Blachford-Cooper Foundation
OVERVIEW: Blachford-Cooper awards modest-sized grants to LGBT organizations across the United States and cultural institutions in Southern California.
IP TAKE: This funder keeps a very low profile and does not award a large number of grants each year. It may be difficult to get this funder’s attention without a personal connection to Blanchford or Cooper. This is not an accessible funder overall.
PROFILE: Formerly known as the NB Foundation, the Blachford-Cooper Foundation was established in California in 2000 by San Diego businessmen Norman Blachford and Peter Cooper. While ordinarily a very private man, Blachford’s name was in the news in 1997 when his lover Andrew Cunanan committed a killing spree that claimed the life of fashion designer Gianni Versace. Blachford appears as a character, played by Michael Nouri, in the second season of “American Crime Story,” about the events. His foundation maintains a low public profile, does not operate a website, and does not employ a formal staff. According to its tax filings, the foundation appears to make modest grants supporting LGBTQ causes and the arts.
Grants for LGBTQ
The Blachford-Cooper Foundation supports LGBTQ throughout the United States, but especially in Southern California. It supports groups and programs related to issues such as discrimination, rights, economic opportunity, and HIV/AIDS. Blachford’s long-time partner passed away due to AIDS in the mid-1990s. Past grantees include the Lambda Legal Foundation in El Paso, Texas, which received a general operating support grant; and the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, which received support for its work with LGBTQ communities. Other grantees include the Desert AIDS Project, San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, Freedom from Religion Foundation, Funders for Gay and Lesbian Issues, and the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute.
Grants for Theater and Music
The Blachford-Cooper Foundation supports cultural institutions and the arts in the greater San Diego area, with a primary focus on performing arts and music. Blachford-Cooper makes substantial annual donations to the Old Globe Theater, which is often the recipient of the foundation’s largest grants each year. Blachford-Cooper also supports the La Jolla Music Society, Mainly Mozart, Diversionary Theater Productions, Patrons of the Prado, San Diego Opera Association, and San Diego Youth Symphony and Orchestra.
Important Grant Details:
Grant amounts typically range from $2,000 to $75,000. While grants they can go as high as $500,000, it is uncommon. While Blachford-Cooper does not state geographic priorities in its grantmaking, many of its grants support organizations located in California.
The Blachford-Cooper Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Blachford-Cooper Foundation
P.O. Box 8249
La Jolla, California, 92038
(858) 454-0677