The Cooke Foundation is a Honolulu, Hawaii-based private grantmaking foundation that donates to educational, environmental, arts, and human services nonprofits in Hawaii.
The organization makes an annual grant to the environmentalist group Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, which a foundation’s trustee, Sam Cooke, also founded. 1
Background
Anna Cooke founded the Cooke Foundation’s forerunner, the Charles M. and Anna C. Cooke Trust, in 1920. The trust’s purpose was to promote religion, charity, science, education, and the prevention of cruelty toward children and animals. 2
Cooke funded the trust with 300 shares of Charles M. Cooke, Limited, which her husband, Charles, created in 1898. Charles Cooke made his fortune in investing in sailing ships carrying sugar, molasses, and rice; by becoming a partner in Lewers and Cooke, Ltd., a lumber company; by acquiring large holdings in Lihue Plantation, Hawaiian Agricultural Company, and C. Brewer Company; and through other investments, such as the Hawaiian Electric Company, Mutual Telephone Company, and Ewa Plantation Company. After his retirement in 1894, he and P.C. Jones started the Bank of Hawaii in 1897 and, later, the Hawaiian Trust Company. Charles and Anna Cooke created Charles M. Cooke, Limited to combine their estates and hold their estate intact after their deaths. Charles Cooke died in 1909. 2
In 1971, the trust was incorporated in compliance with the Internal Revenue Service. In 1980, the family changed the name of the trust to the Cooke Foundation, Limited. 2
In 1988, the Hawaii Community Foundation, of which Sam Cooke became a founding director of the board of governors, 3 became the group’s grants administrator. 2
Notable Grants
Honolulu Academy of Arts
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation made its largest grant to the Honolulu Academy Of Arts giving it $300,000 in annual support and to fund campus improvements. 4
Diamond Head Theatre
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation gave $50,000 to Diamond Head Theatre to build a new theatre. 4
Manoa Heritage Center
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation gave $50,000 to the Manoa Heritage Center, which was founded by Sam Cooke. 3
Environmentalist Groups
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation gave money to 808 Cleanups ($20,000), Aloha Kuamoo Aina ($20,000), Malama Maunalua ($20,000), Molokai Land Trust ($25,000), The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii ($25,000), and The North Shore Community Land Trust ($20,000). The Molokai Land Trust, which was co-founded by Cooke family member Richard A. Cooke III, 1 and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii receive annual grants. 4
Previously, the Cooke Foundation made a $1 million grant to The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii to support the Molokai Land Trust. 1
Hanahauoli School
The Cooke Foundation awards an annual grant of $50,000 to the Hanahauoli School in Honolulu. 4 Anna Cooke’s daughter-in-law, Sophie, founded the school in 1901 and it features a progressive education model with an emphasis on validating childhood, real-world teaching and learning, and the idea that school should be a cooperative society that embodies ideal democratic living. 3
Island School
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation awarded a $40,000 grant to the Island School for a classroom building project. 4
Hawaii Public Television
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation awarded $25,000 to the Hawaii Public Television Foundation. 4
Salvation Army
In 2023, the Cooke Foundation awarded $35,000 to the Salvation Army. 4
Leadership
The Cooke Foundation’s president is Gregory C. Wrenn. Before he became president, Wrenn was a foundation trustee for 22 years. 3
Finances
According to the Cooke Foundation’s 2022 tax return, the group had $1,279,053 in revenue, $1,787,046 in expenses, and $24,712,832 in assets. 5
In 2023, the group gave $1,475,979 in grants. 4
References
- “National Philanthropy Day Highlight: The Cooke Foundation.” Association of Fundraising Professionals, November 12, 2019. https://afpglobal.org/news/national-philanthropy-day-highlight-cooke-foundation.
- “A History of Helping Hawaii.” History – Cooke Foundation – Hawaii Community Foundation. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.cookefoundationlimited.org/history.
- “The Cooke Foundation: Nurturing the next Generation of Givers.” Hawaii Magazine, August 1, 2020. https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/the-cooke-foundation-nurturing-the-next-generation-of-givers/.
- “2023 Grants List.” Cooke Foundation. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.cookefoundationlimited.org/file/2023-Grants-List-Cooke-Foundation_061224.pdf.
- “Cooke Foundation Limited, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237120804/202301309349103475/full.