Skip to content
Jerry & Marilyn Cook Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Jerry & Marilyn Cook Foundation Inc

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$642k
Granted FY2025still arriving
23
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$625k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0184% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Education$2.0MHealth$24kArts & Culture$19kEnvironment$14kFood & Nutrition$13kReligion$12kHuman Services$8kYouth Development$4kOther$0
02FY2025 · 23 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k22 grants · $17k
  • $250k+1 grant · $625k
$500
Median grant
2
States reached
$1.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NC STATE SCHOOL OF DESIGN$625,000
WILMINGTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA$3,000
UNC REX CANCER CENTER$2,500
CAPE FEAR RIVER WATCH$2,000
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH HISTORY MUSEUM$1,000
CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE$1,000
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY$1,000
Individual grant recipient$500
KIDS MAKING IT$500
Individual grant recipient$500
FOOD BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA$500
FELLOWSHIP HALL$500
UMCOR$500
ALLEGANY JUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS$500
NOURISH NC$500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–22, $7k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 55% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 10%METHODIST HOME FOR CHILDREN: $1k → 8%METHODIST HOME FOR CHILDREN: $1k → 8%METHODIST HOME FOR CHILDREN: $1k → 8%DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER: $1k → 12%DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER: $1k → 12%DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER: $1k → 12%RAINBOW 66 STOREHOUSE: $300 → 12%RAINBOW 66 STOREHOUSE: $300 → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

100%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.1M · 31 repeat orgs$10k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +28% since the first grant, against -17% for those funded once.

31 repeat relationships: 20 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

31
8

Total granted

$2.1M
$7k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+28%
-17%

Still filing today

55%
13%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $4k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesFood & NutritionEducationInternationalEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $11k · revenue +46%
  • TW
    The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Inc
    6× · 2020–2025 · $7k · revenue +96%
  • FO
    Friends of Public Radio DBA WHQR
    6× · 2020–2025 · $4k · revenue +28%

Funded once

  • WB
    WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH BAPTIST CHURCH
    one grant, 2020 · $3k
  • PP
    POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN
    one grant, 2021 · $1k
  • HF
    HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
    one grant, 2022 · $1k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Wnc Health Network Inc

WNC Health Network, Inc supports people and organizations to improve community health and wellbeing across Western North Carolina.

Health
2
Rockingham County Historical Society Museum and Archives

The preservation of the heritage and history of Rockingham County, North Carolina

—
3
Wireless Research Center of North Carolina

The Wireless Research Center is an independent, private nonprofit research center dedicated to applied research and engineering. Located in North Carolina's Research Triangle region, the WRC helps clients from around the world develop…

Science & Tech
4
Big BrothersBig Sisters of Wnc Inc

Match mentoring volunteers with children in need to build and foster relationships.

—
5
Children's Home Society of North Carolina Inc

The Children's Home Society of North Carolina's mission is to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family.

Human Services
6
Caldwell Arts Council Inc

To promote the arts in caldwell county, nc

—
7
Historic Wilmington Foundation Inc

The mission of Historic Wilmington Foundation is to protect and preserve the irreplaceable historic resources of Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear Region.

Arts & Culture
8
Carolina Youth Symphony

Carolina Youth Symphony provides professional training to young students and gives these students the opportunity to perform several public concerts throughout the year.

Arts & Culture
9
CleanAIRE Nc

To advocate for the health of all North Carolinians by pursuing equitable and collaborative solutions that address climate change and air pollution.

Environment
10
First Choice Community Health Ctrs

Providing healthcare to the underserved population of Harnett County NC and the surrounding area.

Health
11
Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance

Facilitate networking among hospitals

Health
12
Marian Cheek Jackson Center

To honor, renew, and build community in the historic Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin-Top neighborhoods of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC.

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Boys Club of Wake County Inc; the most unlike its peers is Rainbow 66 Storehouse Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

21 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 21 of the 42 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/21
Grantees still filing
13/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NC STATE SCHOOL OF DESIGN: $2,016,000 · OtherNC STATE SCHOOL OF DESIGN+27 more: $66,850 · OtherThe Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Inc: $6,500 · Arts & CultureFriends of Public Radio DBA WHQR: $3,500 · Arts & CultureALLEGHANY JAM: $3,250 · Arts & CultureThalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts Incorporated: $1,500 · Arts & CultureNORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY SOCIETY INC: $1,000 · Arts & CultureBeaufort Historical Association Inc: $850 · Arts & CultureFOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC: $10,500 · Food & NutritionNourishNC Inc: $2,500 · Food & NutritionCape Fear River Watch: $12,000 · EnvironmentDISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER: $3,000 · Human ServicesThe Methodist Home for Children Inc: $3,000 · Human ServicesRAINBOW 66 STOREHOUSE INC: $600 · Human ServicesFELLOWSHIP HALL INC: $5,500 · HealthUNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $3,000 · Education
Other$2,082,850Arts & Culture$16,600Food & Nutrition$13,000Environment$12,000Human Services$6,600Health$5,500Education$3,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCape Fear River Watch: $12,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetFOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC: $10,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE REX HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC: $9,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetThe Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Inc: $6,500 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetFELLOWSHIP HALL INC: $5,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetFriends of Public Radio DBA WHQR: $3,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetALLEGHANY JAM: $3,250 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetDISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER: $3,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetUNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Methodist Home for Children Inc: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNourishNC Inc: $2,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetKIDS MAKING IT INC: $2,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetNORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION INC: $2,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts Incorporated: $1,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY SOCIETY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBeaufort Historical Association Inc: $850 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetRAINBOW 66 STOREHOUSE INC: $600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSURRY ARTS COUNCIL: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds Cape Fear River Watch ↗
  • Who funds FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC ↗
  • Who funds THE REX HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Inc ↗
  • Who funds FELLOWSHIP HALL INC ↗
  • Who funds Friends of Public Radio DBA WHQR ↗
  • Who funds ALLEGHANY JAM ↗
  • Who funds DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ↗
  • Who funds The Methodist Home for Children Inc ↗
  • Who funds WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC ↗
  • Who funds NourishNC Inc ↗
  • Who funds KIDS MAKING IT INC ↗
  • Who funds NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL FEDERATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts Incorporated ↗
  • Who funds NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds BOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds Beaufort Historical Association Inc ↗
  • Who funds RAINBOW 66 STOREHOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds SURRY ARTS COUNCIL ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

North Carolina Commun…Duke Energy FoundationTriangle Community Fo…The Landfall Foundati…The Cannon Foundation…Bell Koonce Burnette …Ge Aerospace Foundati…Directed Balloun Fami…The True North Founda…Maynard Family Founda…W Trent Ragland Jr Fo…A E Finley Foundation…
North Carolina Community FoundationNC30.9× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: North Carolina Community Foundation · Duke Energy Foundation · Triangle Community Foundation Inc · The Landfall Foundation Inc · The Cannon Foundation Inc · Bell Koonce Burnette Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Directed Balloun Family Foundation · The True North Foundation Co Amy Brown North · Maynard Family Foundation · W Trent Ragland Jr Foundation · A E Finley Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Jerry & Marilyn Cook Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Jerry & Marilyn Cook Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 42 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Jerry & Marilyn Cook’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home