Our History

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation was established in 2000 through the will of prominent businessman, sportsman, and philanthropist Jack Kent Cooke.  A self-made billionaire, Mr. Cooke described himself as “an indomitable optimist” who always had a will to succeed.  In his own life, Mr. Cooke overcame financial obstacles to achieve tremendous success.

When he died in 1997, Mr. Cooke left the bulk of his fortune to establish a foundation dedicated to supporting individuals of exceptional promise – those who work hard, stay focused, and defy the stereotype that poverty precludes high achievement.

Millions of low-income students in the United States meet these criteria, but are largely underserved from the time they enter elementary school through post-secondary education.

Since opening its doors, the Foundation's programs have provided support to thousands of high-achieving, low-income students through the prestigious Young Scholars Program, generous scholarships for graduate and undergraduate study, and grants to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions that provide challenging opportunities to these exceptional students.