S. Mark Taper Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The S. Mark Taper Foundation funds arts, civic affairs, education, environment, health and social services work, and supports general operating, programme and capital costs.
- It prioritises organisations based in and serving Los Angeles County, but its geographic focus also covers Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, so check your location fits before applying.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $25,000 and $200,000, with a median of $75,000, so a request in that range is realistic; the Foundation also encourages applicants to ask for an amount proportionate to their own past grants, fundraising and budget.
- Apply by Letter of Inquiry through its online portal within the fixed window of December through February each year, and note that it says it gives equal consideration to past grantees and organisations that have never received a grant from it.
- Do not apply if you are a government agency, a public or private university or community college, an elementary, middle or high school, a charter school, focused on scientific or medical research or a specific disease, involved in elections or political campaigns or in documentary filmmaking or television programming, have had or will have a change in CEO or Executive Director within twelve months of LOI submission, have loans to or from board members or executive staff, have received a grant from the Foundation within the past three calendar years, or are seeking funding for an endowment, a vehicle, or an individual.
Overview
S. Mark Taper Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The S. Mark Taper Foundation describes itself as a responsive grantmaker, committed to responsive and inclusive grantmaking through general operating, programme and capital support. It typically funds arts, civic affairs, education, environment, health and social services. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations providing services in Los Angeles, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino or Ventura County; it prioritises organisations based in and serving Los Angeles County. Its support includes unrestricted core operating funding, funding for a specific programme or project, and capital support for physical projects such as buildings, land, renovations, construction and equipment. It gives equal consideration to past grantees and organisations that have not previously received a grant, subject to its eligibility rules.
Themes
- Arts
- Civic affairs
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Social services
Geographic Focus
Los Angeles County; Imperial County; Riverside County; San Bernardino County; Ventura County.
What They Don't Fund
- Endowment funds
- Vehicles
- Government agencies
- Universities (public and private) and community colleges
- Elementary, middle and high schools (public and private)
- Charter schools
- Scientific and/or medical research
- Organizations focused on specific diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease)
- Elections, political candidates, or political campaigns
- Documentary filmmaking or television programming
- Organizations that have had or will have a change in CEO/Executive Director within twelve months of LOI submission
- Organizations with loans to/from board members or executive staff
- A non-profit organization that received a grant payment from the S. Mark Taper Foundation within the past three calendar years
- Individuals
How to apply
Applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online grants portal.
Deadlines: Letters of inquiry are accepted annually from December through February.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 19% 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 220 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prioritises organisations based in and serving Los Angeles County.
- The Foundation encourages applicants to request an amount proportionate to their organisation's past grants, fundraising and budget.
- The Foundation may conduct a site visit during or after the application process.
- The Foundation gives equal consideration and due diligence to past grant recipients and organisations that have never received a grant from it.
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 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 19% of grant dollars went to organisations S. Mark Taper 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 71 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $75,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ronald McDonald House Charities Southern California · Capital support to acquire and renovate westside house.$500,0002024 tax year
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank · Capital support for headquarters and warehouse.$400,0002024 tax year
- Blind Children's Center · Capital support for renovation and expansion of campus.$250,0002024 tax year
- Center Theatre Group · Program support for 2024-2025 season at the mark taper forum$250,0002024 tax year
- St John's Community Health · Capital support to equip a renovated building in compton.$250,0002024 tax year
- Holocaust Museum La · Capital support for museum campus expansion.$200,0002024 tax year
- HealthRIGHT 360 · Capital support for repairs on pomona campus.$200,0002024 tax year
- Skirball Cultural Center · School programs support.$175,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Roy Weitz — Trustee And Investment Officer
- Amelia Taper Bolker — Trustee And President
- Janice Taper Lazarof — Trustee And President Emeritus
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $9,704,637 | $7,537,100 | $148,056,231 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,309,803 | $6,867,800 | $170,681,940 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,381,572 | $6,632,800 | $186,186,083 | 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
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to S. Mark Taper Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (310) 476-5413
- questions@smtfoundation.org
- grants@smtfoundation.org
- QUESTIONS@SMTFOUNDATION.ORG
- Los Angeles, CA
- smtfoundation.org
Applying to S. Mark Taper Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (310) 476-5413
- questions@smtfoundation.org
- grants@smtfoundation.org
- QUESTIONS@SMTFOUNDATION.ORG
- Los Angeles, CA
- smtfoundation.org