
Apply For Grant
Madison Cooper created the Cooper Foundation with a mission to make Waco, Texas a better or more desirable city in which to live. This is realized through grant awards to qualifying nonprofits in Waco, Texas. We are proud to fund projects that impact all aspects of life in Waco – education, health, arts and culture, community building and social services, and senior citizens.
Nonprofit organizations seeking funding from the Cooper Foundation are highly encouraged to discuss their grant application with Foundation staff before and during its preparation. This can be a time-saver in determining whether a proposal fits within foundation guidelines, interests, and current priorities. Additionally, we can often help clarify plans and ideas and can offer advice on the preparation of a request. We know how precious time and resources are to nonprofit organizations, and we want to ensure that your time developing a proposal is well-spent. In other words – we don’t want to waste anyone’s time!
Please note that an invitation to submit a proposal does not imply a guarantee or promise of funding, but merely sufficient interest in a program and that the Board of Directors would like more information so that they may evaluate whether the program meets the Foundation’s highest funding priorities.
Application Process
- Determine if your organization is ready for foundation funding: Organizational Readiness Checklist.
- Submit a GRANT INQUIRY form (Inquiry Form button below) OR call the foundation to discuss your potential application with Cooper staff.
- Submit a full proposal through the online system (by invitation) after discussing application with staff.
See below for application deadline and review dates.

Recent Grants
- Advocacy Center of Crime Victims and Children, $24,089
- Art Center Waco, $9,100
- Baylor University, $46,281
- CASA of McLennan County, $50,420
- Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network, $49,950
- Mission Waco, $150,000
- Prosper Waco, $175,000
- Providence Foundation, $25,000
- Talitha Koum, $175,000
- YMCA of Central Texas, $15,000
Upcoming Grant Application Deadline & Review Dates
Application Submission Deadlines | Application Review Dates |
2023 | |
April 20 | June 22 |
May 18 | August 24 |
June 15 | August 24 |
July 20 | September 28 |
August 17 | October 26 |
September 21 | December 14 |
October 19 | December 14 |
November 16 | January 25 |
December 21 | February 22 |
2024 | |
January 18 | March 28 |
February 15 | April 25 |
March 21 | May 23 |
HISTORY OF OUR WORK
Sign up for the
Nonprofit Network
UPCOMING EVENTS
NONPROFIT NETWORK
Upcoming Nonprofit Network Sessions (9:00-11:00am):
(click “read more” to access registration links)
The Nonprofit Network Planning Team takes a break over the summer and starts back up in the fall. Stay tuned for information about fall 2023 sessions!
BOARD GOVERNANCE TRAINING
2023 Training Dates:
(click “read more” to access registration links)
October 30th, 5:30-7:30 pm
UPCOMING DEADLINES
Application Submission Deadlines | Application Review Dates |
2023 | |
April 20 | June 22 |
May 18 | August 24 |
June 15 | August 24 |
July 20 | September 28 |
August 17 | October 26 |
September 21 | December 14 |
October 19 | December 14 |
November 16 | January 25 |
December 21 | February 22 |
Visit our grants page to learn more about the process of applying and a full list of the upcoming application deadline and review dates.