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.
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
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
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 |
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
No grants recorded for .
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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—
Grants
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Total Given
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The Geyer Family Foundation
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Assets
—
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Total Given
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Love 4 One Another Charities
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Assets
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Total Given
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Donald and Luella Zibell Family Foundation
NORTHFIELD, MN
Assets
—
Grants
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Total Given
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Minnesota Citizens Concerned
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
$745K
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Total Given
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Clearway Minnesota (sm)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$442K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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