Caplin Foundation
Caplin Foundation is a private foundation established in 1967 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation is supported by the Estate of Mortimer M Caplin and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since January 1968.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$403K
-85.4% YoY
Grant Count
199
-25.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-80.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caplin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $416K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Arts and creative disciplines (dance, theatre arts, music, creative writing, film and new media)
- Historic preservation
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$1,000–$15,000
Average Grant
amount varies by year
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Virginia, California, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $2,136,423
- Total revenues: $429,516
- Total expenses: $466,164
- Net income: -$36,648
- Total liabilities: $0
- Giving rate: 15.7% of assets
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Grants and contributions: $71,399
- Investment income and dividends: $88,238
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,136,423 | $2,172,071 | $4,906,557 |
| Revenue | $429,516 | $107,079 | $1,994,697 |
| Expenses | $466,164 | $2,845,865 | $786,315 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $441,756 | $2,796,310 | $755,535 |
| Net Investment Income | $323,800 | $74,551 | $1,942,460 |
| Distributable Amount | $416,454 | $392,137 | $514,665 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Albemarle County Historical Society Inc ($15,000), Center for Nonprofit Excellence ($10,000), Crystal Cathedral Church of Christ ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 24TH STREET THEATRE COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CA | General & Unrestricted | $1,300 |
| A NOISE WITHIN PASADENA, CA | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| ACADEMY OF MUSIC FOR THE BLIND MONROVIA, CA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| ACTORS STUDIO NEW YORK, NY | the West Coast Branch | $1,500 |
| ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE OF TEXAS LIVINGSTON, TX | Chief Kina Health Clinic | $2,500 |
| ALBEMARLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | Charitable Event | $15,000 |
| ALBEMARLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | Door To Door Book Project | $5,000 |
| ALBEMARLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | to purchase 100 copies of July Magazine | $1,600 |
| ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | to support the activities of the drama department and theatre kids | $1,000 |
| ALBEMARLE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
No specific leadership information is available in the provided sources.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Caplin | Dir | 1 | — |
| Jeremy Caplin | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
| Michael Caplin | Dir, Sec, Treas | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Caplin Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Arts and creative disciplines (dance, theatre arts, music, creative writing, film and new media) • Historic preservation • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Caplin Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 176 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $403,050 (2024) • Typical grant range: $1,000–$15,000 • Median grant size: $2,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Interlochen Center for the Arts: $35,000 (Camp Endowed Scholarship Fund in Dance, Theatre Arts, Music, Creative Writing and Film and New Media) • Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society: $15,000 (Charitable Event) • Preservation Piedmont: $14,000 (General & Unrestricted) **Ap…
Where does Caplin Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Virginia, California, and New York.
What size grants does Caplin Foundation award?
In 2024, Caplin Foundation awarded 199 grants totaling $403K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Caplin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Caplin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $416K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Caplin Foundation's EIN?
Caplin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6078981. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Caplin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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