Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) is a global venture philanthropy firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Founded in 2002, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to finding, funding, and supporting early-stage, high-impact social enterprises addressing society's most complex challenges. The foundation employs 47 people and operates in six countries.
Key facts about Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
- EIN
- 91-2172351
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,550,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- Average grant
- $78,889
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (17 of 45, 2024)
- Total assets
- $40,500,333
- Primary geography
- California (32% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts applications year-round through an online application portal. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's 45 itemized 2024 grants were California (32%), Massachusetts (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (6 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), Oakland, CA (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 45 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $68K; repeat grants $86K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
- How to evaluate Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.5M
-7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
-2.7% YoY
Grant Count
45
+4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$79K
-7.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
DRK's core mission centers on supporting transformational entrepreneurs and their organizations through a distinctive venture philanthropy model. The foundation identifies exceptional organizations and provides intensive support over a rigorous three-year period, enabling them to absorb catalytic and transformative capital for downstream growth.
The foundation's approach is rooted in venture capital methodology: finding, funding, and supporting exceptional entrepreneurs committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations. Primary funding areas include education, human services, and philanthropy/grantmaking initiatives.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DRK supports organizations across multiple U.S. states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Internationally, the foundation operates in Kenya, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Botswana, with support extending to cities including Amsterdam, Johannesburg, and Mumbai.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 45 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total Assets: $40.5–$43.8 million
- Total Revenue: $12.4–$15.3 million
- Total Expenses: $17.9–$18.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.15 million
- Annual Revenue: $4.2 million
Grant Activity:
- Total Giving: $3.85 million
- Average Grant Size: $310 (based on high volume of grants)
The foundation reported providing first-class or charter travel to key employees or officers, as detailed in Schedule J of its tax filings.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,500,333 | $43,758,116 | $48,438,455 |
| Revenue | $15,262,610 | $12,362,974 | $11,080,088 |
| Expenses | $18,291,353 | $17,880,558 | $15,089,762 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | $13,974,287 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,837,441 | $-81,244 | $3,119,205 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
234 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Accelerator for America ($100,000), Accessos ($100,000), Africa Center the ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCELERATOR FOR AMERICA Covina, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ACCESSOS San Francisco, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AFRICA CENTER THE New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (PROJECT POLARIZATION & EXTREMISM RESEARCH INNOVATION Washington, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CARINA Seattle, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CATCHLIGHT San Francisco, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CHILD POVERTY ACTION LAB Dallas, TX | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| COMMON GOAL USA Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| DOLLAR FOR Vancouver, WA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ENTRYWAY (FORMERLY SHELTERS TO SHUTTERS) Vienna, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Co-Chairs:
- William H. Draper III
- Robin Richards Donohoe
- Robert S. Kaplan
Executive Leadership:
- James M. Bildner, CEO
- Zeryn Sarpangal, CFO
- Nancy Huang, Chief of Staff
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William H Draper III | Co-Chair | 4 | — |
| Robin Richards Donohoe | Co-Chair | 4 | — |
| Robert S Kaplan | Co-Chair | 4 | — |
| James M Bildner | CEO & Board Member | 50 | $555,200 |
| Ruth J Simmons | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Sue M Gordon | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Zeryn Sarpangal | CFO, Cao | 50 | $325,200 |
| Nancy Huang | Chief of Staff, Treasurer | 50 | $316,200 |
| Anika Warren | Operating PTR, Chief Org Eff Officer | 50 | $326,200 |
| Lara Metcalf | Chief Portfolio Officer | 50 | $314,070 |
| Richmond Kristin G | Managing Director | 50 | $281,200 |
| Margo Drakos | Managing Director | 50 | $253,700 |
| Holly Kuzmich | Managing Director | 50 | $268,700 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Since its founding nearly 25 years ago, DRK has invested in more than 270 organizations that have collectively impacted over 610 million lives to date. The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program and is open to new applicants.
The foundation participates in collaborative funding initiatives, including membership in a coalition of like-minded funders focused on high-impact, scalable organizations tackling global poverty.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation fund?
DRK's core mission centers on supporting transformational entrepreneurs and their organizations through a distinctive venture philanthropy model. The foundation identifies exceptional organizations and provides intensive support over a rigorous three-year period, enabling them to absorb catalytic and transformative capital for downstream growth. The foundation's approach is rooted in venture capital methodology: finding, funding, and supporting exceptional entrepreneurs committed to making a di…
How do I apply for a grant from Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications year-round through an online application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation make grants?
DRK supports organizations across multiple U.S. states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Internationally, the foundation operates in Kenya, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Botswana, with support extending to cities including Amsterdam, Johannesburg, and Mumbai.
What size grants does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation award?
In 2024, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $79K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's EIN?
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2172351. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$891.5M
Grants
1,153
Total Given
$275.0M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
New Venture Fund
Washington, DC
Assets
$624.9M
Grants
854
Total Given
$359.6M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
2,025
Total Given
$272.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,383
Total Given
$176.2M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
More Funders in California
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.