Cooper Foundation General Grant Program

Mission: To make Waco, Texas a better and more desirable city in which to live through grant awards to qualifying nonprofits.

Geographic Scope

• Funding Location: Waco, Texas only
• Does not fund projects in communities around Waco
• Waco Foundation provides grants throughout McLennan County as an alternative

Focus Areas

The foundation funds projects impacting all aspects of life in Waco:

• Education
• Health
• Arts and Culture
• Community Building
• Social Services
• Senior Citizens

Eligibility

• Applicant Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations exclusively
• Must be headquartered in Waco, Texas
• Project activities must take place in Waco
• Organizations may apply once per year
• Can be funded for multiple separate projects across time

What They Fund

• Capital projects
• Program and service delivery
• Capacity building projects
• Staff positions and operational support
• Facility improvements and renovations
• Equipment and technology
• Professional development and training

What They Do NOT Fund

• Religious purposes or activities
• Churches or church-tied projects
• Other religious causes
• Projects outside Waco, Texas
• Advance commitments for continued funding beyond the project grant

Award Amounts

• No set minimum or maximum request amounts
• Past grants range from $1,500 to $750,000+ (see grantmaking history)
• Staff can offer guidance on appropriate request amounts

Contact Information

• Phone: 254.754.0315
• Address: 1801 Austin Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701
• Website: cooperfdn.org
• Staff encouraged to discuss proposals before and during preparation

Application Process Overview

1. Complete Organizational Readiness Checklist
2. Submit Grant Inquiry (rolling basis, no deadlines)
3. Cooper staff reviews and responds within a few weeks
4. If invited, submit full proposal by posted deadline
5. Board reviews at monthly meetings (no July/November meetings)

• Exceptions may be made for emergency requests

Application Process

Step 1: Preparation & Discussion

• Read Cooper Foundation Grant Guidelines
• Complete Organizational Readiness Checklist
• Contact Cooper Foundation staff to discuss your project/program idea
• Phone: 254.754.0315
• Email: Available through website
• Discussion can save time by clarifying if proposal fits foundation guidelines

Step 2: Submit Grant Inquiry

• Submit online Grant Inquiry Form (available on website)
• No deadline for inquiries — accepted on ongoing, rolling basis
• If on tight timeline, note that in the inquiry
• Cooper staff will review and contact within a few weeks

Step 3: Invitation to Full Proposal (If Approved)

• Successful inquiries receive invitation to submit full proposal
• Invitation does not guarantee funding — only indicates board interest
• Full proposals submitted online by provided access code
• Submit by posted deadline (see deadline schedule below)

Step 4: Full Proposal Submission Deadlines & Review

| Deadline | Review Date |
|----------|-------------|
| January 5, 2026 | March 26, 2026 |
| February 2, 2026 | April 30, 2026 |
| March 2, 2026 | May 28, 2026 |
| April 1, 2026 | June 25, 2026 |

Note: Review dates may change depending on staff or board questions about a specific application

Step 5: Board Consideration

• Board considers proposals at regularly scheduled monthly meetings
• Action may be delayed for additional investigation and consideration
• Further discussion with proposal author may be requested
• Decision and notification provided after board review

Required Materials

• Grant Inquiry Form (online submission)
• Full Grant Proposal (online submission with access code)
• Must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit with IRS notification documentation

Application Submission Format

• Online only — all letters of inquiry and applications submitted through online system
• Access code provided upon staff invitation
• No paper submissions accepted

Special Circumstances

• Exceptions may be made for emergency requests
• Contact staff directly for emergency funding needs