Cooper Foundation General Grant Program

Cooper Foundation General Grant Program

Funder: Cooper Foundation (Waco, Texas)

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

Board Review Schedule

Board of Trustees meets monthly except July and November