The Cooper Theatre has been the recipient of grants from the Cooperstown Community Foundation in the past, as well as a grant from the North Dakota Community Foundation's Statewide Greatest Needs Fund.

The Cooperstown Community Foundation has awarded over $132,000 in 121 grants since its inception in 2007. Recent grant awards are listed below.

Grants Awarded in 2024

• Cooperstown Awana: $2,000
• Cooperstown Community Activities Authority: $2,000 replacement of flooring in the RC Cooper Athletic Center
• Cooperstown Golf & Country Club: $2,000 zero turn mower with lawn vacuum trailer
• Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation: $2,000 DRMC Physical & Occupational Therapy Dept-convertible ADA space-saver staircase for Rehab
• Cooper Theater, Inc: $1,000 operating funds
• Griggs County Fair Board: $1,000 tent and chair storage, kitchen storage/workspace upgrade
• Town and Country Garden Club: $2,000 bring water to the business advertisement sign on Hwy 200
• Trinity Lutheran Church: $1,000 Vacation Bible School
• Zion Lutheran Church: $1,000 Vacation Bible School

Grants Awarded in 2023

• Cooperstown Country Club: $2,700 for 2016 Rough Mower purchase
• Cooperstown Golden Age Club: $2,700 for Bus parking/Senior parking
• Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation: $2,700 for Blanket Warmer
• Cooper Theater Inc: $1,000 air conditioning update in front entry and installation in theater hall area
• Griggs County Central School: $2,700 Great Plains Backpack Program
• Trinity Lutheran Church: $1,000 Vacation Bible School
• Zion Lutheran Church: $1,000 nondenominational Vacation Bible School

Grants Awarded in 2022

• Griggs County Central:  $3,500 for career pathways program (school-to-work)
• Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation:  $2,500 for a new smart stand with scale
• Cooperstown Park Board:  $2,500 for summer baseball equipment and field improvement
• Griggs County Historical Society:  $2,500 for the acquisition of an HH-1H helicopter for static display on the helipad at Oscar Zero
• Zion Lutheran Church:  $1,000 for Community Vacation Bible School
• Cooperstown Golf Club:  $850 for door replacements
• Cooper Theatre, Inc.:  $840 for popcorn machine repair and speaker replacement

Grants Awarded in 2021

• Cooperstown Awana - $700 Program Support
• Cooperstown Golf Club - $1,500 Ice Machine Replacement
• Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation - $5,000 Building Project
• Cooper Theatre - $900 New Heater
• Griggs County Community Youth Project - $3,000 Replace Window & Insulate West Wall (Thrift Store)
• Griggs County Historical Society - $700 Map Display Early Griggs History
• Town and Country Garden Club - $500 Maintenance & Supplies
• Zion Lutheran Church - $300 Community Vacation Bible School

Grants Awarded in 2020

• Cooperstown Community Activities Authority - $4,500 for WeeCare Playground Project
• Cooperstown Park Board - $2,500 Support Cooperstown Parks & Swimming Pool
• Cooper Theatre, Inc. - $1,000 Operating Expenses
• Griggs County Community Youth Project ("More or Less" Thrift Store) - $2,500 for Security Lighting & New Entryway Door
• Trinity Lutheran - $900 for Non-Denominational Summer Vacation Bible School
• Zion Lutheran - $900 for Non-Denominational Summer Vacation Bible School

Grants Awarded in 2019

• Cooperstown Park Board - $1,500 to Support Cooperstown Pool
• Cooper Theatre Inc. - $1,000 Update Carpet
• Cornerstone Community Church - $1,000 to Support the AWANA After School Program
• Griggs County Council on the Aging - $1,700 for Upkeep & Expenses of the Golden Age Club
• Griggs County Council on the Arts - $1,700 Purchase of New Piano
• Griggs County Historical Society - $1,700 for Air Conditioning Main Auditorium & Museum
• Hospice of the Red River Valley - $1,000 to Support Bereavement Services Cooperstown Srea
• Trinity Lutheran Church - $1,000 to Support Non-Denominational Vacation Bible School
• Zion Lutheran Church - $1,000 to Support Non-Denominational Vacation Bible School

Apply for a Grant from the Cooperstown Community Foundation

Guidelines

• Grants shall be awarded only to those organizations designated by the IRS Code as 501(c)(3) non-profit tax exempt groups or government agencies.
• Grants shall be awarded to organizations that serve the community of Cooperstown.
• Grants to religious organizations will be limited to those activities which are non-denominational and serve the entire community.
• Higher priority will be given to those projects that attract other resources.

