Cooper Foundation Awards First Round of Rapid Response COVID-19 Grants

Friday, May 1, 2020

Lincoln, Neb. — The Cooper Foundation Board of Trustees awarded the first cycle of Rapid Response grants in April to address the critical needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve. Grants will be awarded monthly for unrestricted general operating support with a simplified application process through September 2020. Information about the new grant application process is available at www.cooperfoundaton.org.

Mourning Hope Grief Center received a grant of $7,500 for their work supporting grieving children and families after the death of a loved one. They provide free, professional bereavement support services and counseling through support groups, community education, specialized resources and referrals to foster healthy responses to grief. Due to COVID-19, Mourning Hope is experiencing increased needs for the bereaved. The Make Room for HOPE Capital Campaign is ongoing, and Mourning Hope’s new facility in West Lincoln is nearing completion. This will allow them to expand their services and house other wellness programs for this area of Lincoln. To learn more, visit www.mourninghope.org.

The Foundation awarded a total of $50,000 in unrestricted general operating grants to seven nonprofit organizations located in Lincoln.

Boys & Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County: $5,000

Center for Legal Immigration Assistance: $10,000

Flatwater Shakespeare Company: $2,500

Fresh Start, Inc: $10,000

Mourning Hope Grief Center: $7,500

National Audubon Society, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center: $5,000

Voices of Hope: $10,000

The Cooper Foundation, established by Joseph H. Cooper in 1934, has granted nearly $25 million to benefit the people of Nebraska. The Foundation makes quarterly grants supporting arts, civic and community engagement, community improvement, education, environment, humanities and human services primarily in Lincoln and Lancaster County. For more information about grant eligibility and the application process visit the foundation’s web site, www.cooperfoundation.org.