V V Cooke Foundation Corporation
V V Cooke Foundation Corporation is a private foundation established in 1947 in honor of V.V. Cooke, based in Louisville, Kentucky. The foundation has been dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations in its community for over seven decades. It is a 501(c)(3) organization that has been tax-exempt since April 1950.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.3M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$424K
-0.1% YoY
Grant Count
87
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+14.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, V V Cooke Foundation Corporation reported a distributable amount of $400K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations with a focus on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation primarily makes unrestricted grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.
Grantmaking
Prospective grantees are encouraged to contact the foundation directly to discuss funding opportunities and set up an appointment with the executive director.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Kentucky (with emphasis on Metropolitan Louisville)
- Illinois
- Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending August 2024:
- Total assets: $7,264,562
- Total revenues: $403,326
- Total expenses: $501,020
- Total giving: $424,090
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,264,562 | $7,362,256 | $7,506,073 |
| Revenue | $403,326 | $357,090 | $652,645 |
| Expenses | $501,020 | $500,907 | $406,162 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $470,247 | $467,495 | $350,291 |
| Net Investment Income | $372,553 | $323,678 | $596,774 |
| Distributable Amount | $400,115 | $378,042 | $412,255 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from V V Cooke Foundation Corporation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baptist Health Foundation ($25,000), Lighthouse Academy at Newburg ($18,000), Home of the Innocents ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE PIPPA PASSES, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| AMERICANA WORLD COMMUNITY CENTER LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| BEACON HOUSE LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $6,500 |
| BIA CARES INC LEXINGTON, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,500 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF KENTUCKIANA LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| BROADWAY ARTS ACADEMY LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BROADWAY BAPTIST CHURCH LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $3,000 |
| CASA LOUISVILLE, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Carl M Thomas – Executive Director (compensation: $25,000 as of February 2025)
The foundation maintains a small staff and can be reached at:
- Phone: 502-901-3179
- Email: carl.vvcooke@gmail.com
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER CROSS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT L HOOK III | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TRUDI COOKE CARROLL | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| JOE D CROSS JR | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ROBERT L HOOK JR | SECRETARY/TREASURER | — | — |
| CARL M THOMAS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 10 | $25,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to actively award grants to nonprofits serving the Louisville and Kentucky region. Recent grantees have included organizations focused on children's services, public libraries, and educational institutions.
V.V. Cooke Foundation awards $2,000 to Family & Children\u2019s Place -\Frequently Asked Questions
What does V V Cooke Foundation Corporation fund?
The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations with a focus on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation primarily makes unrestricted grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from V V Cooke Foundation Corporation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 99 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024) • Total giving: $424,090 • Typical award range: $250–$100,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Sunrise Children's Services: $30,000 (unrestricted) • Louisville Free Public Library Foundation: $25,000 (unrestricted) • West End School (WES): $15,000 (unrestricted) **Application Process:** Prospective grantees are encouraged to contact the foundation directly to discuss funding opportunities and set up an appointment wit…
Where does V V Cooke Foundation Corporation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Kentucky (with emphasis on Metropolitan Louisville) • Illinois • Tennessee
What size grants does V V Cooke Foundation Corporation award?
In 2024, V V Cooke Foundation Corporation awarded 87 grants totaling $424K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is V V Cooke Foundation Corporation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, V V Cooke Foundation Corporation reported a distributable amount of $400K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is V V Cooke Foundation Corporation's EIN?
V V Cooke Foundation Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6033714. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in V V Cooke Foundation Corporation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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