The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan
The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Established in 2015, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Key facts about The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan
- EIN
- 47-4971406
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $279,720
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- Average grant
- $7,361
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (16 of 38, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,275,822
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (44% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan's 38 itemized 2024 grants were Minnesota (44%), District of Columbia (22%) and Maryland (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (10 grants), Minneapolis, MN (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants) and Minnetonka, MN (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 38 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 66% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan
- How to evaluate The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
+13.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$280K
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
38
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-26.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan reported a distributable amount of $271K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not provide a public mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Jewish Nonprofits
- Reproductive Health
- Family Services
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds operating support. Application procedures and specific guidelines are not detailed in available sources.
Average Grant
amount: $500–$117,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and regions, including:
- Minnesota (primary focus)
- California
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Florida
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Washington D.C.
The foundation also supports major metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 38 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $4,645,973–$5,275,822
- Total revenues: $571,602
- Total expenses: $316,188
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $534,248
- Investment income and dividends: $86,172
Financial Trends:
- Grants and contributions decreased 57% from 2022 to 2023
- Investment income increased 27.4% from 2022 to 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,275,822 | $4,645,973 | $4,390,559 |
| Revenue | $914,332 | $571,602 | $1,295,884 |
| Expenses | $284,483 | $316,188 | $368,267 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $280,588 | $303,818 | $363,304 |
| Net Investment Income | $270,437 | $87,264 | $282,184 |
| Distributable Amount | $270,858 | $214,808 | $178,045 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
136 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Minneapolis Jewish Federation ($60,000), J Street Education Fund ($32,500), Temple Israel ($30,400).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION Minnetonka, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| J STREET EDUCATION FUND Washington, DC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $32,500 |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL Minneapolis, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,400 |
| KID MUSEUM Bethesda, MD | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES Minnetonka, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| HERZL CAMP Minneapolis, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND Philadelphia, PA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON DC Washington, DC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINTON Rockville, MD | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, CA | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by an uncompensated volunteer board:
- Sylvia Kaplan – President
- Samuel Kaplan – Officer
- Sonia Chessen – Vice President
- Kerri Lehmann – Treasurer
- Jill Chessen – Secretary
None of the leadership team receives compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvia Kaplan | President | — | — |
| Sonia Chessen | Vice President | — | — |
| Kerri Lehmann | Treasurer | — | — |
| Jill Chessen | Secretary | — | — |
| Samuel Kaplan | Officer | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan fund?
The foundation does not provide a public mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Jewish Nonprofits • Reproductive Health • Family Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $279,720–$304,000 • Average grant amount: $500–$117,000 • Median grant amount: $5,000 • Grant maximum: $60,000 • Number of grants made: 30 grants (2023) **Recent Grantees Include:** • Minneapolis Jewish Federation ($60,000) • Kid Museum ($50,000) • J Street Education Fund ($27,500) • Jewish Family & Children Services The foundation primarily funds operating support. Application procedures and specific guidelines are not detailed in available sources.
Where does The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and regions, including: • Minnesota (primary focus) • California • District of Columbia • New York • Florida • Maryland • Pennsylvania • Virginia • Washington D.C. The foundation also supports major metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan award?
In 2024, The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan awarded 38 grants totaling $280K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan reported a distributable amount of $271K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan's EIN?
The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4971406. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.