Virginia Lee Cook Foundation
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $435K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $460K. Net investment income was $431K.
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation at a glance
In short: Virginia Lee Cook Foundation gave $460K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $92K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $460,000
- +53.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $92,000
- +53.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $434,644
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (65% 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 Virginia Lee Cook Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Wisconsin Foundation ($300K). Together the top 5 received $460K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 11 grants of 22 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Virginia Lee Cook Foundation gives
- Giving grew 100% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 3% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $179K (2019) to $460K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $460K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | General Purpose | $300,000 |
| Animal Aid Inc Williamstown, NJ | General Purpose | $75,000 |
| K9 Battle Buddies Hinesville, GA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Monkey's House Dog Hospice and Sanctuary Southampton, NJ | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| St Patrick Parish St Charles, IL | General Purpose | $10,000 |
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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 | $434,644 | $483,142 | $527,797 | $460,000 | 5 | $7,200 | $430,505 | $220,721 |
| 2024 | $479,299 | $347,391 | $364,540 | $300,000 | 5 | $7,200 | $296,590 | $219,412 |
| 2023 | $496,448 | $199,332 | $285,553 | $220,000 | 5 | $7,200 | $152,592 | $197,438 |
| 2022 | $582,669 | $321,139 | $288,123 | $230,000 | 5 | $7,200 | $273,530 | $193,877 |
| 2021 | $549,653 | $143,888 | $309,494 | $255,000 | 2 | $7,050 | $99,682 | $190,159 |
| 2020 | $715,831 | $20,716 | $309,020 | $265,000 | 3 | — | $41,144 | $149,738 |
| 2019 | $1,005,597 | $355,335 | $217,869 | $179,001 | 4 | — | $326,951 | $114,176 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Virginia Lee Cook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation is led by Jeffrey Bakiares, President & Director on every filing since 2019; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey Bakiares
President & Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$27K (2019) → $50K (2025)
John Brown
Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$4K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Lynn Bakiares
Vice President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$4K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $50K, to Jeffrey Bakiares (President/Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Lee Cook Foundation
How much does Virginia Lee Cook Foundation give each year?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation gave $460K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $300K across 5 grants.
What is Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's typical grant size?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $92,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Virginia Lee Cook Foundation give grants?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Jersey (22%) and Georgia (11%).
Does Virginia Lee Cook Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's largest grantees?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Wisconsin Foundation ($300,000), Animal Aid Inc ($75,000) and K9 Battle Buddies ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia Lee Cook Foundation?
Virginia Lee Cook Foundation reported $435K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $221K (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 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 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
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