Cooper Approves Third Quarter Grants

Friday, September 22, 2017

COOPER FOUNDATION APPROVES MORE THAN $145,000 IN GRANTS AT SEPTEMBER MEETING

Lincoln, Neb. — The Cooper Foundation awarded a grant of $10,000 to the Nebraska Conservation Education Fund (NCEF) in support of their statewide Common Ground program. Last year was the pilot year for Common Ground in five communities – Hastings, Scottsbluff, Wayne, Broken Bow, and Kearney. NCEF was recently awarded an AmeriCorps grant for 10 full-time AmeriCorps members, allowing them to expand Common Ground to 25 communities across the state. Over 5,000 will participate in community-led conversations on issues related to water, soil, habitat, recycling, and clean energy. Common Ground participants become civically engaged in conservation issues and help their communities implement improved conservation practices.

Overall, Cooper Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved grants at the third quarter grant cycle totaling $146,602 to 12 nonprofit organizations. The foundation awarded grants to a diverse group of arts, community improvement, education, environment and human services organizations. Grant recipients are located in Lincoln unless otherwise noted.

Approved for Funding by the Cooper Foundation, September 2017

Arts

Lincoln Choral Artists – $3,000
General operating support for the 2017-2018 concert season, A Choral Continuum.

Community Improvement

South of Downtown Community Development Organization – $10,000
General operating and staffing support for the South of Downtown community initiative.

Education

TeamMates Mentoring Program – $15,000
To support the Lincoln TeamMates program.

Environment

Nebraska Conservation Education Fund – $10,000
In support of the Common Ground program that focuses on conservation issues regarding water, soil, habitat, recycling and clean energy in local communities.

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum – $10,000
General operating and staffing support.

Human Services

CASA for Lancaster County – $15,000
To expand the Volunteer Coordinator position to full-time.

El Centro de las Americas – $15,000
Toward the Executive Assistant staff position.

Food Bank of Lincoln – $15,000
In support of the Child Hunger programs for the 2017-18 school year to provide more food to more kids.

The Arc of Lincoln – $10,000
General operating support to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

United Way of Lincoln/Lancaster County – $18,602
Support for the 2017 annual campaign.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Center on Children, Families and the Law – $10,000
Support for the newly formed Children’s Justice Clinic to train third-year law students to become Guardians ad Litem in Nebraska’s Juvenile Court System.

Voices of Hope – $15,000
General operating support for victim advocacy, crisis intervention and safety planning services.

The Cooper Foundation, established by Joseph H. Cooper in 1934, has granted over $23 million to benefit the people of Nebraska. The Foundation makes quarterly grants supporting arts, community improvement, education, environment, humanities and human services primarily in Lincoln and Lancaster County. For more information about grant guidelines and deadlines, call 402-476-7571, or visit the foundation’s web site, www.cooperfoundation.org.