Cooper Foundation

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Cooper Foundation

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Madison Cooper, Jr. founded this public foundation in 1943 in Waco, Texas with the mission of making Waco a better or more desirable place in which to live.

We fulfill that mission by making grants to qualified nonprofits in Waco, Texas. www.cooperfdn.org

11/05/2026

We hope to see you at the November 19th Nonprofit Network!

Topic: Economic Impact: Using Your Data
Speakers: Dr. Jeremy Rhodes, Prosper Waco

Take a deep dive into the newly released 2026 Waco Snapshot report prepared by Dr. Rhodes- and learn how to use the economic and community data to build stronger grant proposals, reports, and communications that resonate with funders and community partners.

Thursday, November 19th | 9:00–11:30am (presentation begins at 9:30am)
East Waco Community Connect, 1000 E. Waco Drive, 76704

Breakfast tacos and hot coffee will be provided. Registration link in bio. See you on the 19th!

10/22/2026

Join us for our next Board Governance Training on November 12th, an evening session hosted at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. This training helps nonprofit leaders and board members strengthen board roles, accountability, and overall effectiveness. The session is free. A light meal will be provided at 5pm, with the program beginning at 5:30pm.

Thursday, November 12th | 5-7:30pm
- 5:00 pm - Networking and dinner
- 5:30 pm - Program begins
- 7:30 pm - Program concludes

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum - Education Center
Register via the link in our bio.

10/01/2026

We hope to see you at the October 15th Nonprofit Network!

Topic: Waco Funders' Wish List
Speakers: Felicia Goodman, Nicole Wynter, & Casey Sadler

Join grantmakers from Waco's three foundations for an open conversation about common strengths, frequent pitfalls, and practical ways nonprofits can submit stronger, more competitive proposals.

Thursday, October 15 | 9:00–11:30am (presentation begins at 9:30am)
East Waco Community Connect, 1000 E. Waco Drive, 76704

Breakfast eats and hot coffee will be provided. Registration link in bio. See you on the 15th!

09/09/2026

Join us for the September 17th Nonprofit Network!

Topic: AI as Your Best Intern
Presenter: James Stone, Waco Foundation

Artificial intelligence isn't replacing nonprofit professionals—it can help you work smarter. Learn practical ways to use AI to draft emails, summarize meetings, brainstorm ideas, and tackle everyday tasks so you can spend more time on mission-driven work.

Thursday, September 17th | 9:00–11:30am (presentation begins at 9:30am)
Goodwill East Waco Community Connect
1000 E Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76704

Breakfast eats by Sison Tacos and hot coffee from Be Kind Coffee will be provided.
Registration link in bio. See you on the 17th!

08/28/2026

Missed last week’s Candid Search training? You can still put this powerful funding tool to work for your organization.

Candid Search helps nonprofits move beyond simply searching for open grants—it allows you to research funders, identify organizations whose priorities align with your work, and build a more strategic list of potential funding partners.

Candid Search is available **FREE** at any Waco-McLennan County Library location or at the Cooper House. Use the link in our bio to access Candid Search and start exploring!

08/21/2026

Searching for funding can feel overwhelming—but Dale Barron made navigating Candid Search a whole lot more fun! His wit and humor at today's training kept us laughing while he shared practical tips for filtering through the extensive Candid platform and zeroing in on potential funding sources for our Waco community. We had a fantastic turnout, lots of laptops open and searching, plenty of good questions, and a delicious lunch from Revival Eastside Eatery to round out the afternoon.

Want to learn more about accessing this valuable—and **FREE**—resource at a local Waco library? Join the Cooper Foundation Nonprofit Newsletter to stay in the loop on Candid Search access, trainings, and other resources for local nonprofits. Signup link in our bio.

07/31/2026

This fall, we're bringing together nonprofit board members, staff, volunteers, and community leaders for a series of free learning opportunities designed to strengthen organizations across the greater Waco area.

Join us for two Board Governance Trainings, monthly Nonprofit Network sessions, and to kick it all off, a deep dive into navigating the Candid Search platform—all with practical tools, local connections, and actionable takeaways.

Registration for every event is available through our Eventbrite page. We still have seats available for our August 7 Board Governance Training—bring a fellow board member and learn together!

07/27/2026

Join us Friday, August 21st, to learn how to find funding using Candid Search. This interactive workshop will be led by Waco expert Dale Barron. Bring your laptop to follow along. Lunch is provided.

Ready to keep the momentum going? Apply for the new Candid Cohort to receive ongoing coaching, accountability, and dedicated time to find funding this fall.

Friday, August 21st | 11:45am - 1pm
Waco-McLennan County Library - Central Branch
1717 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701

Register using the Nonprofit Network meeting link in our bio - and apply for the Candid Cohort while you're there!

07/23/2026

Need to cool down these last few weeks of summer? Head over to the Doris Miller Community Pool for Free Summer Swims. Thank you to Waco Parks and Recreation for bringing this opportunity to Wacoans!

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Starting this Friday, grab your towels and make plans for a weekend swim. Every Friday and Saturday through August 29, the first 50 guests each day will receive free pool entry as part of our Free Summer Swims program, made possible through a grant from the Cooper Foundation.

Free admission will be available beginning at 8 a.m. each Friday and Saturday while spots last or until the pool closes at 3 p.m. Please note, the pool will close at noon this Friday (7/24) for an event.

📍 1020 Elm Ave., Ste. 800L

07/20/2026

Before you begin researching grant opportunities, make sure your organization's Candid profile tells your story. Many foundations and funders use Candid to learn about nonprofits, making an up-to-date profile an important part of your fundraising strategy.

By claiming and updating your profile now, you'll be ready to make the most of our Candid Search Training on August 21, where we'll help you identify funding opportunities that align with your mission. Register using the Nonprofit Network meeting link in our bio.

Friday, August 21st | 11:45am - 1pm
Waco-McLennan County Library - Central Branch
1717 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701

Address

1801 Austin Avenue
Waco, TX
76701

Telephone

+12547540315

Website

http://www.cooperfdn.org/

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