The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation is a private foundation established in 2007 and based in Los Angeles, California. The foundation is led by trustee David B. Kaplan and supported by David and Meredith Kaplan. It operates as a family foundation focused on strategic philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.0M
+25.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
+174.6% YoY
Grant Count
23
+109.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$207K
+31.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Healthcare and healthcare innovation
Grantmaking
The foundation made 13 grants in 2024 and 10 grants in 2023.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, New York, and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $24,014,211 (2024)
- Total Giving: $4,756,738 (2024)
- Total Revenues: $7,632,181 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $12,828,724 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,014,211 | $19,212,914 | $17,903,271 |
| Revenue | $7,632,181 | $3,173,434 | $3,363,789 |
| Expenses | $12,828,724 | $1,863,056 | $3,045,366 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,771,542 | $1,745,604 | $2,969,909 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,851,907 | $1,056,712 | $287,332 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,065,747 | $1,003,586 | $1,010,017 |
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
72 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cedars-sinai Medical Center ($1,428,571), Cedars-sinai Medical Center ($666,667), Regents of the University of Michigan ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | HEROES AMONG US CELEBRATION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | WOMEN'S CAMPAIGN LOS ANGELES | $10,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | ANTI-MASKING EFFORTS | $150,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $43,500 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $240,000 |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | SMIDT HEART INSTITUTE | $50,000 |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | THOMAS M PRISELAC CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT | $250,000 |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH | $666,667 |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR | $1,428,571 |
| ERASE PTSD NOW HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David Kaplan is the co-founder of Ares Management Corporation, a global investment management company, and serves as chair of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors. Meredith Kaplan co-leads the family's philanthropic efforts alongside David.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID KAPLAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| MEREDITH KAPLAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In January 2025, Cedars-Sinai announced a $10 million gift from David and Meredith Kaplan to establish the David and Meredith Kaplan Presidential Chair. The inaugural chair holder is Cedars-Sinai President and CEO Peter L. Slavin, MD. The gift is intended to advance healthcare innovation and support Slavin's vision to advance Cedars-Sinai's mission as a model for quality care, research, education, and community service.
Cedars-Sinai Receives $10 Million From David And Meredith Kaplan - Wealth-XThis gift builds on the Kaplans' previous philanthropic support of Cedars-Sinai, including a $5 million gift in 2020 to establish the David and Meredith Kaplan Distinguished Chair in Children's Health.
Cedars-Sinai Receives $10 Million From David And Meredith Kaplan - Wealth-XSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Healthcare and healthcare innovation
How do I apply for a grant from The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving: $4,756,738 (2024) • Typical award range: $5,265–$1,428,571 • Recent grants made include: • $1,428,571 to Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for Presidential Chair (2024) • $666,667 to Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for Distinguished Chair in Children's Health (2024) • $500,000 to Regents of the University of Michigan for Stephen M Ross Athletic Campus Facilities Project (2024) The foundation made 13 grants in 2024 and 10 grants in …
Where does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, New York, and Michigan.
What size grants does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation award?
In 2024, The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $207K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's EIN?
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6166619. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The David and Meredith 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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