Martin Cooper founded OrchisArts in 1992 as a not-for-profit studio to make contributions primarily to breast cancer organizations that focus on patient’s care & welfare.

"The image of the orchid is clearly female charged in energy, but the Greek word orchis actually refers to the male testicles, because it is a double-bulbed plant.  I named my studio Orchis, because of this irony." -Martin Cooper

OrchisArts has made contributions to the Big Bam Foundation, a local New York City organization. Their events have contributed to such groups as SHARE, a self-help organization for women, as well as to The Pink Ribbon Project, which provides screenings for women without health insurance. OrchisArts has also supported The Caring House Foundation. Prototyped after the successful Ronald McDonald cancer homes, it provides free room and board to cancer patients and their families during treatment and convalescence from chemotherapy and surgery. These moneys are generated from Martin Cooper’s print sales in addition to fundraiser events that are synchronized in conjunction with his exhibitions.

In addition to the above, OrchisArts donates to Casting for Recovery, headquartered in Vermont. It is a unique organization that teaches breast cancer survivors the art of fly-fishing as a part of their physical and mental therapy. Cooper was appointed to their Board of Directors in 2004.