The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its website identifies the organization as the Charis Foundation and says its mission is to participate in God’s work by offering financial, strategic, and operational support in collaboration with Christian organizations and their leaders.
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr at a glance
In short: The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr gave $1.8M across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $42K), top state Tennessee. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,790,000
- -0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- -8.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,628
- +8.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $50,568,990
- +24.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (3 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (42% 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 The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It most often identifies prospective partners through referrals from existing partners or through groups and conferences related to its strategic grant areas. It may track a prospective organization and request a meeting before inviting it to submit an online application. The foundation says it aims to keep the application straightforward and relies on materials nonprofits should generally have available; it typically responds within 45–60 days after receiving application materials, depending on internal review timing and the board meeting schedule.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3835 Cleghorn Avenue Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 843-9100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Belmont University ($100K). Together the top 10 received $915K.
Grant Size Distribution
216 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 160 grants of 216 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it partners with Christian leaders and organizations in Nashville, throughout the United States, and internationally. In 2024, Tennessee recipients accounted for 42% of grant dollars, North Carolina recipients 15%, New York recipients 11%, Pennsylvania recipients 5%, and Texas recipients 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 43 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.3M (2020) to $1.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Belmont University Nashville, TN | Belmont Innovation Labs | $100,000 |
| Black Mountain Home for Children Black Mountain, NC | Unrestricted Funds | $100,000 |
| Martha O'Bryan Center Nashville, TN | Youth & Family Chaplain Program and Unrestricted Funds | $100,000 |
| Mercy Ministries Nashville, TN | Outreach Special Projects | $100,000 |
| Praxis Inc New York, NY | Unrestricted Funds | $100,000 |
| Siloam Family Health Center Nashville, TN | Unrestricted Funds | $100,000 |
| Redeemer City to City New York, NY | Global faith & work initiative and mexico city hub city | $90,000 |
| Hope International Lancaster, PA | Support for Rwanda and Latin America | $85,000 |
| Micah Project Houston, TX | Support for Hiring Development Director and Unrestricted Funds | $80,000 |
| Reformed University Fellowship Charlotte, NC | Cross-Cultural Growth Fund, Partners Fund, and Video Resources | $60,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr?
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 | $50,568,990 | $7,080,599 | $2,552,825 | $1,790,000 | 43 | $2,086,986 | $6,024,767 | $2,117,921 |
| 2023 | $40,609,949 | $160,901 | $2,467,718 | $1,800,500 | 47 | $2,048,722 | $216,797 | $1,826,342 |
| 2022 | $34,623,901 | $7,558,301 | $2,655,291 | $1,830,000 | 49 | $2,071,179 | $8,404,010 | $1,718,891 |
| 2021 | $41,424,698 | $4,702,846 | $2,076,058 | $1,555,000 | 41 | $1,793,050 | $4,505,688 | $1,701,227 |
| 2020 | $31,505,993 | $3,584,797 | $1,764,999 | $1,322,500 | 36 | — | $3,459,250 | $1,247,951 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its role as supporting, shepherding, and championing organizations working to “proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Its grantmaking page describes a Faith & Work program that supports organizations across the faith-and-work movement, from thought leadership to practical training. It also includes training or mentoring for people experiencing poverty, unemployment, or barriers to employment when the program includes the gospel or Christian theology regarding work.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Belmont University describes itself as a Christ-centered Christian community providing education intended to equip students to engage and transform the world. Black Mountain Home for Children says its mission is to glorify God by caring for children, youth, and families. Praxis describes its work as advancing redemptive entrepreneurship and supporting faith-motivated founders, funders, and innovators.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $1,790,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $30,000. Among its largest awards were $100,000 each to Belmont University for Belmont Innovation Labs; Black Mountain Home for Children for unrestricted funds; Martha O’Bryan Center for its Youth & Family Chaplain Program and unrestricted funds; Mercy Ministries for outreach special projects; Praxis for unrestricted funds; and Siloam Family Health Center for unrestricted funds. Other notable awards included $90,000 to Redeemer City to City for its Global Faith & Work Initiative and Mexico City Hub City, and $85,000 to Hope International for support in Rwanda and Latin America.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steven Singleton as president; Joseph C. Cook Jr. as board chair; Joseph C. Cook III as vice-president, secretary, and treasurer; and Christine Cook Singleton, Judith E. Cook, and Ashley B. Cook as vice-presidents.
The foundation’s website lists Joe Cook Jr., Joe Cook III, Steve Singleton, Judy Cook, Ashley Cook, and Christy Singleton on its board. It lists Steve Singleton as president, Pam Morris as grants manager, and Sarah Daley as executive coordinator.
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr is led by Steven Singleton, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Steven Singleton
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$143K (2020) → $143K (2024)
Joseph C. Cook Jr.
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley B. Cook
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Cook Singleton
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph C. Cook III
Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith E. Cook
Vice President
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 $143K, to Steven Singleton (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr
How much does The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr give each year?
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr gave $1.8M across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 47 grants.
What is The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's typical grant size?
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $41,628, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr give grants?
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's top state is Tennessee, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (15%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (11 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Charlotte, NC (3 grants) and Franklin, TN (2 grants).
Does The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's largest grantees?
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's largest 2024 grantees include Belmont University ($100,000), Black Mountain Home for Children ($100,000) and Martha O'Bryan Center ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr?
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr reported $50.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (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 does The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr fund?
The foundation describes its role as supporting, shepherding, and championing organizations working to “proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's EIN?
The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2006656. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 September 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). The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-judith-e-and-joseph-c-cook-jr-morg_8d3e33c290dc46babb5f768233d686e0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_352006656_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Judith E \& Joseph C Cook Jr funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-judith-e-and-joseph-c-cook-jr-morg_8d3e33c290dc46babb5f768233d686e0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Judith E & Joseph C Cook Jr'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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