Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation is a global venture philanthropy firm based in Menlo Park, California. It supports early-stage, high-impact social enterprises through funding and intensive operational support, with the aim of helping them scale solutions that benefit underserved communities.
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation at a glance
In short: Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation gave $3.5M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $79K), top state California. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,550,000
- -2.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $78,889
- -7.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $40,500,333
- -7.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (14 of 45, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (32% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are accepted year-round through the online application. The application takes about 30–60 minutes and should include an executive summary, pitch deck, or business plan addressing the organization’s problem and solution, impact, and scale. A standard resume or CV for the entrepreneur or key leadership team members is required; additional materials such as financials and impact reports are optional. The foundation typically funds organizations three to five years old and typically does not fund organizations more than 10 years old, though decisions are case by case and age is not a strict cutoff. It funds organizations operating in Africa, Europe, India, or the United States, and occasionally Latin America. Applicants may reapply up to twice, no sooner than one year after a decline notification.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted year-round; there is no application deadline.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted year-round; there is no application deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1600 El Camino Real 155, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (650) 319-7808
Website: https://drkfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Who Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Accelerator for America ($100K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
234 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 133 grants of 234 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds organizations operating in Africa, Europe, India, and the United States, and occasionally in Latin America. In 2024, the largest shares of listed grant dollars by recipient state went to California (32%), Massachusetts (14%), New York (13%), Washington, D.C. (8%), and Washington (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 45 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $64K; repeat grants $85K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.4M (2022) to $4.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerator for America Covina, CA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Accessos San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| The Africa Center 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,500,333 | $15,262,610 | $18,291,353 | $3,550,000 | 45 | — | $1,837,441 |
| 2023 | $43,758,116 | $12,362,974 | $17,880,558 | $3,650,000 | 43 | — | $-81,244 |
| 2022 | $48,438,455 | $11,080,088 | $15,089,762 | $3,350,000 | 46 | $13,974,287 | $3,119,205 |
| 2021 | $54,158,347 | $29,356,238 | $13,658,645 | $3,575,000 | 47 | $13,780,163 | $1,819,546 |
| 2020 | $39,148,716 | $15,591,102 | $12,519,372 | $4,450,000 | 53 | — | $3,673,206 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it supports early-stage, high-impact social enterprises tackling complex social problems. It seeks innovative, scalable, impact-first solutions that work with existing systems and stakeholders and improve the lives of underserved people. It funds both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work. For example, Common Goal USA describes its mission as using soccer to promote youth welfare and social integration; North Carolina Education Corps focuses on improving literacy outcomes for K–5 students; and Open Supply Hub works to make supply-chain data accessible for public benefit, including human rights and environmental progress. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not separate focus areas specified by the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 45 itemized grants totaling $3,550,000. Those grants ranged from $50,000 to $100,000, with a median of $100,000. Separately, the foundation’s filing narrative says it funded 49 social impact organizations that year through unrestricted grants.
Among the listed 2024 grants, Common Goal USA, Carina, Dollar For, and For the People each received $100,000. The filing identifies the purposes of the listed grants as general operating support.
The foundation offers up to $300,000 in unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over three years, usually in multiple tranches. The specific instrument and payment schedule are decided during the closing process. Its filing states that a team member sits on each grantee’s board during the three-year grant period, and that grantees submit progress reports with milestones and metrics every six months; conditional payments are reviewed on that schedule. The foundation also describes capacity support that can include leadership and board development, fundraising, financial sustainability, and scaling strategy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William H. Draper III, Robin Richards Donohoe, and Robert S. Kaplan as co-chairs. James M. Bildner is listed as CEO and board member. Other listed board members are Ruth J. Simmons and Sue M. Gordon. The filing also lists Zeryn Sarpangal as CFO and CAO; Nancy Huang as chief of staff and treasurer; Anika Warren as operating partner and chief organizational effectiveness officer; and Lara Metcalf as chief portfolio officer.
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation is led by James M. Bildner, CEO & Board Member since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James M. Bildner
CEO & Board Member
Chief Executive Officer → CEO & Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$418K (2020) → $555K (2024)
Holly Kuzmich
Managing Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$251K (2023) → $269K (2024)
Margo Drakos
Managing Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$235K (2023) → $254K (2024)
Richmond Kristin G.
Managing Director
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$281K (2024)
Nancy Huang
Chief of Staff & Treasurer
Secretary → Chief of Staff & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$224K (2021) → $316K (2024)
Zeryn Sarpangal
CFO & CAO
Chief Financial Officer → CFO & CAO, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$198K (2021) → $325K (2024)
Anika Warren
Operating Ptr & Chief Org
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$321K (2023) → $326K (2024)
Lara Metcalf
Chief Portfolio Officer
Senior Managing Director → Chief Portfolio Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$292K (2023) → $314K (2024)
Robert S. Kaplan
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Richards Donohoe
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William H. Draper III
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth J. Simmons
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue M. Gordon
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Oliver Rothschild (2023) — Managing Director
- Former: Stephanie Khurana (2021–2022) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Jared Theodore Leiderman (2020–2021) — Chief Financial Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $555K, to James M Bildner (CEO & Board Member). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
How much does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation give each year?
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation gave $3.5M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 43 grants.
What is Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's typical grant size?
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $78,889, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation that year got $64K on average.
Where does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation give grants?
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's top state is California, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were 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).
Does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (45 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's largest grantees?
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Accelerator for America ($100,000), Accessos ($100,000) and The Africa Center ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation?
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation reported $40.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.3M.
What does Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation fund?
The foundation says it supports early-stage, high-impact social enterprises tackling complex social problems. It seeks innovative, scalable, impact-first solutions that work with existing systems and stakeholders and improve the lives of underserved people. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation?
Applications are accepted year-round through the online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/draper-richards-kaplan-foundation-morg_69c73d090f6648619cfeeda18d742778
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_912172351_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/draper-richards-kaplan-foundation-morg_69c73d090f6648619cfeeda18d742778},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Draper Richards Kaplan 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.
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?