Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation works by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send it a cold proposal; first build a relationship with someone who can open the door.
- Work that fits its focus on democracy, constitutional principles and founding-document education is the place to start, and any approach should show how it connects to those themes.
- Plan for a modest request: half of its 27 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less, the median grant was $75,000, and about 8 in 10 fall between $10,000 and $1,750,000.
- That band is typical rather than a ceiling, since the largest grant was about $1,850,000; repeat funding is strong, with 88% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in the earlier filings, so new applicants face a competitive, relationship-led route.
- The filing states no geographic focus, so location alone should not rule an organisation out.
Overview
Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (sothebys.com, amrevmuseum.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation is dedicated to furthering the understanding of democracy and how the acts of all citizens can make a difference. It provides strategic grants to further understanding of constitutional principles and works specifically to advance the fundamental principles of America’s founding documents through educational programmes and grants. Its grant record includes historical societies and museums, educational organisations, civic organisations, and a religious organisation. It therefore combines education about the founding documents with a strategic grantmaking approach, while the filing's recipient record shows support across several kinds of institution.
Themes
- Democracy and civic understanding
- Constitutional principles
- Founding-document education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, District of Columbia and Louisiana.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 27 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 58% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 20% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 12 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $62,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- New York Historical Society · General$1,715,0002024 tax year
- The Troy Andrews Foundation · General$310,0002024 tax year
- Smithsonian Institution · General$300,0002024 tax year
- Metropolitan Museum of Art · General$250,0002024 tax year
- New Orleans Center for Creative Arts · General$100,0002024 tax year
- John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation · General$75,0002024 tax year
- Park Avenue Synagogue · General$50,0002024 tax year
- iCivics · General$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Barbra Siskin — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,078,344 | $2,170,000 | $37,134,098 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,456,075 | $3,953,915 | $39,130,675 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,527,272 | $2,962,500 | $39,444,237 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY