Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation
The Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation is a private foundation established in 2015 by Wayne C. Kocourek, founder and CEO of Mid Oaks Investments LLC, and his wife Nan Parks Kocourek. Based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with a focus on transformative gifts to organizations aligned with the founders' personal values and philanthropic interests.
Key facts about Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation
- EIN
- 47-6807414
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,335,895
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $464,724
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $124,935,053
- Primary geography
- Montana (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation's 33 itemized 2024 grants were Montana (36%), Illinois (15%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (5 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants), Fairfield, IA (2 grants) and Makawao, HI (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$124.9M
-6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.3M
+77.3% YoY
Grant Count
33
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$465K
+72.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes, including:
- Cancer research
- Hospital initiatives
- Children's programs
- Animal welfare
- Arts and culture
- Military veteran support
- Youth development programs
- Wildlife and animal rescue
- Criminal justice
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through invitation only.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $5,493,500
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national giving focus with particular emphasis on:
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Hawaii
- Montana
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $124,935,053 (2024)
- Total giving: $15,335,895 (2024)
- Annual giving: $8,648,270 (2023)
- Total revenues: $7,179,369 (2024)
- Total expenses: $15,908,711 (2024)
- Giving rate: 12.3% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $124,935,053 | $133,650,130 | $32,905,258 |
| Revenue | $7,179,369 | $111,313,699 | $383,616 |
| Expenses | $15,908,711 | $9,207,066 | $4,725,734 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $15,692,573 | $9,120,453 | $4,664,955 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,963,231 | $1,227,086 | $330,737 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,428,473 | $3,024,733 | $1,760,561 |
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Big Sky Bravery ($5,493,500), Paws Chicago ($2,206,638), Myriad USA ($1,700,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sky Bravery Bozeman, MT | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $5,493,500 |
| PAWS CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $2,206,638 |
| Myriad USA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $1,700,000 |
| V-FOUNDATION CARY, NC | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $1,461,950 |
| Maui Health Wailuku, HI | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $1,028,707 |
| THE CHOSEN AND DEARLY LOVED FOUNDATION DENVER, CO | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $750,000 |
| NAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION Napa, CA | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $570,100 |
| JUDICIAL WATCH WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $250,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CEDAR RAPIDS CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $200,000 |
| TANAGER PLACE CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Nan Kocourek – Chief Executive Officer (compensation: $150,000 as of 2024)
- Wayne Kocourek – Trustee (compensation: $165,755 as of 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNE KOCOUREK | TRUSTEE | — | $165,755 |
| NAN KOCOUREK | CEO | — | $150,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation made a significant land donation of 85 acres to Big Sky Bravery in Montana, reflecting its commitment to veteran support and youth development initiatives. The foundation also awarded $1.5 million to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, demonstrating ongoing support for healthcare institutions in key geographic focus areas.
Wayne And Nan Kocourek Foundation - HinchillaSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes, including: • Cancer research • Hospital initiatives • Children's programs • Animal welfare • Arts and culture • Military veteran support • Youth development programs • Wildlife and animal rescue • Criminal justice
How do I apply for a grant from Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation?
**Grant Structure:** • The foundation does not operate formal, named grant programs • All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations • Grant range: $5,000 to $5,493,500 • Typical awards: $250,000 to $1,500,000 • Approximately 32-37 grants awarded annually **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through invitation only. **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • …
Where does Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a national giving focus with particular emphasis on: • Illinois • Iowa • Hawaii • Montana
What size grants does Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation award?
In 2024, Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $15.3M — an average of about $465K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation's EIN?
Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6807414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wayne and Nan Kocourek Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.