Edwin Caplin Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Music organisations are the clear fit: the foundation's grants go mainly to music schools, conservatories, arts education institutions, orchestras, chamber music groups, concert venues and music programmes, and the filing describes almost all of them as general rather than project support.
- The foundation is by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, and the filing describes no submission route, so an organisation without an existing link should not send a cold proposal.
- If an invitation or introduction is available, a request near the middle of the typical band makes sense: about 8 in 10 of its 42 grants to organisations fall between $20,500 and $100,000, the median grant is $55,000, and the largest was $160,000.
- In its most recent filing, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so the foundation returns to a settled group of grantees, which suggests a relationship-led and fairly competitive approach.
- No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, but that describes past giving rather than a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Edwin Caplin Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Wilmington Trust Company N A, in Wilmington, DE.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s grants go predominantly to music organisations, including music schools, conservatories, arts education institutions, orchestras, chamber music groups, concert venues and music programmes. The filings describe almost all grants as general rather than identifying restricted projects, so the record reflects support for the organisations’ wider work. Its grants are concentrated in New York, with only a small amount reaching an organisation in the District of Columbia. The recipient pattern spans music education and performance, from community music schools to professional ensembles and venues. The foundation’s contributions are directed to preselected charitable organisations rather than accepting unsolicited requests.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Music organisations
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filings do not describe a submission route.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% 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 42 grants to organisations were $55,000 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 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations Edwin Caplin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $55,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Third Street Music School Settlement · General$160,0002024 tax year
- Bargemusic · General$100,0002024 tax year
- Bloomingdale School of Music · General$60,0002024 tax year
- Kaufman Music Center · General$55,9102024 tax year
- Harlem School of the Arts · General$55,0002024 tax year
- Myriad USA Verbier Festival · Charitable$55,0002024 tax year
- Brooklyn Conservatory of Music · General$55,0002024 tax year
- Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School · General$55,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Cretien Risley — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,051,922 | $771,500 | $16,420,129 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,149,514 | $874,541 | $17,551,977 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,021,004 | $726,901 | $18,687,905 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Edwin Caplin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE (office of its trustee, Wilmington Trust Company N A)
Applying to Edwin Caplin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE (office of its trustee, Wilmington Trust Company N A)