The Tepper Foundation
The Tepper Foundation is a family foundation founded in 1996 by David Tepper and based in Short Hills, New Jersey. It is a private foundation that supports organizations working to expand opportunity, meet basic needs and protect fundamental rights.
The Tepper Foundation at a glance
In short: The Tepper Foundation gave $87.0M across 148 grants in 2024 (avg $588K), mostly in New York. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $87,001,136
- +33.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 148
- +14.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $587,846
- +16.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $744,110,478
- +5.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (49 of 148, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (60% 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 Tepper Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it provides both general operating support and programmatic funding. It evaluates potential grantees based on alignment with its values and goals, measurable impact, addressing critical needs gaps, leadership and capacity, financial health and sustainability, and support for stakeholder voices.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Appaloosa 51 Jfk Pkwy 250B, Short Hills, NJ 07078
Phone: (973) 701-7000
Website: https://tepperfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Tepper Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Blue Meridian ($28.3M). Together the top 10 received $53.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
517 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 127 grants of 517 (25%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it has a place-based strategy in New Jersey and also partners with organizations with national reach. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (60%), followed by New Jersey (12%), Washington, DC (10%), Illinois (4%) and Pennsylvania (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 148 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Tepper Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 49 of 148 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $352K; repeat grants $705K. How we count
Medians: $200K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 241% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 131% 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 $25.5M (2021) to $87.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 148 grants totaling $87.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Meridian New York, NY | General Support | $28,287,513 |
| The Jewish Federations of North America New York, NY | General Support | $10,177,350 |
| GS Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc New York, NY | General Support | $3,693,156 |
| Center for Technology and Civic Life Chicago, IL | General Support | $2,000,000 |
| States United Democracy Center Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $2,000,000 |
| Charlotte Mecklenberg Library Charlotte, NC | General Support | $1,875,000 |
| Anti Defamation League New York, NY | General Support | $1,550,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | General Support | $1,300,000 |
| Protect Democracy Project Washington, DC | General Support | $1,250,000 |
| American Committee for the Weizmann Institute New York, NY | General Support | $1,200,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Tepper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $744,110,478 | $125,522,739 | $91,363,020 | $87,001,136 | 148 | $91,095,189 | $11,080,724 | $69,504,410 |
| 2023 | $704,808,350 | $197,392,418 | $69,030,213 | $65,331,679 | 129 | $68,928,405 | $6,183,398 | $58,717,170 |
| 2022 | $567,323,779 | $16,514,244 | $60,193,951 | $58,453,464 | 109 | $59,910,737 | $18,982,124 | $60,191,348 |
| 2021 | $604,701,183 | $27,888,729 | $26,781,440 | $25,522,250 | 85 | — | $27,888,729 | $56,991,907 |
| 2020 | $603,593,894 | $11,057,620 | $42,007,743 | $41,174,348 | 46 | — | $9,931,780 | $39,028,817 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tepper Foundation reported a distributable amount of $69.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations on the frontlines of expanding opportunity, including work promoting food and housing security and protecting fundamental rights. Its portfolio descriptions also identify support for mental health services, community-based organizations, the Jewish community, democratic institutions and election security, nonprofit-sector capacity, and climate resilience.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its grantmaking. The Jewish Federations of North America describes its work as protecting and enhancing the well-being of Jews worldwide through philanthropic efforts and strategic initiatives. States United Democracy Center says it advances free, fair and secure elections, while World Central Kitchen describes providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s website reports that it awarded more than $108 million to 185 organizations in 2025, nearly 25% more funding than in 2024. In filing year 2024, it made 148 grants totaling $87,001,136. Those grants ranged from $9,350 to $28,287,513, with a median of $200,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $28,287,513 to Blue Meridian and $10,177,350 to The Jewish Federations of North America, both for general support. Other awards included $2 million each to the Center for Technology and Civic Life and States United Democracy Center; $1.25 million to Protect Democracy Project; and $1.2 million each to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute and World Central Kitchen.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David A. Tepper as chairman; Randi Tepper as CEO and director; Lawrence Rogers as treasurer; Brian Tepper, Casey Tepper and Marc Kramer as directors; and Anthony Salesi as CFO.
The Tepper Foundation is led by Randi Tepper, CEO & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Randi Tepper
CEO & Director
Vice President & COO → CEO & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$196K (2022) → $25K (2024)
David A. Tepper
Chairman
President → President & CEO, 2021
President & CEO → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Tepper
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Casey Tepper
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Kramer
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Salesi
CFO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$138K (2023) → $154K (2024)
Lawrence Rogers
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Larry Rogers (2021–2022) — Treasurer
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $154K, to Anthony Salesi (CFO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Tepper Foundation
How much does The Tepper Foundation give each year?
The Tepper Foundation gave $87.0M across 148 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $65.3M across 129 grants.
What is The Tepper Foundation's typical grant size?
The Tepper Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $587,846, across 148 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tepper Foundation that year got $352K on average.
Where does The Tepper Foundation give grants?
The Tepper Foundation gives mostly in New York: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Jersey (12%) and District of Columbia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (25 grants), Washington, DC (14 grants), Newark, NJ (6 grants) and Pittsburgh, PA (5 grants).
Does The Tepper Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Tepper Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (148 of 148) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Tepper Foundation's largest grantees?
The Tepper Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Blue Meridian ($28,287,513), The Jewish Federations of North America ($10,177,350) and GS Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc ($3,693,156), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Tepper Foundation?
The Tepper Foundation reported $744.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $91.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $69.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tepper Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations on the frontlines of expanding opportunity, including work promoting food and housing security and protecting fundamental rights. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tepper Foundation?
The foundation makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Tepper Foundation's EIN?
The Tepper Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3500313. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Tepper 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 October 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 Tepper Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tepper-foundation-morg_af4f7ade4dfc4c21a7b091e344daa4fd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223500313_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tepper Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tepper-foundation-morg_af4f7ade4dfc4c21a7b091e344daa4fd},
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 Tepper 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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