Bill & Marian Cook Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 31-1492927
• Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
• Total Assets: $26.46 million (2024)
• Annual Giving: Approximately $979,161 - $1.28 million
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $329,500
• Median Grant: $40,000
• Number of Grants: 17 awards (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Multi-state (primarily Western U.S. and selected other states)
• Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 23233 N Pima Rd PMB 359, Scottsdale, AZ 85255-8388

Note: Phone number and email are not publicly listed. The foundation operates through invitation only and does not provide public contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Bill & Marian Cook Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in June 1997 and based in Scottsdale, Arizona. With total assets of $26.46 million as of 2024, the foundation supports a diverse range of charitable initiatives across multiple states. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focused leadership structure and generates its funding primarily through investment income, including dividends (32.7% of revenue), sales of assets (52.5%), and interest revenue (3.3%).

The foundation has maintained consistent grantmaking activity over the years, distributing approximately $979,161 to $1.28 million annually to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation's approach is highly selective, working exclusively with organizations identified and selected by the trustees rather than through an open application process. This strategy allows the foundation to maintain close relationships with grantees and ensure alignment with the founders' philanthropic vision.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bill & Marian Cook Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set application cycles. Instead, it makes grants on an invitation-only basis to preselected organizations. Grant amounts in 2023 ranged from $2,000 to $329,500, with a median grant size of $40,000.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity (2021-2023), the foundation has supported the following areas:

• Public Policy and Advocacy: Support for sound public policy initiatives (average $145,000 per grant)
• Medical Research and Healthcare: Focus on Lyme disease testing and research (average $130,554 per grant), cancer support services, and disease research
• Youth Development and Education: Scholarships, higher education support, at-risk youth programs, and youth mental health/child welfare
• Agricultural Education: AgBiz degree programs for Montana and Arizona residents (average $65,000 per grant)
• Disability Services: Outdoor activities and programs for disabled people (average $25,000 per grant)
• Education Support: Teacher education bonuses and educational initiatives (average $45,000 per grant)
• Disaster Relief: Emergency response (e.g., Maui fire relief, average $6,000 per grant)
• Social Welfare: Promoting social welfare and tradition (average $40,000 per grant)
• Healthcare Technology: Medical system technology improvements (average $15,000 per grant)

Geographic Focus

The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, including:

• Primary Focus States: Arizona, Montana, California
• Additional States: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia
• Key Cities: Albuquerque, Billings, Bozeman, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, and Scottsdale

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation has not published explicit exclusion criteria, their grantmaking pattern suggests they focus on specific areas identified above. As a private foundation working only with preselected organizations, they effectively exclude:

• Unsolicited applications from any organization
• Organizations outside their established network or geographic areas of interest

Governance and Leadership

The Bill & Marian Cook Foundation is led by a small, focused leadership team:

• Ninon Tantet - President (part-time, 15 hours/week, compensated at $64,000)
• Calvin T. Christian - Vice President (part-time, 15 hours/week, compensated at $64,000)
• Paul Tantet - Director/Officer (part-time, 15 hours/week, compensated at $64,000)

This lean leadership structure allows for close oversight of the foundation's investment strategy and grantmaking decisions. The foundation operates with a hands-on approach, with each leader working approximately 15 hours per week to manage the foundation's $26+ million in assets and coordinate its charitable activities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Bill & Marian Cook Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Organizations cannot apply to this foundation through any formal process. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and selected through their own research, networks, and philanthropic interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grantmaking decisions are made internally by the trustees on their own timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - as the foundation does not accept applications, there is no measurable success rate for external applicants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply to this foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation supports can be valuable for organizations working in similar spaces:

Alignment with Funding Patterns: The foundation has demonstrated consistent interest in medical research (particularly Lyme disease), youth development, agricultural education in Montana and Arizona, public policy initiatives, and disability services.

Geographic Relevance: Organizations in Arizona and Montana appear to receive particular attention, along with selected organizations in Western states and specific cities nationwide.

Grant Size Expectations: The foundation's grants span a wide range ($2,000 to $329,500), suggesting they support both small, targeted projects and larger institutional initiatives depending on the organization and purpose.

Multi-Year Patterns: With 17-23 grants awarded annually over recent years, the foundation maintains a relatively stable portfolio of grantmaking, suggesting they may have ongoing relationships with certain organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They work exclusively with preselected organizations.

• Invitation-Only Model: All grantmaking is initiated by the trustees, not by external organizations seeking funding.

• Diverse Funding Portfolio: While organizations cannot apply, understanding the foundation's interests can help identify whether your work aligns with their demonstrated priorities, which may be relevant if trustees learn about your organization through other channels.

• Geographic Preferences: Strong focus on Arizona and Montana, with selective support in other Western states and specific cities nationwide.

• Wide Grant Range: The foundation has the capacity to make grants from small ($2,000) to substantial ($329,500), with most falling in the $20,000-$65,000 range.

• Specific Thematic Interests: Particularly strong interest in Lyme disease research, agricultural education, youth development, and public policy initiatives.

• Stable but Selective: With approximately 17-23 grants per year from assets of $26+ million, the foundation is highly selective in its grantmaking.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bill & Marian Cook Foundation (EIN 31-1492927). Accessed February 11, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311492927

• Cause IQ - Bill and Marian Cook Foundation Profile. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bill-marian-cook-foundation,311492927/

• Grantmakers.io - Bill and Marian Cook Foundation Profile. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/311492927-bill-and-marian-cook-foundation/

• Instrumentl - Bill & Marian Cook Foundation 990 Report. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/bill-and-marian-cook-foundation

• GuideStar Profile - Bill & Marian Cook Foundation (EIN 31-1492927). Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/31-1492927

• Charity Navigator - Bill & Marian Cook Foundation Profile. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311492927

• Form 990-PF filings available through IRS and nonprofit databases (2021-2024 fiscal years)