The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. In 2024, it reported 23 grants totaling $4,756,738, including support for medical institutions, a university, and organizations working in areas such as antisemitism and hate.
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation at a glance
In short: The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation gave $4.8M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $207K), mostly in California. 75% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,756,738
- +174.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +109.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $206,815
- +31.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $24,014,211
- +25.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (12 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1800 Avenue Of The Stars 14Th Floo, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (973) 408-6700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ($2.4M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 72 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California received 55% of grant dollars, Michigan 20%, New York 11%, the District of Columbia 7%, and Minnesota 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 16 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $355K; repeat grants $123K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $134K repeat.
- 19% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 448% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $1.7M (2023) to $4.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | Presidential Chair | $1,428,571 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | Distinguished Chair in Children's Health | $666,667 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Stephen M Ross Athletic Campus Facilities Project | $500,000 |
| Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $350,000 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | Thomas m priselac center for innovation in performance improvement | $250,000 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Fund for Public Safety | $250,000 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $240,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Scholarships in the mayo clinic alix school of medicine | $200,000 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Tikkun Olam Fellowship Training Fund in Pediatric Pulmonology | $200,000 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | Anti-Masking Efforts | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $24,014,211 | $7,632,181 | $12,828,724 | $4,756,738 | 23 | $4,771,542 | $1,851,907 | $1,065,747 |
| 2023 | $19,212,914 | $3,173,434 | $1,863,056 | $1,731,932 | 11 | $1,745,604 | $1,056,712 | $1,003,586 |
| 2022 | $17,903,271 | $3,363,789 | $3,045,366 | $2,945,967 | 14 | $2,969,909 | $287,332 | $1,010,017 |
| 2021 | $17,584,848 | $2,423,119 | $2,650,633 | $2,607,951 | 11 | $2,623,871 | $187,653 | $999,737 |
| 2020 | $17,803,417 | $5,157,187 | $3,626,494 | $3,595,286 | 13 | — | $125,979 | $854,831 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, Cedars-Sinai describes its mission as elevating the health status of the communities it serves through healthcare, research, and education. The Anti-Defamation League describes its mission as stopping the defamation of the Jewish people and securing justice and fair treatment for all. Birthright Israel Foundation says it raises funds to support an educational trip to Israel for young Jewish adults.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $4,756,738. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $1,428,571, with a median grant of $50,000.
The largest listed awards included $1,428,571 to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for a Presidential Chair; $666,667 to Cedars-Sinai for a Distinguished Chair in Children’s Health; $500,000 to the Regents of the University of Michigan for the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus Facilities Project; and $350,000 to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies for general support. Other listed grants included $240,000 to Birthright Israel Foundation for general support, $200,000 to Mayo Clinic for scholarships in the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, and $150,000 to the Anti-Defamation League for anti-masking efforts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David Kaplan and Meredith Kaplan are listed as trustees.
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Kaplan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Kaplan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation
How much does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation give each year?
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation gave $4.8M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 11 grants.
What is The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's typical grant size?
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $206,815, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation that year got $355K on average.
Where does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation give grants?
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation gives mostly in California: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (20%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and Ann Arbor, MI (3 grants).
Does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's largest grantees?
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ($2,395,238 across 4 grants), Regents of the University of Michigan ($950,000 across 3 grants) and Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc ($350,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation?
The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation reported $24.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, Cedars-Sinai describes its mission as elevating the health status of the communities it serves through healthcare, research, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-david-and-meredith-kaplan-foundation-morg_8975b8975325415d9ea70107f246744f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_266166619_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-david-and-meredith-kaplan-foundation-morg_8975b8975325415d9ea70107f246744f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The David and Meredith 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.
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