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Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 47-0401230

Cooper Foundation

A private foundation in Lincoln, NE. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 65 grants and $1 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Cooper Foundation
870 Wells Fargo Center 1248 O, Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
(402) 476-7571
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

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $1,015,898

    Grants listed
    65
    Assets, end of year
    $30,257,897

  • Tax year 2024

    $698,157

    Grants listed
    54
    Assets, end of year
    $27,569,201

  • Tax year 2023

    $658,462

    Grants listed
    54
    Assets, end of year
    $25,804,022

  • Tax year 2022

    $944,744

    Grants listed
    79
    Assets, end of year
    $22,756,594

  • Tax year 2021

    $1,005,380

    Grants listed
    63
    Assets, end of year
    $30,485,328

  • Tax year 2020

    $663,027

    Grants listed
    82
    Assets, end of year
    $28,847,333

  • Tax year 2019

    $910,196

    Grants listed
    106
    Assets, end of year
    $25,416,499

Grants paid in 2025

65 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. University of Nebraska-Lincoln En Thompson Forum on World IssuesLincoln, NE

    Program

    $80,398
  2. United Way of Lincolnlancaster CountyLincoln, NE

    Program

    $39,000
  3. Nebraska State Historical Society FoundationLincoln, NE

    Program

    $30,000
  4. Southeast Community College Educational FoundationLincoln, NE

    Program

    $27,000
  5. Center for Immigrant & Refugee AdvancementOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  6. Clyde Malone Community CenterLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  7. Nebraska Arts Council Development CorpOmaha, NE

    Program

    $25,000
  8. The Hub Central Access Point for Young AdultsLincoln, NE

    Program

    $25,000
  9. Bravebe Child Advocacy CenterLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  10. Center for PeopleLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  11. Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders CountyLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  12. Hope SpokeLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  13. Rabble Mill DBA the BayLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  14. Indian Center IncLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  15. Lux Center for the ArtsLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  16. Voices of Hope Lincoln IncLincoln, NE

    Program

    $20,000
  17. University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lied Center for Performing ArtsLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  18. Nebraska Journalism TrustOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  19. Lincoln LiteracyLincoln, NE

    Program

    $20,000
  20. Teammates Mentoring ProgramLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  21. Center for Legal Immigration AssistanceOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  22. Food Bank of LincolnLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  23. Foster Care ClosetLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  24. Humanities NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Program

    $20,000
  25. Midland UniversityFremont, NE

    Scholarship

    $19,000
  26. Civic NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Program

    $15,000
  27. Nebraska Tribes Addressing Violence CoalitionOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  28. Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural LearningHastings, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  29. ACLU of NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  30. Conservation NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  31. Rise AcademyOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  32. Sheldon Art AssociationLincoln, NE

    Program

    $15,000
  33. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland IncLincoln, NE

    Program

    $15,000
  34. Legal Aid of NebraskaOmaha, NE

    Program

    $15,000
  35. Neighborworks LincolnLincoln, NE

    Program

    $15,000
  36. Lincoln Children's MuseumLincoln, NE

    Program

    $12,000
  37. Lincoln Community FoundationLincoln, NE

    Program

    $10,000
  38. Lincoln Community PlayhouseLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  39. Nebraska Cultural EndowmentOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  40. Jewish Federation of OmahaOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  41. Lincoln Bike KitchenLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  42. Nebraska Writers CollectiveOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  43. Roper Organization of Parents and EducatorsLincoln, NE

    Program

    $10,000
  44. White Cane FoundationLincoln, NE

    Program

    $10,000
  45. Lincoln Orchestra AssociationLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  46. Nebraska Crossroads Music FestivalLincoln, NE

    Program

    $10,000
  47. Nebraska Jazz Orchestra IncLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  48. Open Sky Policy InstituteLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  49. At Ease USAOmaha, NE

    Program

    $10,000
  50. Nebraska Children and Families FoundationLincoln, NE

    Program

    $10,000
  51. Nebraskans for the ArtsOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $7,500
  52. Educational Service Unit #6Milford, NE

    Program

    $7,500
  53. Big Gumdrops OutdoorsLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $7,500
  54. Big Brothersbig Sisters of the MidlandsOmaha, NE

    Program

    $7,500
  55. Give NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Program

    $7,000
  56. Mid-America Arts AllianceKansas City, MO

    Program

    $5,000
  57. American Legion Cornhusker Boys' StateLincoln, NE

    Program

    $5,000
  58. Inclusive CommunitiesOmaha, NE

    Operating

    $5,000
  59. Bellevue UniversityBellevue, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  60. College of Saint MaryOmaha, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  61. Doane UniversityCrete, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  62. Hastings CollegeHastings, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  63. Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  64. Metropolitan Operanebraska AuditionsLincoln, NE

    Program

    $1,000
  65. Community Action of Nebraska IncLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $500

Approved for future payment

20 grants

Approved in 2025 and not yet paid.

  1. Asian Community & Cultural CenterLincoln, NE

    Citizenship and naturalization application program

    $25,000
  2. Fresh Start IncLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $25,000
  3. Vision Maker MediaLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  4. Lincoln Community FoundationLincoln, NE

    Lincoln vital signs report

    $20,000
  5. Willa Cather FoundationRed Cloud, NE

    Operating

    $20,000
  6. Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public InterestLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  7. Out NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  8. Belmont Community CenterLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  9. CenterpointeLincoln, NE

    Basic needs support for clients

    $15,000
  10. St Monica'sLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  11. Wellbeing Initiative IncLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $15,000
  12. Cause CollectiveLincoln, NE

    Operating

    $10,000
  13. Disability Rights NebraskaLincoln, NE

    Nebraska values based education coalition

    $7,500
  14. Bright LightsLincoln, NE

    Twinkles: a bright lights preschool program

    $5,000
  15. Bellevue UniversityBellevue, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  16. College of Saint MaryOmaha, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  17. Doane UniversityCrete, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  18. Hastings CollegeHastings, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  19. Midland UniversityFremont, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000
  20. Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE

    Scholarship

    $4,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture8 grants $112,00024% of the total
  2. Education8 grants $69,00015% of the total
  3. Human services4 grants $62,00014% of the total
  4. Philanthropy and grantmaking5 grants $50,00011% of the total
  5. Crime and legal aid2 grants $40,0009% of the total
  6. Civil rights2 grants $20,0004% of the total
  7. 7 other causes8 grants $105,50023% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Nebraska64 grants $1,010,898
  2. Missouri1 grant $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

10 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • E Arthur ThompsonTRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $1,900
  • Kim RobakTRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $1,600
  • Brad KorellTREASURER Hours 2Pay $1,600
  • Jack D CampbellTRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $1,650
  • Connie DuncanTRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $1,850
  • Tyre J McDowellVICE CHAIR Hours 2Pay $1,850
  • Michelle SuarezTRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $1,700
  • Richard J VierkCHAIR Hours 2Pay $2,000
  • Victoria GrassoPRESIDENT Hours 40Pay $144,339
  • Jasmine KingsleyTRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $1,600

The return

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