Virginia Lee Cook Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $479K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $300K. Net investment income was $297K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$479K
-3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$300K
+36.4% YoY
Grant Count
5
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
+36.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Virginia Lee Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $219K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Virginia Lee Cook Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $479K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $300K. Net investment income was $297K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $479,299 | $496,448 | $582,669 |
| Revenue | $347,391 | $199,332 | $321,139 |
| Expenses | $364,540 | $285,553 | $288,123 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,200 | $7,200 | $7,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $296,590 | $152,592 | $273,530 |
| Distributable Amount | $219,412 | $197,438 | $193,877 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Wisconsin Foundation ($150,000), Animal Aid Inc ($55,000), K9 Battle Buddies ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LA SALETTE MISSIONARIES TWIN LAKES, WI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION MADISON, WI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $150,000 |
| ANIMAL AID INC WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $55,000 |
| K9 BATTLE BUDDIES HINESVILLE, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| MONKEY'S HOUSE DOG HOSPICE AND SANCTUARY SOUTHAMPTON, NJ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY BAKIARES | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 5 | $48,401 |
| LYNN BAKIARES | VP & TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 5 | $4,800 |
| JOHN BROWN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $4,800 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Virginia Lee Cook Foundation?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds $479K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Virginia Lee Cook Foundation?
As of 2024, Virginia Lee Cook Foundation holds $479K in total assets with $347K in annual revenue. It awarded 5 grants totaling $300K in 2024.
Where does Virginia Lee Cook Foundation operate?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation has awarded grants in Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin.
What size grants does Virginia Lee Cook Foundation award?
In 2024, Virginia Lee Cook Foundation awarded 5 grants totaling $300K — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Virginia Lee Cook Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Virginia Lee Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $219K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's EIN?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4334359. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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