Sam B Cook Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $500,500 (2023)
• Total Assets: $14.2 million (2024)
• Grant Range: Information not publicly available
• Number of Grants: 12 grants awarded in 2023
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Missouri (Jefferson City area), with some grants in other states including Ohio, Texas, and Minnesota
• Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Mailing Address: 238 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101-3230

Telephone: 314-259-2000

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or email contact.

Overview

The Sam B Cook Foundation was established in honor of Sam B. Cook (1922-2016), a prominent Jefferson City banker who served as president and CEO of Central Missouri Trust Company and was instrumental in forming Jefferson Bank and Central Bancompany. The foundation received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in November 2016, shortly after Cook's passing. The foundation's assets have grown significantly from $1.8 million in 2019 to over $14.2 million in 2024, reflecting contributions from the Cook family and strong investment returns. The foundation supports charitable initiatives primarily in Missouri, with particular focus on education, health, and community development in the Jefferson City region and broader Missouri communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Sam B Cook Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that operates without formal grant programs or published funding priorities. Grant decisions are made by the board of trustees at their discretion.

Known Grant Activity

• 2024: Assets of $14,241,132 with charitable disbursements of $561,154
• 2023: 12 grants totaling $500,500
• 2022: 9 grants awarded
• 2021: 7 grants awarded
• 2020: 6 grants awarded

Geographic Focus

While primarily focused on Jefferson City and central Missouri, the foundation has made grants in multiple cities including:

• Jefferson City, MO
• Columbia, MO
• Cincinnati, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Rochester, MN

Known Recipients

The Jefferson City Public School Foundation has been identified as a grant recipient, reflecting the founder's commitment to education in his hometown.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, they do not fund organizations outside their trustees' areas of interest and connection.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by a five-member board of trustees, all of whom serve without compensation:

Sam Bryan Cook - Son of the foundation's namesake, Sam B. Cook. A banker and philanthropist in his own right, Sam Bryan Cook (born 1951) earned his PhD from the University of Missouri and has held executive positions at multiple banks, including serving as President of 1st Bank of St. Louis. He has been active in civic life as a trustee at William Woods College and committee chair for Jefferson City United Way (1987).

John D. Schaperkotter - Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis. He advises numerous charitable organizations and is actively involved in charitable tax planning, bringing legal and tax expertise to the foundation's operations.

Robert M. Robuck - Trustee

Kenneth W. Littlefield - Trustee

Charles A. Weber - Trustee

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Sam B Cook Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grant decisions are made at the discretion of the board of trustees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not maintain a website, published guidelines, or formal application procedures.

Grants appear to be awarded to organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships or connections, particularly in communities where the Cook family has historical ties.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept public applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, organizations seeking potential funding might consider:

Historical Connections: The foundation appears to support organizations in communities where Sam B. Cook had personal and professional ties, particularly Jefferson City and central Missouri.

Areas of Founder's Interest: Sam B. Cook was actively involved in education (served on UM Board of Curators, established a chair in economics at MU), healthcare (the Sam B. Cook Healthplex at Capital Region Medical Center was named in his honor), and community development (Jefferson City Housing Authority, YMCA).

Geographic Alignment: Priority appears to be given to organizations serving Jefferson City and central Missouri, though the foundation has supported initiatives in other states.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Sam B Cook Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or maintain a public application process
• Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees, primarily to organizations with existing connections to the Cook family
• The foundation has grown significantly since its establishment in 2016, from $1.8 million to over $14.2 million in assets
• Geographic focus is primarily Jefferson City and central Missouri, reflecting the founder's lifetime connections
• Annual grantmaking has increased from 6 grants in 2020 to 12 grants in 2023, suggesting growing grant activity
• Organizations in education, healthcare, and community development aligned with the founder's historical interests may be most likely to receive consideration
• All five trustees serve without compensation, indicating a commitment to maximizing charitable impact

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Sam B Cook Foundation (EIN 37-6624953). Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2019-2024. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/376624953

• Jefferson City News Tribune. "Former Central Bank President, community leader Sam B. Cook dies." July 15, 2016. https://www.newstribune.com/news/2016/jul/15/sam-b-cook-dies-94/

• Jefferson City Magazine. "Past Times - Sam B. Cook." https://jeffersoncitymag.com/past-times-sam-b-cook/

• Prabook World Biographical Encyclopedia. "Sam Bryan Cook (born October 27, 1951), American banker." https://prabook.com/web/sam_bryan.cook/699002

• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. "John Schaperkotter - Partner." https://www.bclplaw.com/en-US/people/john-d-schaperkotter.html

• Grantable. "Sam B Cook Foundation - Foundation Profile & Grants." Accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/sam-b-cook-foundation-us-foundation-376624953

• Instrumentl. "Sam B Cook Foundation - Jefferson Cty, MO - 990 Report." Accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/sam-b-cook-foundation