie Boer
Mailing address: 2900 Charlevoix Dr Se Ste 130, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Phone: (616) 975-2265
Email: cboer@chholdings.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital ($233K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($2,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
909 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 760 grants of 909 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies West Michigan, particularly an individual recipient, as its focus. The 2024 filing shows that 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan; smaller shares went to Florida and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 188 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 152 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 189% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2022) to $4.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 188 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign | $233,334 |
| Mel Trotter Ministries Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign | $175,000 |
| Pine Rest Foundation Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign | $167,000 |
| David's House Ministries Wyoming, MI | Capital Campaign | $125,000 |
| Bridge Street Ministries Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign | $110,000 |
| Critter Barn Zeeland, MI | Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
| Family Promise Grand Rapids, MI | Advancement Campaign | $100,000 |
| Feeding America West Michigan Comstock Park, MI | Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
| Grand Rapids Art Museum Grand Rapids, MI | Imagine More Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
| Grand Rapids Community College Foundation Grand Rapids, MI | Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $42,837,551 | $4,779,637 | $5,253,896 | $4,329,589 | 188 | $4,556,176 | $4,310,149 | $2,412,767 |
| 2023 | $43,422,630 | $1,516,287 | $4,563,930 | $3,967,335 | 178 | $4,188,415 | $867,640 | $2,411,806 |
| 2022 | $46,798,038 | $1,974,717 | $5,270,221 | $3,330,895 | 190 | $3,548,860 | $1,500,317 | $2,443,467 |
| 2021 | $48,439,150 | $5,299,276 | $4,459,087 | $4,116,830 | 176 | $4,308,365 | $4,633,878 | $2,885,656 |
| 2020 | $48,389,208 | $1,140,013 | $3,550,371 | $3,550,580 | 177 | — | $577,515 | $2,475,152 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Peter C & Emajean Cook 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 October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation identifies six areas of active stewardship: faith and religion, education, arts, medical, essential needs, and civic and community. Its website describes support for ministries and outreach, K–12 Christian education and local universities, local arts, healthcare and access to care, programs addressing hunger and housing, and civic and community initiatives. Its stated three-year grant-allocation guidelines are 15–25% for essential needs, 15–20% each for education, healthcare, civic/community, and religion, and 5–8% for arts.
Examples of grantees’ work include Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s rehabilitation services; Mel Trotter Ministries’ work with people experiencing hunger and homelessness; and Feeding America West Michigan’s food distribution and food-security efforts. The an individual recipient Community College Foundation says it secures and manages gifts to support learning, while the Grand Valley University Foundation says it supports the university through grants, scholarships, academic development, and other needs. These descriptions are the grantees’ own missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 188 grants totaling $4,329,589. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $233,334, with a median of $7,500. Many of its largest listed 2024 grants were for capital campaigns, including $233,334 to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, $175,000 to Mel Trotter Ministries, $167,000 to Pine Rest Foundation, and $125,000 to David’s House Ministries. Other listed awards included $110,000 to Bridge Street Ministries and $100,000 each to several organizations, including Feeding America West Michigan, an individual recipient Art Museum, and Grand Valley University Foundation.
The foundation’s website says it accepts proposals without solicitation, but that most grants go to organizations with an established funding history or identified by the directors; grants to organizations with no previous involvement are rare. Organizations are eligible every 12 months. The foundation prioritizes capital and project-based support, does not accept new general operating proposals beginning in 2022, and gives preference to Christian organizations. For requests of $25,000 or more, a Grant Request Form is required. For smaller requests, it requires a written request describing the project, expected outcomes, and impact to date, limited to five pages or less. The website encourages prospective applicants to contact the foundation before submitting a request. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, governmental units, or non-private-foundation public charities with a record of successful operations, a strong sustainability outlook, and the likelihood of measurable community impact. The 2024 filing lists no deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas H. Claus as president/director, Robert D. Brower as secretary/director, and Carrie L. Boer as treasurer/director.
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation is led by Thomas H. Claus, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas H. Claus
President & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $73K (2024)
Carrie L. Boer
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$97K (2020) → $83K (2024)
Robert D. Brower
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $83K, to Carrie L Boer (Treasurer/Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation
How much does Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation give each year?
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation gave $4.3M across 188 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 178 grants.
What is Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's typical grant size?
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $23,030, across 188 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation give grants?
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (111 grants), Wyoming, MI (9 grants), Rockford, MI (9 grants) and Holland, MI (5 grants).
Does Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 41% of Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (78 of 188) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Capital Campaign" (28 grants), "Event Sponsor" (17 grants) and "Scholarship" (4 grants).
Who are Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's largest grantees?
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital ($233,334), Mel Trotter Ministries ($178,500 across 2 grants) and Pine Rest Foundation ($167,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($2,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation?
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation reported $42.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation fund?
The foundation identifies six areas of active stewardship: faith and religion, education, arts, medical, essential needs, and civic and community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's EIN?
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2752251. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/peter-c-and-emajean-cook-foundation-morg_f357b70e4ba345be8daea688b511d336
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382752251_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Peter C \& Emajean Cook Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/peter-c-and-emajean-cook-foundation-morg_f357b70e4ba345be8daea688b511d336},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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