The Max and Lorayne Cooper Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on K–12 education in Alabama, funding school start-ups, charter expansion, and local education foundations. Grants are directed toward organizations that open or support new public charter schools and strengthen county-level school resources, with occasional support for independent/private schools. The foundation prioritizes capacity-building and expansion rather than broad national causes, focusing giving within the state.
Concentrated, high-dollar gifts to a small number of education-focused grantees with multiple repeat grants; primarily state- and regionally-focused, supporting school start-up/expansion and local education infrastructure.
The Max and Lorayne Cooper Foundation Attention Susan Jackson gives almost entirely to K–12 education, with a clear pattern of backing school start-ups, charter school expansion, and local education groups in Alabama. In 2025, its largest recent grant went to Blount County Education Foundation Inc in Oneonta, Alabama, at $630,000 for general support, followed by $562,000 to I3 Academy in Birmingham and $510,000 to New Schools for Alabama. Those awards fit a consistent strategy: the foundation tends to support organizations that build school capacity, launch new public charter options, or strengthen nearby school systems rather than funding broad education causes. The pattern extends across multiple years through repeat support for the same recipients, including I3 Academy, New Schools for Alabama, and Blount County Education Foundation Inc. It also reaches private and independent school settings, as seen in grants to Cornerstone School in Birmingham and Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic School. Most grants are framed as general support, suggesting flexibility for operating needs and organizational growth within the funder’s education portfolio.
A central theme is charter school creation and expansion. The foundation gave $500,000 to I3 Academy Charter School in 2023 and later awarded $562,000 to I3 Academy in 2025, both for general support. It also backed statewide infrastructure for new-school development, giving $460,000 in 2024 and $460,000 in 2023 to New Schools for Alabama, again for general support. County-level public school support is another recurring line of giving: Blount County Education Foundation Inc received $470,000 in 2024 and $450,000 in 2023. The portfolio also includes support for independent or mission-based K–12 schools, such as Cornerstone School in Birmingham, which received $354,000 in 2024 and $189,529 in 2025.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $33,300, with a lower quartile of $10,000 and an upper quartile of $167,322. The distribution includes several large operating grants in the hundreds of thousands, alongside smaller awards in the $20,000 to $50,000 range. Recipients reappear across years, especially in Alabama: I3 Academy, New Schools for Alabama, Blount County Education Foundation Inc, Cornerstone School, and Teach for America Alabama all received repeat funding. The foundation’s giving is structured as grantmaking, not program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals.
$2.6M
$25.5M
$1.7M
$2.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $167K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$167K
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Notable grantees: Blount County Education Foundation, New Schools for Alabama, I3 Academy, I3 Academy Charter School, Cornerstone School
Grants are national in scope but highly concentrated in Alabama, which accounts for 51% of grants. Birmingham appears frequently as a recipient city, alongside Oneonta and Fairfield in Alabama. Outside Alabama, the foundation also funded organizations in New York City-area locations, including New York, NY and New York, NY-based groups, plus recipients in Washington, DC, La Crosse, WI, Greenwood Village, CO, Waltham, MA, Newton, MA, and Needham, MA. Every recorded grant in the dataset went to a U.S. recipient.
Its grantmaking centers on K–12 education, especially charter school creation and expansion, statewide new-school development, county-level public school support, and independent or private school support in Alabama. Recent recipients include I3 Academy, New Schools for Alabama, Blount County Education Foundation Inc, and Cornerstone School.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a p25 of $10,000, a median of $33,300, and a p75 of $167,322. Recent awards range from small grants such as $20,000 to larger operating grants like $630,000.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including I3 Academy, New Schools for Alabama, Blount County Education Foundation Inc, Cornerstone School, and Teach for America Alabama. That pattern suggests recurring support rather than isolated one-time awards.
Its giving is concentrated in Alabama, which receives 51% of grants. Birmingham is a frequent recipient city, and Oneonta and Fairfield also appear among Alabama recipients. The portfolio is national in scope, but all recorded grants in the dataset went to U.S. organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLOUNT COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | ONEONTA, AL | $630,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| I3 ACADEMY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $562,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW SCHOOLS FOR ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $510,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOL | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $189,529 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION | NEW YORK, NY | $167,322 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TARRANT BOARD OF EDUCATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $154,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATIONS EARLY LEARNING CENTER | FAIRFIELD, AL | $77,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOLY FAMILY CRISTO REY CATHOLIC SCHOOL | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $61,494 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE HOPE INSTITUTE | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FREEDOM PREPARATORY ACADEMY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALABAMA GIVING INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLOUNT COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | ONEONTA, AL | $470,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW SCHOOLS FOR ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $460,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOL | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $354,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TARRANT BOARD OF EDUCATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $118,327 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BECKET FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE | LA CROSSE, WI | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SETON EDUCATION PARTNERS | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AUGUSTINE INSTITUTE INC | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAURICE & MARILYN COHEN CENTER FOR MODERN JEWISH STUDIES | WALTHAM, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL | NEWTON, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE TRUST | NEEDHAM, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BHS INNOVATION FUND | BROOKLINE, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RAMAH DAROM INC | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF GREATER BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STEPS TO SUCCESS | BROOKLINE, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UJA FEDERATION OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LAFAYETTE COLLEGE HILLEL SOCIETY | EASTON, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BROOKLINE FOOD PANTRY | BROOKLINE, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL OF BOSTON | NEWTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY HILLEL SOCIETY | WALTHAM, MA | $4,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONE NIGHT OUT BOSTON ABILITY CENTER | WELLESLEY HILLS, MA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLLEGE AFFORDABLE | NEEDHAM, MA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONQUER CANCER COALITION OF MASSACHUSETTS | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| I3 ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW SCHOOLS FOR ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $460,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLOUNT COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | ONEONTA, AL | $450,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOL | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $199,303 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| READ TO LEAD INC | NEW YORK, NY | $167,322 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TARRANT BOARD OF EDUCATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $144,007 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATIONS EARLY LEARNING & FAMILY CENTER | FAIRFIELD, AL | $33,300 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE TRUST | NEEDHAM, MA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RAMAH DAROM INC | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
CORNERSTONE SCHOOL
$189,529GENERAL SUPPORT
TARRANT BOARD OF EDUCATION
GENERAL SUPPORT
FOUNDATIONS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$77,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOLY FAMILY CRISTO REY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$61,494GENERAL SUPPORT
THE HOPE INSTITUTE
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FREEDOM PREPARATORY ACADEMY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALABAMA GIVING INC
$800GENERAL SUPPORT
TARRANT BOARD OF EDUCATION
$118,327GENERAL SUPPORT
SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AUGUSTINE INSTITUTE INC
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MAURICE & MARILYN COHEN CENTER FOR MODERN JEWISH STUDIES
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BOSTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BHS INNOVATION FUND
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RAMAH DAROM INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STEPS TO SUCCESS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE HILLEL SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BROOKLINE FOOD PANTRY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL OF BOSTON
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY HILLEL SOCIETY
$4,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ONE NIGHT OUT BOSTON ABILITY CENTER
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
COLLEGE AFFORDABLE
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CONQUER CANCER COALITION OF MASSACHUSETTS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
I3 ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
READ TO LEAD INC
$167,322GENERAL SUPPORT
TARRANT BOARD OF EDUCATION
$144,007GENERAL SUPPORT
FOUNDATIONS EARLY LEARNING & FAMILY CENTER
$33,300GENERAL SUPPORT
RAMAH DAROM INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT