The S. Mark Taper Foundation is a private family foundation based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in local communities. Founded in 1989 by real estate developer and financier S. Mark Taper, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since June 2017.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$186.2M
+9.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.6M
-3.4% YoY
Grant Count
71
+1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
-4.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, S Mark Taper Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to responsive and inclusive grantmaking across general operating support, program support, and capital projects. Primary funding interests include:
- Children and youth
- Health care
- Social services
- Employment
- Education
- Environment
Grantmaking
The foundation supports general operating support, program support, and capital projects.
Grant Range
$3,000–$1,050,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some activity in New York and the District of Columbia. Primary focus is on Los Angeles and the surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $170.7–$186.2 million
- Total Revenue: $8.37 million
- Total Expenses: $9.31 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.03 million
- Investment Income: $3.2 million
As of 2022:
- Investment Income: $2.59 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $186,186,083 | $170,681,940 | $148,056,231 |
| Revenue | $16,708,190 | $8,374,826 | $7,706,659 |
| Expenses | $9,381,572 | $9,309,803 | $9,704,637 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,780,246 | $7,949,197 | $8,465,868 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,402,168 | $7,128,331 | $6,555,056 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,799,056 | $7,772,639 | $7,858,471 |
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
1 open opportunity from S Mark Taper Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Southern California ($500,000), Los Angeles Regional Food Bank ($400,000), Blind Children's Center Inc ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT TO ACQUIRE AND RENOVATE WESTSIDE HOUSE. | $500,000 |
| LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR HEADQUARTERS AND WAREHOUSE. | $400,000 |
| BLIND CHILDREN'S CENTER INC LOS ANGELES, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF CAMPUS. | $250,000 |
| CENTER THEATRE GROUP LOS ANGELES, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 2024-2025 SEASON AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM | $250,000 |
| ST JOHN'S COMMUNITY HEALTH LOS ANGELES, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT TO EQUIP A RENOVATED BUILDING IN COMPTON. | $250,000 |
| HEALTHRIGHT 360 SAN FRANCISCO, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR REPAIRS ON POMONA CAMPUS. | $200,000 |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA LOS ANGELES, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR MUSEUM CAMPUS EXPANSION. | $200,000 |
| SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | SCHOOL PROGRAMS SUPPORT. | $175,000 |
| KIDSPACE A PARTICIPARTORY MUSEUM PASADENA, CA | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER RENOVATION. | $165,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES RIVERSIDE, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Amelia Taper Bolker – Trustee and President
- Janice Taper Lazarof – Trustee and President Emeritus (daughter of founder S. Mark Taper)
- Roy Weitz – Trustee and Investment Officer
- Adrienne Wittenberg – Executive Director
- Ilene Silberman – Chief Financial Officer
- Kristen Haggins – Senior Program Officer
- Deborah Green – Senior Accountant
- Thomas Gallatin – Grants Program Officer
The foundation employs 6 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANICE TAPER LAZAROF | TRUSTEE AND PRESIDENT EMERITUS | 10 | — |
| AMELIA TAPER BOLKER | TRUSTEE AND PRESIDENT | 15 | — |
| ROY WEITZ | TRUSTEE AND INVESTMENT OFFICER | 10 | $12,914 |
Contact Information
Office Location: The S. Mark Taper Foundation 12011 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 400 Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 476-5413 Email: questions@smtfoundation.org Website: www.smtfoundation.org
The office is located in the Comerica Bank building in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, just east of Bundy Drive.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does S Mark Taper Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to responsive and inclusive grantmaking across general operating support, program support, and capital projects. Primary funding interests include: • Children and youth • Health care • Social services • Employment • Education • Environment
How do I apply for a grant from S Mark Taper Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving: $6.17–$6.63 million annually • Typical grant range: $3,000–$1,050,000 • Median grant size: $75,000 • Recent annual grant count: 71 grants **Grant Types:** The foundation supports general operating support, program support, and capital projects. **Recent Grant Examples:** • Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: $900,000 (Capital Support for Children's Healing Garden) • Children's Hospital Los Angeles: $300,000 (Program Support for the Mark Taper…
Where does S Mark Taper Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some activity in New York and the District of Columbia. Primary focus is on Los Angeles and the surrounding region.
What size grants does S Mark Taper Foundation award?
In 2024, S Mark Taper Foundation awarded 71 grants totaling $6.6M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is S Mark Taper Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, S Mark Taper Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is S Mark Taper Foundation's EIN?
S Mark Taper Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0516588. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in S Mark Taper 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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