The Bill & Marian Cook Foundation concentrates its giving on medical research—especially Lyme disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer—alongside regional community investments in Montana and support for conservative public policy organizations. Grants are frequently directed to universities, disease-specific nonprofits, and a few repeat recipients, with several multi-year or multi-grant commitments that fund research, scholarships, and facility/support for youth services.
The Bill & Marian Cook Foundation’s giving is anchored by disease-specific medical research, with recent grants directed to Lyme disease testing, Alzheimer’s studies, cancer research, and fellowship support. Alongside those health-focused gifts, the foundation also backs Montana-based community organizations, agricultural education, and selected public policy groups. Several of the largest recent grants point to that mix. The foundation gave $166,661 to Focus on Lyme for research for Lyme testing and $200,000 to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association for studies in Marva Christian’s honor. It also supported the V Foundation with $120,000 for directed cancer research and funding fellowships, reflecting a pattern of restricted gifts tied to specific research purposes. Beyond medical philanthropy, the foundation has made multi-year commitments and facility-related support in Montana, including gifts to Greater Missoula Family and Greater Montana Boys and Girls Club for building commitments. It also funds university-based scholarships and research, including grants to Drexel University, Yale University, and the University of Montana system. The result is a portfolio that combines research funding, memorial gifts, and place-based support rather than a single-purpose grantmaking model.
Medical research is the clearest theme in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $175,000 to Drexel University for research and $75,000 to Yale University Foundation for a lupus fellowship, showing support for both university-led research and fellowship training. Cancer-related support appears through directed gifts to the V Foundation. One 2024 grant of $120,000 was described as 100% directed to cancer research and funding fellowships, and a separate $100,000 grant in 2023 was for cancer research. Lyme disease is another recurring focus. The foundation awarded $166,661 to Focus on Lyme for research for Lyme testing and also gave $109,500 to Asu for a scholarship fund and Lyme testing. It also supports Alzheimer’s work and memorial studies, including $200,000 to Alzheimers Disease Association for studies in Marva Christian’s honor and a later $100,000 grant for two studies in the same honor.
Typical recent grants are centered at $40,000, with the 25th percentile at $25,000 and the 75th percentile at $100,000. The foundation’s giving appears to mix one-off research grants with repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including several grants to Focus on Lyme, the V Foundation, Alzheimers Disease Association, Goldwater Institute, and Greater Missoula Family. It also makes restricted gifts, including directed research funding and named memorial studies. The organization funds individuals as well as institutions, and it does not make program-related investments.
$420K
$26.5M
$544K
$533K
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in MT.
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Concentrated funding with multiple sizable grants to a small set of repeat grantees; mix of targeted research gifts and place-based commitments (multi-year/building support) rather than many small, one-off donations.
Notable grantees: Focus On Lyme, Alzheimers Disease Association, Goldwater Institute / Goldwater Foundation, V Foundation for Cancer Research, University of Montana / Greater Missoula Family (regionally focused grants)
The foundation gives nationally, and all recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients. Arizona is the top state by grant count, with 23% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent grants also land in Pennsylvania, Montana, New York, and North Carolina. Named recipient cities include Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Tempe, Missoula, Bozeman, Philadelphia, Cary, and Chicago, showing a mix of Arizona-based support and out-of-state research and policy funding.
Recent grants center on Lyme disease research and diagnostic testing, Alzheimer’s studies, cancer research through directed gifts, Montana community support, and conservative public policy funding. The foundation also supports agricultural education, scholarships, vision services, and emergency support for families affected by cancer.
Yes. The recent grant list shows multiple awards to the same organizations across different years, including Focus on Lyme, the V Foundation, Alzheimers Disease Association, Goldwater Institute, and Greater Missoula Family. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than strictly one-time gifts.
The typical recent grant size is $40,000 at the median. The 25th percentile is $25,000 and the 75th percentile is $100,000, indicating that many awards are in the mid-five-figure range, with some larger research and building commitments above that level.
