The Traphagen Foundation is a private foundation located in New York, NY, established in 1978. The foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN 13-2894831. It operates as a grantmaking foundation with no employees, focusing on supporting other organizations exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) through contributions and grants.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
+22.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$220K
-24.7% YoY
Grant Count
41
+28.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-41.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Traphagen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $128K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support other charitable organizations through contributions. The foundation makes general purpose grants to various nonprofit organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation made 42 grants to various organizations. Recent notable grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking reflects a geographic focus on Florida communities, particularly the Hobe Sound area, as evidenced by grants to local organizations in that region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,958,522
- Total Revenues: $1,014,679
- Total Expenses: $334,034
The foundation maintains substantial assets and generates significant annual revenue, allowing for consistent grantmaking activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,958,522 | $3,239,769 | $3,565,965 |
| Revenue | $1,014,679 | $8,747 | $-834,354 |
| Expenses | $334,034 | $393,509 | $475,275 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $225,108 | $291,567 | $347,315 |
| Net Investment Income | $905,769 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $128,245 | $167,534 | $205,503 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Teak Fellowship ($52,600), St Luke 's Episcopal Church ($35,000), Hobe Sound Community Chest ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY FOR TEACHERS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $8,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,200 |
| BANNER LAKE CLUB HOBE SOUND, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $600 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS HOBE SOUND HOBE SOUND, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK CITY, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
| DARBSTER FOUNDATION WEST PALM BEACH, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| EAST HAMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY EAST HAMPTON, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $530 |
| GRASSROOTS GROCERY BRONX, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $267 |
| HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barbara Traphagen is listed as personnel associated with the foundation.
The foundation was established by Ross E. Traphagen, Jr., a Yale University graduate and Harvard Law School alumnus who had a distinguished career as an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co. (becoming a partner in 1968) and later founded his own private investment firm, Plough Penny Partners. Ross E. Traphagen, Jr. was known as a strong supporter of educational causes and served as a trustee of multiple schools and universities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURA TUTTLE TRAPHAGEN | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JUDSON B TRAPHAGEN | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Traphagen Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support other charitable organizations through contributions. The foundation makes general purpose grants to various nonprofit organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Traphagen Foundation?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation made 42 grants to various organizations. Recent notable grants include: • The Teak Fellowship: $52,600 (2024) • Hobe Sound Community Chest: $20,000 (2024) • Jupiter Island Medical Clinic: $10,000 (2024) The foundation distributed approximately $117,797 across 24 documented grants in 2024, with additional grants bringing the total to grants from 42 organizations.
Where does The Traphagen Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking reflects a geographic focus on Florida communities, particularly the Hobe Sound area, as evidenced by grants to local organizations in that region.
What size grants does The Traphagen Foundation award?
In 2024, The Traphagen Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $220K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Traphagen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Traphagen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $128K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Traphagen Foundation's EIN?
The Traphagen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2894831. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Traphagen 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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