Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation
The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1957 and incorporated in 1958. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since February 1959. The foundation is a multi-generational family foundation inspired by the Jewish concept of Tzedakah—a tradition of helping others and encouraging justice.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-17.8% YoY
Grant Count
103
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+4.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation is a multi-generational family foundation inspired by a tradition of Tzedakah, lifelong learning, and a commitment to social justice. The foundation is dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for young people and promoting the sustainability of the natural environment.
Vision Statement: Through family engagement and a commitment to lifelong learning, the Foundation strives to improve under-resourced communities by focusing on issues of social justice. Utilizing a rigorous, compassionate, and innovative approach, the foundation endeavors to strengthen its own family as well as families in its communities.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Environment
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily in the areas of education and the environment, with a focus on under-resourced communities and social justice issues.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its efforts in Chicago and in communities in which family members live.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $25,051,382
- Total Revenue: $2,280,000
- Total Expenses: $2,430,000
- Total Liabilities: $200,000
- Total Giving: $1,920,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Taos Art Museum ($150,000), Natural Resources Defense Council ($50,000), Action for the Climate Emergency ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Rivers Inc Washington, DC | general operating support | $10,000 |
| Anti-Defamation League Denver, CO | general operating support | $5,000 |
| Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Aspen, CO | general operating support | $1,200 |
| Burke Mountain Academy East Burke, VT | scholarship support | $40,000 |
| Central Queens Academy Elmhurst, NY | general operating support | $35,000 |
| Children's Rights New York, NY | general operating support | $2,500 |
| Concerned Citizens of Montauk Montauk, NY | general operating support | $10,000 |
| Conservation International Arlington, VA | general operating support | $2,500 |
| Cool Culture Brooklyn, NY | general operating support | $2,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | general operating support | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinaz I Mansuri | Executive Director | 40 | $182,292 |
| Jessica Kaplan Lundevall | Trustee | — | — |
| Charles Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Anne Kaplan | Vice President/Trustee | — | — |
| Aura de La Fuente | Chairperson/Trustee | — | — |
| David Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Sarah Moore | Trustee | — | — |
| Hilary Kaplan Loretta | President/Trustee | — | — |
| Michael Kaplan | Treasurer/Trustee | — | — |
| Beth Kaplan Karmin | Trustee | — | — |
| Hannah Karmin | Trustee | — | — |
| Tellef Lundevall | Trustee | — | — |
| Kaja Lundevall Rumney | Trustee | — | — |
| Curt Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Henry Karmin | Secretary/Trustee | — | — |
| Edmund Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Stella Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Chloe Karmin | Trustee | — | — |
| Edmund Karmin | Trustee | — | — |
| Emma Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Ava Kaplan | Trustee | — | — |
| Hallvard Lundevall | Trustee | — | — |
| Iselin Lundevall | Trustee | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 161 N Clark St, Suite 3030, Chicago, IL 60601-3335
- Phone: 847-681-5051 / 312-777-1765
- Website: kapfam.com
- Email: dmansuri@kapfam.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation is a multi-generational family foundation inspired by a tradition of Tzedakah, lifelong learning, and a commitment to social justice. The foundation is dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for young people and promoting the sustainability of the natural environment. **Vision Statement:** Through family engagement and a commitment to lifelong learning, the Foundation strives to improve under-resourced communities by…
How do I apply for a grant from Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation?
**Total Giving (2023):** $1,920,500 **Total Assets (2023):** $25,051,382 The foundation makes grants primarily in the areas of education and the environment, with a focus on under-resourced communities and social justice issues.
Where does Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses its efforts in Chicago and in communities in which family members live.
What size grants does Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation award?
In 2024, Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation awarded 103 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation's EIN?
Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6099675. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mayer and Morris Kaplan 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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