Arizona receives the highest share of grants by recipient location, at 23% of grants. Recent grants also go to Montana recipients such as Missoula, Bozeman, Livingston, and Butte, as well as to institutions in Philadelphia, Chicago, Cary, and New Haven.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. The foundation profile identifies that it funds individuals, and the recent grants show scholarships and fellowships, including support for medical research scholarships and a lupus fellowship.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldwater Institute | Phoenix, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | support sound public policy |
| Greater Missoula Family | Missoula, MT | $75,000 | 2026 | FOR BUILDING 4 YR COMMITMENT |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | $75,000 | 2026 | research |
| St Patrick Hospital Foundation | Missoula, MT | $40,000 | 2026 | cancer research |
| Baylor College | Waco, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Research |
| The V Foundation | Cary, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | 100 DIRECTED TO CANCER RESEARCH AND FUNDING |
| Eye and Ear | Pittsburg, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | Eye and Ear research |
| KBUU Malibu | Malibu, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Malibu Fire relief |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | $175,000 | 2025 | research |
| Greater Missoula Family | Missoula, MT | $150,000 | 2025 | FOR BUILDING 4 YR COMMITMENT |
| Goldwater Institute | Phoenix, AZ | $150,000 | 2025 | support sound public policy |
| Focus On Lyme | Paradise Valley, AZ | $105,000 | 2025 | research for Lyme |
| Minnesota Lions Vision | St Paul, MN | $80,000 | 2025 | help the visually impaired |
| St Patrick Hospital Foundation | Missoula, MT | $75,000 | 2025 | cancer research |
| Yale University Foundation | New Haven, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | For Lupus fellowship |
| The V Foundation | Cary, NC | $75,000 | 2025 | 100% DIRECTED TO CANCER RESEARCH AND FUNDING |
| Holistic Management International | Albuquerque, NM | $70,000 | 2025 | For Grazing Education |
| Roc Solid Foundation | Chesapeake, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | EMERGENCY TOTES FOR CANCER PARENTS |
| Forsyth Insitute | Somerville, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | dental research |
| Alzheimers Disease Association | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR 2 STUDIES IN MARVA CHRISTIAN'S HONOR |
| Yellowstone Boys and Girls Foundati | Missoula, MT | $36,000 | 2025 | For Equipment |
| Eyecorp | Dallas, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | FOR EYE SURGERY CENTERS IN AFRICA |
| LymeLight Foundation | Burlingame, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | Lyme Disease research |
| Camelot Theraputic Riding | Scottsdale, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | 2023-2024 award |
| Youth Home Foundation MT | Missoula, MT | $25,000 | 2025 | for at risk youth |
| AZ Liberty Network | Tempe, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | leadership training |
| Focus on Lyme | Paradise Valley, AZ | $166,661 | 2024 | research for lyme testing |
| Goldwater Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $150,000 | 2024 | support sound public policy |
| V Foundation | Cary, NC | $120,000 | 2024 | 100 DIRECTED TO CANCER RESEARCH AND FUNDING FELLO |
| Greater Montana boys and girls club | Butte, MT | $100,000 | 2024 | FOR BUILDING 4 YR COMMITMENT |
| Alzheimers Disease Association | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | FOR 2 STUDIES IN MARVA CHRISTIANS HONOR |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | $65,000 | 2024 | FOR LUPUS FELLOWSHIP |
