Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation
The Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including a large grant to the University of Michigan and support for Jewish, educational, youth, and social-service organizations.
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation at a glance
In short: Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation gave $1.8M across 66 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), top state Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,819,197
- +71.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 66
- +32.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,564
- +29.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $33,009,425
- +41.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Michigan ($633K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 210 grants of 239 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Michigan (37%), New York (20%), Rhode Island (17%), New Jersey (17%), and Massachusetts (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation gives
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 63% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $102K (2020) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 66 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | General & Unrestricted (SEE ATTACHED GENERAL EXPLANATION) | $630,511 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ Whippany, NJ | For Centennial Living Lester & ANNUAL SUPPORT | $136,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | General & Unrestricted | $101,671 |
| Chabad of College Hill Inc Providence, RI | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund New York, NY | The Wesley M. LePatner Charitable Fund | $100,000 |
| United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanth New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Greenlight Fund Inc Boston, MA | General & Unrestricted (SEE ATTACHED GENERAL EXPLANATION) | $99,058 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | General & Unrestricted (See attached general explanation) | $98,329 |
| 18 Corp Livingston, NJ | General & Unrestricted | $36,000 |
| Congregation Bnai Jeshurun Short Hills, NJ | General & Unrestricted | $36,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,009,425 | $11,123,292 | $1,933,517 | $1,819,197 | 66 | $1,827,200 | $2,967,516 | $1,895,444 |
| 2024 | $23,268,935 | $9,325,413 | $1,154,196 | $1,061,335 | 50 | $1,069,144 | $820,081 | $1,421,231 |
| 2023 | $14,724,227 | $1,632,824 | $1,427,067 | $1,249,315 | 56 | $1,356,934 | $494,091 | $1,085,373 |
| 2022 | $14,467,502 | $1,381,045 | $1,193,615 | $1,114,442 | 42 | $1,121,967 | $365,195 | $1,052,252 |
| 2021 | $14,280,072 | $887,845 | $446,876 | $341,635 | 25 | $349,160 | $719,979 | $1,063,212 |
| 2020 | $13,839,103 | $1,974,384 | $155,750 | $102,170 | 6 | — | $1,626,287 | $710,738 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the University of Michigan describes its mission as representing and advocating for member physicians. The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ says it cares for people in need, builds Jewish life, and supports educational, vocational, recreational, and social needs. GreenLight Fund says it works to improve outcomes for children and families in high-poverty urban areas by identifying local needs and supporting programs intended to address them.
Other 2025 recipients describe work in family-court self-advocacy (Family Legal Care), youth opportunities to play, learn, and grow (Harlem RBI), advocacy for children in foster care (CASA for Children of Essex), tutoring and educator-pipeline development (New Jersey Tutoring Corps), and experiential education and connection to Israel (TAMID Israel Investment Group).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 66 grants totaling $1,819,197. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $630,511, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants included $630,511 to the University of Michigan, $136,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, $101,671 and $98,329 to Brown University, and $100,000 each to Chabad of College Hill, Jewish Communal Fund, and the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. Other reported grants included $99,058 to GreenLight Fund, $36,000 each to 18 Corp and Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, $35,000 to Family Legal Care, and $25,000 each to Harlem RBI and New Jersey Tutoring Corps.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Debra Lynn Caplan as co-president, director, and secretary, and Kenneth Alan Caplan as director, treasurer, and co-president.
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation is led by Debra Lynn Caplan, Co- President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Debra Lynn Caplan
Co- President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Alan Caplan
Director, Treasurer & Co- President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation
How much does Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation give each year?
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation gave $1.8M across 66 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 50 grants.
What is Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's typical grant size?
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $27,564, across 66 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation give grants?
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's top state is Michigan, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (20%) and Rhode Island (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (23 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (5 grants), Providence, RI (4 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 76% of Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 66) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's largest grantees?
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Michigan ($633,333 across 2 grants), Brown University ($200,000 across 2 grants) and Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ ($136,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation?
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation reported $33.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the University of Michigan describes its mission as representing and advocating for member physicians. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's EIN?
Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5641218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/debra-and-kenneth-caplan-foundation-morg_828c50bbd1be48eca9df078df9d5809a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_465641218_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/debra-and-kenneth-caplan-foundation-morg_828c50bbd1be48eca9df078df9d5809a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Debra and Kenneth Caplan Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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