The William A Cooke Foundation is a private foundation based in Louisa, Virginia, established in 2001. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation focuses on providing educational support and community grants primarily in Virginia and South Carolina.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.6M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+55.4% YoY
Grant Count
85
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+55.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William a Cooke Foundation reported a distributable amount of $785K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to provide scholarships to qualified graduating high school students from Louisa and Orange Counties, Virginia, to attend college. Beyond scholarships, the foundation supports:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Community Health
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and individuals in:
- Louisa County, Virginia
- Orange County, Virginia
- South Carolina
- Additional grants have supported programs in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $15,051,408
- Total Revenues: $2,344,665
- Total Expenses: $993,086
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $15,604,576
- Total Giving: $1,382,036
Staffing:
- 0 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,604,576 | $15,051,408 | $13,995,270 |
| Revenue | $2,345,369 | $2,344,665 | $1,246,133 |
| Expenses | $1,575,483 | $993,086 | $1,112,923 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,439,971 | $939,954 | $707,858 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,453,170 | $519,420 | $512,638 |
| Distributable Amount | $785,130 | $712,668 | $693,856 |
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 William a Cooke Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Louisa County Little League ($750,000), Industrial Development Authority ($351,942), Louisa County Rescue Squad ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AL JARIRI SAJA LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| AMICK ABIGAIL MARIE LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| ANDERSON ADRIAN MATTHEW LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| ARCHER PAUL DAWON LEE LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| BEASLEY LENAYAH KRISTINA LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
| BELLAIR CHEYENN DELANIE LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| BRACKEN MIA ASHLEE FRANCES LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $1,000 |
| BRADFORD EVELYN ALEXIS LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
| BROOKS JASON LOUIS, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
| BURCH ELLA MADELINE LOUISA, VA | SCHOLARSHIP | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RANDALL L TINGLER | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| REBECCA B CAVANAUGH | V.PRESIDENT/ | 1 | $1,600 |
| LINDA PARKER | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,400 |
| J DOUGLAS STRALEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,500 |
| GEORGE D YANCEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,200 |
| DEBORAH PETTIT | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,200 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced significant grant awards in STEM education and academic support, including:
Cooke Foundation Awards $100,000 to the Society for Science & the Public$1.6 million in STEM education grants
Cooke Foundation Awards $1.6 Million in STEM Education Grants$350,000 in academic grants
Cooke Foundation Awards $350,000 in Academic Grants$150,000 in grants to programs in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
Cooke Foundation Awards $150,000 In Grants To Programs In Virginia, Maryland$100,000 to the Society for Science & the Public to address the excellence gap in science
Cooke Foundation Awards $100,000 to the Society for Science & the PublicSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William a Cooke Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to provide scholarships to qualified graduating high school students from Louisa and Orange Counties, Virginia, to attend college. Beyond scholarships, the foundation supports: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Community Health
How do I apply for a grant from William a Cooke Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 79 grants in the most recent reporting year • Typical grant awards range from $500–$750,000 • Average annual giving: $1,382,036 **Recent Grants:** • Love Outreach Food Pantry: $18,000 (2023) • Orange County Children's Toy Box: $10,000 (2023) • Santa Council of Louisa County: $10,000 (2023) **Scholarship Program:** • 32 scholarships awarded in 2022 to high school graduates from Louisa and Orange Counties, Virginia
Where does William a Cooke Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and individuals in: • Louisa County, Virginia • Orange County, Virginia • South Carolina • Additional grants have supported programs in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does William a Cooke Foundation award?
In 2024, William a Cooke Foundation awarded 85 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William a Cooke Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William a Cooke Foundation reported a distributable amount of $785K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is William a Cooke Foundation's EIN?
William a Cooke Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2012726. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in William a Cooke Foundation'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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