Cooney Family Foundation

## How to Approach the Cooney Family Foundation

The Cooney Family Foundation is a small, hyper-local family foundation in Sedalia, Missouri with approximately $8.5 million in assets. Founded in 2016 and managed by Barbara Cooney, the foundation operates with a deeply community-centered philosophy, directing 100% of its grants to organizations within Sedalia city limits.

Key strategic considerations:

• Local presence is essential. Every single grant on record has gone to a Sedalia-based organization. Applicants without a physical presence or direct programming in Sedalia are unlikely to receive funding. If your organization serves the broader central Missouri region, frame your proposal around specific Sedalia-area impact.

• Operational support is welcomed. Unlike many foundations that restrict funding to specific projects or programs, the Cooney Family Foundation frequently awards "contribution for operational costs" grants. This is relatively rare among private foundations and suggests the family trusts grantees to allocate funds where most needed.

• Relationship-building matters. As a family foundation without staff, grant decisions are made by family members who likely have personal knowledge of the community. Organizations that are visible and well-regarded in Sedalia have a significant advantage. Multiple grantees (Liberty Center for the Arts, Camp Blue Sky) have received repeat funding across consecutive years.

• Start with a modest ask. Grant sizes range from $2,500 to $50,000, with most awards in the $5,000-$25,000 range. A first-time request in the $5,000-$10,000 range for a concrete, understandable purpose would be appropriate. The $50,000 Mercy Rest Stop Coalition grant for a building project was an outlier, likely reflecting a special capital campaign relationship.

• Demonstrate community impact clearly. The foundation supports organizations that directly serve Sedalia residents -- arts programming, youth camps, soup kitchens, community cafes, and schools. Frame your work in terms of tangible community outcomes rather than abstract theory of change.

## Funding Patterns & Financial Analysis

Grant Distribution (2019-2023):

The Cooney Family Foundation has distributed $148,000 across 9 grants over three filing years (2021-2023), with an average grant size of approximately $16,444. The foundation's grantmaking has shown steady growth as its assets have expanded significantly.

Asset Growth Trajectory:

The foundation experienced a major influx of capital in 2022 (over $6 million in revenue), likely from a significant family wealth transfer or investment gain. This increased the asset base from approximately $570K to $6.5M -- a tenfold increase. Despite this asset growth, grantmaking has only modestly increased, suggesting the family is taking a conservative approach to scaling its philanthropy.

Grantee Concentration:

• Liberty Center Association for the Arts is the largest recurring grantee ($25,000/year in 2022 and 2023)
• Arts & Culture receives the largest share of funding
• Food security organizations (Open Door Service Center, Sedalia Community Cafe) receive smaller but consistent grants
• The foundation supports 4-5 unique organizations per year

Payout Analysis:

The foundation's 2023 payout rate (grants paid / assets) was approximately 0.8%, well below the IRS-required 5% minimum distribution for private foundations. The required distribution amount was approximately $339,682. This gap suggests either significant qualifying distributions through other means, or the foundation may be building its distribution pipeline as it adjusts to its larger asset base. This is potentially good news for applicants -- the foundation likely needs to increase its grantmaking substantially to meet IRS requirements.

## Peer Foundation Comparison

The following table compares the Cooney Family Foundation to similar-sized private foundations in Missouri:

Key observations:

• Lower grant volume: With only 9 grants on record, the Cooney Family Foundation has significantly fewer grants than most peers, which is explained by its much more recent founding (2016 vs. decades earlier for most peers) and the dramatic recent growth in assets.

• Competitive average grant size: The $16,444 average grant is above the median for comparable Missouri foundations, suggesting the Cooneys prefer making fewer but more meaningful grants rather than spreading funding thinly.

• Room for growth: Given the foundation's $8.5M asset base (larger than all listed peers), the 5% minimum distribution requirement implies approximately $425,000 in annual qualifying distributions. The current $53,000 in annual grants suggests significant capacity for increased grantmaking -- making this an attractive target for well-positioned applicants.