In funding decisions, the board will consider the following:

• Organizational management and integrity
• Level of local involvement and support
• The number of people to be served
• The impact of the grant on the success of the project

Deadline: April 30

How to Apply:

We made it easy for you to apply online for a grant!

Step 1 - Review

Review the grant guidelines above to make sure your organization qualifies.

Step 2 - Register

Create an account on our Grants Portal. You will need your organization’s name, EIN, and executive officer's name. Be sure to write down your user name (email address) and password.

Step 3 – Complete Your Application

After registering or logging in, you will arrive at the application section. Click “Apply” to the right of the grant program to which you wish to apply. If you do not see your desired grant program on the list, contact our office. You will be able to save your application and return later to complete it.

Click here for more detailed instructions and tips for using our online grant system. (PDF)

Other Funds Managed by NDCF in the Cooperstown Area

Dick & Dean Bultema Memorial Scholarship:  The fund was established in 1987 by Myrna Bultema of Wimbledon in memory of her son who was killed while sleeping in a rest area and her husband who passed away a year later.  The scholarship will assist graduating seniors from Barnes County schools intending to enter some agricultural related field. 

Friends of Oscar 0 Endowment Fund:  Established in 2008 to provide upkeep and maintenance of the Oscar 0 Missile Site located near Cooperstown, ND and assist the Griggs County Historical Society to preserve and maintain an interpretive center for Oscar 0 at the Griggs County Museum.

Plan Your Legacy

Making a lasting difference in our community or for future generations may be easier than you realize.  With very simple language in your will or trust, you can help the Cooperstown Community Foundation (CCF) continue to support important projects and programs in our area forever.

Gifts to the CCF are carefully invested by our partner foundation - the North Dakota Community Foundation - to generate a  permanent source of charitable income.

If you have children or other relatives, you can leave a portion of your estate to them and a percentage to the CCF. Doing so provides for your heirs while honoring your charitable values.

Brothers Russell and Dale Brown left gifts to the communities of Lisbon and Milnor, ND, in their estate plans.

Getting Started

1.  Download our free Estate Planning Guide - it contains helpful information and things to consider as you develop your own unique plan.

2.  Reach out to a Cooperstown Community Foundation committee member to learn more about the charities and needs in our area.

3.  Consider discussing (confidentially) your vision with our NDCF gift planner Amy Stromsodt.  She has many years of experience helping donors create their charitable vision and better prepare for their discussions with financial planners. Amy's cell is 701-741-3193 or you can email her at Amy@NDCF.net.

4.  Contact your professional advisors (financial planner, attorney and/or accountant) and ask for help in establishing a charitable gift to our foundation.

5.  Make sure your will or living trust is up-to-date and reflects your charitable goals.

6.  Consider notifying the charitable organizations about the gift you plan to leave them.  They will appreciate your generosity and will want to know what you’d like them to do with your eventual gift if it isn't clear.

Language for Your Will or Living Trust

Susanne Mattheis wished to support several different charitable organizations in Bismarck after she passed. NDCF helped her craft a plan that accomplished her charitable goals and provided long-term support to the Public Library, Symphony Orchestra, and five other local entities.

If you would like to include the Cooperstown Community Foundation in your will, here is some sample language to consider:

“I give and bequeath to the North Dakota Community Foundation (Tax ID Number 45-0336015), a qualified charitable organization under IRS 501(c)(3), located in Bismarck, North Dakota, ___________ (a percentage of the estate, specific dollar amount, or remainder of estate) for the Cooperstown Community Foundation, a permanent component of the North Dakota Community Foundation.”

*  Be sure to contact your legal advisor.

There are many other ways to make a deferred gift to your community, including

• Making NDCF (and your specific community fund) the beneficiary of your life insurance policy, IRA, 401K, or commercial annuity
• Establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity with NDCF
• Other more sophisticated tools, depending on your unique situation

To investigate options and learn more about how other North Dakotans have given back, visit our planned giving website at www.NDCF.net/Plan.