| Montana State university | Bozeman, MT | $65,000 | 2024 | FOR AGBIZ DEGREES FOR MONTANA & AZ RESIDENTS |
| Roc Solid Foundation | Chesapeake, VA | $40,000 | 2024 | EMERGENCY TOTES FOR CANCER PARENTS |
| Eyecorps | Dallas, TX | $35,000 | 2024 | FOR EYE SURGERY CENTERS IN AFRICA |
| Holistic Management International | Albuquerque, NM | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GRAZING EDUCATION |
| Yellowstone boys and girls | Billings, MT | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR EQUIPMENT |
| Limelight Foundation | Burlingame, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | 2022-23 FISCAL YEAR |
| Camelot Theraputic Riding | Scottsdale, AZ | $20,000 | 2024 | 2022-23 AWARD |
| Youth Home Inc | Missoula, MT | $20,000 | 2024 | FOR AT RISK YOUTH |
| Maui Food Bank | Wailuku, HI | $10,000 | 2024 | FOR THE MAUI FIRE RELIEF |
| Valley Kids Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | $5,000 | 2024 | PHX BASED CHARITY THAT SERVICES OTHER CHARITIES |
| For Maui Fire relief | Kahului, HI | $2,000 | 2024 | FOR THE MAUI FIRE RELIEF |
| ALZHEIMERS DISEASE ASSOCIATION ALZHEIMERS DISEASE ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2023 | STUDIES ON MARVA CHRISTIAN'S HONOR |
| GOLDWATER INSTITUTE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE | PHOENIX, AZ | $150,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT SOUND PUBLIC POLICY |
| FOCUS ON LYME FOCUS ON LYME | PARADISE VALLEY, AZ | $135,000 | 2023 | RESEARCH FOR LYME TESTING |
| UNIV OF MISSOULA FDN UNIV OF MISSOULA | MISSOULA, MT | $125,000 | 2023 | RODEO TEAM SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASU ASU | TEMPE, AZ | $109,500 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND & LYME TESTING |
| V FOUNDATION V FOUNDATION | CARY, NC | $100,000 | 2023 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| YALE UNIVERSITY YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $68,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH |
Greater Missoula Family
$75,000FOR BUILDING 4 YR COMMITMENT
Baylor College
$25,000Research
100 DIRECTED TO CANCER RESEARCH AND FUNDING
Eye and Ear
$25,000Eye and Ear research
KBUU Malibu
$5,000Malibu Fire relief
Greater Missoula Family
$150,000FOR BUILDING 4 YR COMMITMENT
Goldwater Institute
$150,000support sound public policy
Focus On Lyme
$105,000research for Lyme
Minnesota Lions Vision
$80,000help the visually impaired
Yale University Foundation
$75,000For Lupus fellowship
Holistic Management International
$70,000For Grazing Education
Forsyth Insitute
$50,000dental research
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Foundati
$36,000For Equipment
Eyecorp
$35,000FOR EYE SURGERY CENTERS IN AFRICA
LymeLight Foundation
$35,000Lyme Disease research
Camelot Theraputic Riding
$25,0002023-2024 award
Youth Home Foundation MT
$25,000for at risk youth
Focus on Lyme
$166,661research for lyme testing
Goldwater Foundation
$150,000support sound public policy
Greater Montana boys and girls club
$100,000FOR BUILDING 4 YR COMMITMENT
Montana State university
$65,000FOR AGBIZ DEGREES FOR MONTANA & AZ RESIDENTS
Holistic Management International
$30,000FOR GRAZING EDUCATION
Yellowstone boys and girls
$25,000FOR EQUIPMENT
Limelight Foundation
$25,0002022-23 FISCAL YEAR
Camelot Theraputic Riding
$20,0002022-23 AWARD
Youth Home Inc
$20,000FOR AT RISK YOUTH
Valley Kids Foundation
$5,000PHX BASED CHARITY THAT SERVICES OTHER CHARITIES
For Maui Fire relief
$2,000FOR THE MAUI FIRE RELIEF
STUDIES ON MARVA CHRISTIAN'S HONOR
GOLDWATER INSTITUTE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE
$150,000SUPPORT SOUND PUBLIC POLICY
FOCUS ON LYME FOCUS ON LYME
$135,000RESEARCH FOR LYME TESTING
ASU ASU
$109,500SCHOLARSHIP FUND & LYME TESTING