• Geographic niche: Unlike St. Louis-concentrated peers, the Cooney Family Foundation is the only significant private foundation serving the Sedalia/Pettis County area, giving it outsized importance for local nonprofits.

## Recent Activity & Developments

2023 Filing (Most Recent):

The Cooney Family Foundation reported $239,252 in total revenue and $73,552 in total functional expenses for tax year 2023. The foundation paid $53,000 in grants to four organizations:

• Liberty Center Association for the Arts: $25,000 (operational costs)
• Sacred Heart School Foundation: $19,500 (operational costs)
• Camp Blue Sky: $6,000 (operational costs)
• Sedalia Community Cafe Inc: $2,500 (operational costs)

Total assets stood at $6,868,593 at year-end 2023, a modest increase from $6,540,155 in 2022.

Notable Trends:

1. New grantee added: Sacred Heart School Foundation and Sedalia Community Cafe appeared as grantees for the first time in 2023, indicating the foundation is gradually expanding its grantee portfolio beyond its initial core of arts and social service organizations.

2. Consistent arts commitment: Liberty Center Association for the Arts has received $25,000 in consecutive years, establishing it as the foundation's anchor grantee.

3. Capital project completed: The $50,000 grant to Mercy Rest Stop Coalition in 2021 for a building project was the foundation's largest single grant and appears to have been a one-time capital contribution. This organization did not receive subsequent funding.

4. Website currently offline: The foundation's registered website (cooney.org) is not operational as of March 2026, which may indicate the foundation operates informally through direct community relationships rather than a public-facing web presence.

5. Application process in development: According to IRS filings, the board formally adopted an application process in 2019 and began receiving applications in 2021. The foundation is still in the process of formalizing its grantmaking infrastructure.

Financial health: The foundation has no reported liabilities (total liabilities = $1) and zero officer compensation, indicating the family operates the foundation without taking management fees -- a positive signal of philanthropic intent.

## Application Tips & Recommendations

Before You Apply:

1. Verify your Sedalia connection. The foundation has exclusively funded Sedalia-based organizations. If your nonprofit is not located in Sedalia, you should have a very strong case for direct Sedalia community impact before approaching this funder.

2. Call first. With no functioning website and a small family-run operation, the best approach is to call (660) 827-4990 and ask about the current application process, timeline, and funding priorities. Ask for Barbara Cooney or the designated contact.

3. Research the grantees. Familiarize yourself with the organizations they have funded -- Liberty Center for the Arts, Camp Blue Sky, Open Door Service Center, Sacred Heart School Foundation, and Sedalia Community Cafe. Understanding what these organizations have in common will help you position your own request.

Crafting Your Request:

4. Keep it simple and concrete. This is a family foundation without professional program officers. Avoid jargon, complex logic models, and lengthy narratives. A clear, straightforward description of what you do, who you serve, and how the funding would be used is most effective.

5. Request general operating support. The majority of Cooney Family Foundation grants are designated for "operational costs," suggesting the family prefers unrestricted or lightly restricted gifts. Frame your request around organizational sustainability rather than a narrow project.

6. Right-size your ask. For a first-time request, $5,000-$15,000 is the sweet spot. The foundation's typical range is $2,500-$25,000, with most grants at the lower end. Demonstrate value at a modest level before seeking a larger commitment.

7. Emphasize local impact. Quantify your reach within Sedalia and Pettis County -- number of residents served, programs delivered, community outcomes. The more locally grounded your impact data, the more compelling your case.

Timing & Follow-Up:

8. Plan for an annual cycle. The foundation appears to make grant decisions on an annual basis. Inquire about the timeline when you make your initial call.

9. Build the relationship. Invite foundation family members to your events, provide updates on your work, and look for opportunities to connect in the Sedalia community. Repeat funding to organizations like Liberty Center and Camp Blue Sky suggests the foundation values ongoing relationships.

10. Be patient with the process. The foundation only began accepting formal applications in 2021 and is still developing its procedures. Be flexible and responsive to however they prefer to receive and evaluate requests.