The Cooper Steel Foundation
The Cooper Steel Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Shelbyville, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $17K. Net investment income was $86K.
The Cooper Steel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cooper Steel Foundation gave $17K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $16,500
- +83.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,500
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,564,884
- +212.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (70% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Cooper Steel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was March of Dimes ($5K). Together the top 2 received $8K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($9,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 6 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Cooper Steel Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 50% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2023) to $17K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $9,000 |
| March of Dimes Harlan, IA | To Further the Purposes of Charitable Organization. | $5,000 |
| Nurses for Newborns Nashville, TN | To Further the Purposes of Charitable Organization. | $2,500 |
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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 | $1,564,884 | $88,333 | $23,957 | $16,500 | 3 | $16,500 | $86,285 | $33,218 |
| 2024 | $500,508 | $9,241 | $14,173 | $9,000 | 2 | $9,000 | $9,244 | $27,639 |
| 2023 | $505,440 | $500,086 | $4,495 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | $86 | $2,514 |
| 2022 | $9,849 | $10,000 | $151 | — | — | — | — | $266 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cooper Steel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Cooper Steel Foundation is led by Gary K. Cooper, Trustee on every filing since 2022 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary K. Cooper
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 The Cooper Steel Foundation
How much does The Cooper Steel Foundation give each year?
The Cooper Steel Foundation gave $17K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9K across 2 grants.
What is The Cooper Steel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cooper Steel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,500, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Cooper Steel Foundation give grants?
The Cooper Steel Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (30%).
Does The Cooper Steel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Cooper Steel Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is The Cooper Steel Foundation?
The Cooper Steel Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $33K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Cooper Steel Foundation?
The Cooper Steel Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Shelbyville, TN. It holds $1.6M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Cooper Steel Foundation's EIN?
The Cooper Steel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-6096061. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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