The Kaplen Foundation
The Kaplen Foundation is a private foundation based in Tenafly, New Jersey. In filing year 2025, it reported 95 grants totaling $5,586,443, with most grant dollars going to recipients in New Jersey and New York.
The Kaplen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kaplen Foundation gave $5.6M across 95 grants in 2025 (avg $59K), mostly in New Jersey. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,586,443
- -29.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 95
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $58,805
- -32.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $61,859,792
- +9.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (8 of 95, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (70% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Kaplen Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 792, Tenafly, NJ 07670
Phone: (201) 227-0722
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kaplen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dominican University ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $5.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
477 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 416 grants of 477 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey and 29% to recipients in New York. The filing also lists Massachusetts, Alabama, and Florida at 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 95 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kaplen Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 95 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $64K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 185% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.6M (2025) to $8.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 95 grants totaling $5.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican University Orangeburg, NY | General Support | $1,100,000 |
| Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Tenafly, NJ | General Support | $826,000 |
| Temple Sinai of Bergen County Tenafly, NJ | General Support | $665,096 |
| Adler Aphasia Center Maywood, NJ | General Support | $501,800 |
| Jewish Federation of Northern NJ Paramus, NJ | General Support | $500,850 |
| Jewish Home Foundation Rockleigh, NJ | General Support | $401,100 |
| Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative Hackensack, NJ | General Support | $375,000 |
| Englewood Health Foundation Englewood, NJ | General Support | $320,000 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | General Support | $251,000 |
| Roundabout Theatre CO New York, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Kaplen Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,859,792 | $14,541,985 | $6,342,284 | $5,586,443 | 95 | $6,173,354 | $14,374,055 | $3,334,688 |
| 2024 | $56,478,634 | $2,399,080 | $8,464,826 | $7,961,676 | 91 | $8,301,519 | $2,235,773 | $3,572,236 |
| 2023 | $62,226,199 | $3,145,497 | $8,574,476 | $7,939,553 | 95 | $8,405,134 | $2,980,555 | $3,675,753 |
| 2022 | $67,021,821 | $5,386,900 | $7,607,968 | $6,932,389 | 98 | $7,377,535 | $5,156,467 | $4,319,383 |
| 2021 | $69,815,090 | $7,697,742 | $7,816,912 | $7,182,047 | 98 | — | $7,434,028 | $4,442,275 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kaplen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants show support for organizations working in areas including health care, services for people with disabilities, Jewish community and advocacy work, and the performing arts. For example, the Adler Aphasia Center describes its work as supporting people with aphasia and caregivers through communication groups, caregiver programs, advocacy, and research. Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative says it provides free health care to working uninsured people in Bergen County. Roundabout Theatre Co. was also among the foundation’s 2025 grantees.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 95 grants totaling $5,586,443. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,100,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards included Dominican University ($1,100,000), Kaplen JCC on the Palisades ($826,000), Temple Sinai of Bergen County ($665,096), and Adler Aphasia Center ($501,800); each was listed for general support.
Other 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The American Jewish Committee received $251,000; it describes its mission as advancing the wellbeing of the Jewish people and Israel, human rights, and democratic values. The Anti-Defamation League received $50,000 and describes its work as fighting antisemitism and other forms of hate. North Jersey Friendship House received $30,000; it says it supports people with varying abilities and developmental needs through clinical treatment, community integration, vocational training, and work opportunities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Margaret Kaplen as president, Nancy Sutherland as secretary, and Peter G. Tate and James Tate as trustees.
The Kaplen Foundation is led by Margaret Kaplen, President since 2022 (on filings since 2021); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margaret Kaplen
President
Trustee & President → President, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$58K (2021) → $58K (2025)
James Tate
Trustee
Trustee & Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Peter G. Tate
Trustee
Trustee & Vice President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Nancy Sutherland
Secretary
Trustee & Secretary → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$97K (2021) → $199K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $199K, to Nancy Sutherland (Secretary). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Kaplen Foundation
How much does The Kaplen Foundation give each year?
The Kaplen Foundation gave $5.6M across 95 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8.0M across 91 grants.
What is The Kaplen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kaplen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $58,805, across 95 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kaplen Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Kaplen Foundation give grants?
The Kaplen Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (19 grants), Englewood, NJ (9 grants), Tenafly, NJ (8 grants) and Paramus, NJ (4 grants).
Does The Kaplen Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Kaplen Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (95 of 95) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Kaplen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kaplen Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Dominican University ($1,100,000), Kaplen JCC on the Palisades ($826,000) and Temple Sinai of Bergen County ($665,096), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Kaplen Foundation?
The Kaplen Foundation reported $61.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Kaplen Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its grants show support for organizations working in areas including health care, services for people with disabilities, Jewish community and advocacy work, and the performing arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kaplen Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it 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 Kaplen Foundation's EIN?
The Kaplen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6048152. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Kaplen 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 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kaplen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kaplen-foundation-morg_24aa2aac0e2e4ab395beb237292ad1bd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226048152_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kaplen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kaplen-foundation-morg_24aa2aac0e2e4ab395beb237292ad1bd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Kaplen 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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