The Tepper Foundation
The Tepper Foundation is a family foundation established in 1996 by David Tepper, a financier and founder of the hedge fund firm Appaloosa Management. Based in Short Hills, New Jersey, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation that supports effective organizations working to expand opportunity and meet critical community needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$744.1M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$87.0M
+33.2% YoY
Grant Count
148
+14.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$588K
+16.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations working on the frontlines to expand opportunity through:
- Promoting food and housing security
- Protecting fundamental rights
- Supporting the Jewish community
- Safeguarding rights
- Strengthening the nonprofit sector
- Providing relief in the face of disasters and natural disasters
- Responding to crises with nimble, rapid deployment of resources
The foundation's early work spanned K-12 education advocacy and addressing hunger within local communities. The foundation has demonstrated responsiveness to major crises, including the 2008 financial crisis, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grantmaking
The foundation has supported grantees with hundreds of millions of dollars in direct support since its inception. Based on recent financial data, typical grant awards range from $558 to $35,217,240.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a primary focus on New Jersey as the Tepper family's home state, with deep roots in the New Jersey philanthropic landscape. The foundation also funds organizations across the United States, with particular activity in New York and the District of Columbia.
In New Jersey specifically, the foundation has invested in:
- Emergency food networks
- Community resilience and climate preparedness
- K-12 education quality improvements
- Organizations working to strengthen communities statewide
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total Assets: $744,110,478
- Total Revenue: $125,522,739
- Total Expenses: $91,363,020
- Total Giving: $87,001,136
- Net Income: $34,159,719
- Total Liabilities: $506,000
Organization Details:
- EIN: 22-3500313
- Tax-exempt since May 1997
- Employees: 15 (with 30.8% year-over-year growth)
- Contact: office@tepperfoundations.org, info@tepperfoundations.org
- Phone: 973-701-7000
- Website: tepperfoundation.org
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $744,110,478 | $704,808,350 | $567,323,779 |
| Revenue | $125,522,739 | $197,392,418 | $16,514,244 |
| Expenses | $91,363,020 | $69,030,213 | $60,193,951 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $91,095,189 | $68,928,405 | $59,910,737 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,080,724 | $6,183,398 | $18,982,124 |
| Distributable Amount | $69,504,410 | $58,717,170 | $60,191,348 |
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
246 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blue Meridian ($28,287,513), Center for Technology and Civic Life ($2,000,000), Charlotte Mecklenberg Library ($1,875,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 180 TURNING LIVES AROUND INC HAZLET, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALLIANCE NEPTUNE, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ALL HANDS AND HEARTS SMART RESPONSE INC MATTAPOISETT, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,200,000 |
| AMERICAN FORESTS WASHINGTON DC, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE NEWARK, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,070,500 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOIN DIST COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $420,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| AMERICAS GROW A ROW PITTSTOWN, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Executives:
- Jessica Johansen: Director Special Initiatives
- Shelley Skinner: Chief Portfolio Officer
- Brian Tepper: Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID A TEPPER | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| RANDI TEPPER | CEO/DIRECTOR | 40 | $25,000 |
| LAWRENCE ROGERS | TREASURER | 10 | — |
| BRIAN TEPPER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CASEY TEPPER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARC KRAMER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ANTHONY SALESI | CFO | 40 | $154,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has recently increased its focus on Jewish community security and protection:
Tepper Foundation Awards $8.75 Million to Jewish Children's ...Awarded $8.75 million to the Jewish Federations of North America to bolster security measures and support interfaith outreach initiatives
Tepper Foundation Awards $8.75 Million to Jewish Children's ...Distributed $2.5 million through its Security Fund to federations, camps, and after-school programs to protect young children in Jewish meeting places in response to rising antisemitism
Tepper Foundation Awards $8.75 Million to Jewish Children's ...The foundation continues to expand its giving and remains actively engaged in responding to community needs across its priority areas.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Tepper Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations working on the frontlines to expand opportunity through: • Promoting food and housing security • Protecting fundamental rights • Supporting the Jewish community • Safeguarding rights • Strengthening the nonprofit sector • Providing relief in the face of disasters and natural disasters • Responding to crises with nimble, rapid deployment of resources The foundation's early work spanned K-12 education advocacy and addressing hunger within local communities. T…
How do I apply for a grant from The Tepper Foundation?
The foundation has supported grantees with hundreds of millions of dollars in direct support since its inception. Based on recent financial data, typical grant awards range from $558 to $35,217,240. **Recent Grant Activity:** • $8.75 million awarded to Jewish Children's programs through the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to bolster security and support interfaith outreach • $2.5 million in security grants distributed to federations, camps, and after-school programs to protect young …
Where does The Tepper Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a primary focus on New Jersey as the Tepper family's home state, with deep roots in the New Jersey philanthropic landscape. The foundation also funds organizations across the United States, with particular activity in New York and the District of Columbia. In New Jersey specifically, the foundation has invested in: • Emergency food networks • Community resilience and climate preparedness • K-12 education quality improvements • Organizations working to strengthen communi…
What size grants does The Tepper Foundation award?
In 2024, The Tepper Foundation awarded 148 grants totaling $87.0M — an average of about $588K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Tepper Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Tepper Foundation reported a distributable amount of $69.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tepper Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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