Cooper Foundation

Historical Funder

Lincoln, Nebraska · EIN 47-0401230 · Private foundation · Website

Grants paid (2025)$1M

Organizations funded65

Typical grant$15,000

Total assets$30.4M

Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $20,000.

From the return

How to apply

The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):

Contact	COOPER FOUNDATION
Address	870 WELLS FARGO CENTER 1248 O, STREET, LINCOLN NE 68508
Phone	4024767571
Form and materials	APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE. EACH APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE A REQUEST NARRATIVE THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: AMOUNT REQUESTED AND ITS PURPOSE, WHO WILL BENEFIT, FUNDING GOAL AND PLAN TO ACHIEVE THAT FUNDING, AND THE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES THE GRANTEE HOPES TO ACHIEVE AND THE BENCHMARKS THAT WILL BE USED TO MEASURE THEIR SUCCESS. EACH APPLICATION SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION: PROJECT BUDGET, OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IF APPLICABLE, BALANCE SHEET, INCOME/EXPENSE STATEMENT, THE MOST RECENT BUDGET VS ACTUAL COMPARISION, YEAR-END FINANCIAL REPORT, AND A LISTING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF.
Deadlines	APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED AT BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETINGS
Restrictions	GRANTS ARE MADE PRIMARILY TO NEBRASKA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.

What it funds

Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.

Education8
Arts & Culture7
Human Services5
Community Development2
Environment1
Food Assistance1

Where it gives

1% of grants went outside Nebraska.

Nebraska64
Missouri1

Grants paid in tax year 2025

Recipient	Location	Purpose	Amount
University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World Issues	Lincoln, NE	Program	$80,398
United Way of Lincolnlancaster County	Lincoln, NE	Program	$39,000
Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation	Lincoln, NE	Program	$30,000
Southeast Community College Educational Foundation	Lincoln, NE	Program	$27,000
Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement	Omaha, NE	Operating	$25,000
Clyde Malone Community Center	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Nebraska Arts Council Development Corp	Omaha, NE	Program	$25,000
The Hub Central Access Point for Young Adults	Lincoln, NE	Program	$25,000
Bravebe Child Advocacy Center	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Center for People	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders County	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Hope Spoke	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Rabble Mill Dba the Bay	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Indian Center Inc	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Lux Center for the Arts	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Voices of Hope Lincoln Inc	Lincoln, NE	Program	$20,000
University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lied Center for Performing Arts	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Nebraska Journalism Trust	Omaha, NE	Operating	$20,000
Lincoln Literacy	Lincoln, NE	Program	$20,000
Teammates Mentoring Program	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Center for Legal Immigration Assistance	Omaha, NE	Operating	$20,000
Food Bank of Lincoln	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Foster Care Closet	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Humanities Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Program	$20,000
Midland University	Fremont, NE	Scholarship	$19,000
Civic Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Program	$15,000
Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence Coalition	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning	Hastings, NE	Operating	$15,000
Aclu of Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Conservation Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Rise Academy	Omaha, NE	Operating	$15,000
Sheldon Art Association	Lincoln, NE	Program	$15,000
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Inc	Lincoln, NE	Program	$15,000
Legal Aid of Nebraska	Omaha, NE	Program	$15,000
Neighborworks Lincoln	Lincoln, NE	Program	$15,000
Lincoln Children's Museum	Lincoln, NE	Program	$12,000
Lincoln Community Foundation	Lincoln, NE	Program	$10,000
Lincoln Community Playhouse	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$10,000
Nebraska Cultural Endowment	Omaha, NE	Operating	$10,000
Jewish Federation of Omaha	Omaha, NE	Operating	$10,000
Lincoln Bike Kitchen	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$10,000
Nebraska Writers Collective	Omaha, NE	Operating	$10,000
Roper Organization of Parents and Educators	Lincoln, NE	Program	$10,000
White Cane Foundation	Lincoln, NE	Program	$10,000
Lincoln Orchestra Association	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$10,000
Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival	Lincoln, NE	Program	$10,000
Nebraska Jazz Orchestra Inc	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$10,000
Open Sky Policy Institute	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$10,000
At Ease USA	Omaha, NE	Program	$10,000
Nebraska Children and Families Foundation	Lincoln, NE	Program	$10,000
Nebraskans for the Arts	Omaha, NE	Operating	$7,500
Educational Service Unit #6	Milford, NE	Program	$7,500
Big Gumdrops Outdoors	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$7,500
Big Brothersbig Sisters of the Midlands	Omaha, NE	Program	$7,500
Give Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Program	$7,000
Mid-America Arts Alliance	Kansas City, MO	Program	$5,000
American Legion Cornhusker Boys' State	Lincoln, NE	Program	$5,000
Inclusive Communities	Omaha, NE	Operating	$5,000
Bellevue University	Bellevue, NE	Scholarship	$4,000
College of Saint Mary	Omaha, NE	Scholarship	$4,000

Showing the 60 largest of 65 grants to organizations.

Grants approved for future payment

Recipient	Location	Purpose	Amount
Asian Community & Cultural Center	Lincoln, NE	Citizenship and naturalization application program	$25,000
Fresh Start Inc	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$25,000
Vision Maker Media	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$20,000
Lincoln Community Foundation	Lincoln, NE	Lincoln vital signs report	$20,000
Willa Cather Foundation	Red Cloudn, NE	Operating	$20,000
Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Out Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Belmont Community Center	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Centerpointe	Lincoln, NE	Basic needs support for clients	$15,000
St Monica's	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Wellbeing Initiative Inc	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$15,000
Cause Collective	Lincoln, NE	Operating	$10,000
Disability Rights Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	Nebraska values based education coalition	$7,500
Bright Lights	Lincoln, NE	Twinkles: a bright lights preschool program	$5,000
Bellevue University	Bellevue, NE	Scholarship	$4,000
College of Saint Mary	Omaha, NE	Scholarship	$4,000
Doane University	Crete, NE	Scholarship	$4,000
Hastings College	Hastings, NE	Scholarship	$4,000
Midland University	Fremont, NE	Scholarship	$4,000
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Lincoln, NE	Scholarship	$4,000

Giving by year

Tax year	Grants paid	Grant lines
2025	$1,015,898	85
2024	$698,157	66
2023	$658,462	55

Sources

IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Apr 3, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202630939349101273
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 47-0401230
Profile updated Nov 4, 2026

Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.