Cooper Foundation
Lincoln, NE · EIN 47-0401230. Reported 250 grants totalling $3,306,743 to 135 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Cooper Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $7,500 and $18,800; the smallest was $100 and the largest $50,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues | Lincoln, NE | $298,198 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rabble Mill | Lincoln, NE | $200,000 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| Clyde Malone Community Center | Lincoln, NE | $150,100 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Way of Lincolnlancaster County | Lincoln, NE | $101,920 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Asian Community & Cultural Center | Lincoln, NE | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Solidago Conservancy | Lincoln, NE | $57,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| YWCA Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mid-America Arts Alliance | Kansas City, MO | $47,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Educare Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Arts Council | Lincoln, NE | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition | Bloomfield, NE | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Inc | Lincoln, NE | $42,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Bridge Behavioral Health | Lincoln, NE | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lied Center for Performing Arts | Lincoln, NE | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Visionary Youth | Lincoln, NE | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Cultural Endowment | Omaha, NE | $39,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bravebe Child Advocacy Center | Lincoln, NE | $37,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lincolnlancaster County Habitat for Humanity | Lincoln, NE | $37,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Give Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $36,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boys and Girls Club Lincoln Lancaster County | Lincoln, NE | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Center for Legal Immigration Assistance | Lincoln, NE | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hopespoke | Lincoln, NE | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lux Center for the Arts | Lincoln, NE | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Community Crops | Lincoln, NE | $34,700 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Doane University | Crete, NE | $34,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, NE | $31,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Police Department | Lincoln, NE | $31,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Centerpointe | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Civic Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Crossroads Festival | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Public Schools | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nebraska Land Trust Inc | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Neighborworks Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communicatio | Lincoln, NE | $28,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| ACLU of Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Indian Center Inc | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Children's Museum | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln Literacy | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Meadowlark Music Festival | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Sports Council | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning | Hastings, NE | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Willard Community Center | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Humanities Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $24,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Midland University | Fremont, NE | $24,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Transition College | Lincoln, NE | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Writers Collective | Omaha, NE | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Echo Collective | Lincoln, NE | $22,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Center for People in Need | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| El Centro De Las Americas | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Foster Care Closet | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Fresh Start Inc | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friendship Home of Lincoln Inc | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| I Be Black Girl | Omaha, NE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Junior Achievement of Lincoln Inc | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Legal Aid of Nebraska | Omaha, NE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Live Yes Studios Inc (payee Lincoln Community Foundation) | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mentor Nebraska | Omaha, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence Coalition | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Outnebraska | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Monica's | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sunrise Communications Inc | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Teammates Mentoring Program | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Nebraska State Museum | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Willa Cather Foundation | Red Cloud, NE | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mourning Hope Grief Center | Lincoln, NE | $18,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Coalition for a Strong Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Community Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $17,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Orchestra Association | Lincoln, NE | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Share a Fare Inc | Omaha, NE | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Voz De Esperanza Dba Centro Hispano Comunitario De Nebraska | Columbus, NE | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cause Collective | Lincoln, NE | $15,925 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bridges to Hope | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Conservation Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food Bank of Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Calling | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln Medical Education Partnership | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Audubon Society | Denton, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Wild Turkey Federation | Edgefield, SC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nebraska Civic Engagement Table | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northeast Family Center | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cedar Point Biological Station | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska Repertory Theatre | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Voices of Hope | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wachiska Audubon Society | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bellevue University | Bellevue, NE | $14,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| College of Saint Mary | Omaha, NE | $14,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Flatwater Shakespeare Company | Lincoln, NE | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Hastings College | Hastings, NE | $14,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Down Syndrome Association for Families of Ne | Lincoln, NE | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Blue Valley Behavioral Health | Lincoln, NE | $10,700 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Banister's Leadership Academy | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Carnegie Arts Center Inc | Alliance, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Legacy of the Plains Museum | Gering, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln Community Playhouse | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Multicultural Coalition | Grand Island, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nebraska Diaper Bank | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nebraska Journalism Trust | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Poverty Impact Network Inc | Hickman, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rise Academy | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| South of Downtown Community Development Organization | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humaniti | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Unl Harris Center for Judaic Studies | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wellbeing Initiative | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bikelnk | Lincoln, NE | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bright Lights | Lincoln, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jewish Federation of Omaha - Institute for Holocaust Education | Omaha, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Music Teachers Association | Lincoln, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Milkworks | Lincoln, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Audubon Society - Audubon Nebraska | Omaha, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Inc | Lincoln, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Opensky Policy Institute | Lincoln, NE | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Angels Theatre Company | Lincoln, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blixt Locally Grown | Lincoln, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chadron State College | Chadron, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Honesty Project Corp | Lincoln, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Literacy Council of Grand Island | Grand Island, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nebraskans for the Arts | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources | Lincoln, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Vision Maker Media | Lincoln, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Metropolitan Operanebraska Auditions | Lincoln, NE | $4,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Honors Program | Lincoln, NE | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jazz in June | Lincoln, NE | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln Choral Artists | Lincoln, NE | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Grand Island Community Foundation | Grand Island, NE | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln Housing Charities | Lincoln, NE | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Great Plains Studies | Lincoln, NE | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stormont Vail Foundation | Topeka, KS | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
58 of 135 (43%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 39%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 163 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | $1,005,380 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 79 | $944,744 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 54 | $658,462 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 54 | $698,157 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Cooper Foundation has 57 of them, worth $620,700. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues | Lincoln, NE | $50,000 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues | Lincoln, NE | $50,000 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues | Lincoln, NE | $50,000 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues | Lincoln, NE | $50,000 |
| Lincoln Public Schools | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 |
| Child Advocacy Center | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 |
| Voices of Hope Lincoln Inc | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 |
| Lincoln Community Playhouse | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 |
| Teammates Mentoring Program | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 |
| Humanities Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $20,000 |
| ACLU of Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 |
| Conservation Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 |
| Rise Academy | Omaha, NE | $15,000 |
| University of Nebraska State Museum | Lincoln, NE | $12,000 |
| Down Syndrome Association for Families of Ne | Lincoln, NE | $12,000 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 98% of this one's giving went to organizations in Nebraska. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Nebraska.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Cooper Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 1248 O Street 870, Lincoln, NE, 68508. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 47-0401230 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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