S. Mark Taper Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,867,800 (2023, per 990 filing)
• Success Rate: 15-20% (60-80 awards from 350-500 LOIs annually)
• Decision Time: 9-10 months (LOI deadline early February, decisions by end of October)
• Grant Range: $3,000 - $1,050,000
• Geographic Focus: Southern California (8 counties, priority for Los Angeles County)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.smtfoundation.org
Email: grants@smtfoundation.org
Phone: (310) 476-5543
Online Portal: https://smtfoundation.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp

Overview

The S. Mark Taper Foundation was established in 1989 by Los Angeles real estate developer and philanthropist S. Mark Taper (1901-1994), who built 35,000 homes in Southern California's postwar housing boom and was known for major gifts to Los Angeles cultural institutions including the Mark Taper Forum. Since his death in 1994, the foundation has been led by his daughter, Janice Taper Lazarof. With assets of approximately $171 million, the foundation paid $6.9 million in grants in 2023 per its most recent 990 filing. The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organisations in Southern California through responsive and inclusive grantmaking across three funding categories: general operating support, programme support, and capital support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

General Operating Support: Unrestricted core operating support for organisational sustainability. Application method: Annual grant cycle via online portal.

Programme Funding: Support allocated to specific programmes or projects within an organisation. Application method: Annual grant cycle via online portal.

Capital Funding: Minimum $100,000, restricted to Los Angeles County-based nonprofits for capital projects (buildings, equipment, renovations) serving Los Angeles County. Multi-year funding available for capital projects only. Application method: Annual grant cycle via online portal.

Priority Areas

• Arts: Supporting cultural organisations and arts programmes
• Civic Affairs: Community engagement and civic participation initiatives
• Education: Educational programmes and institutions
• Environment: Environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives
• Health: Health services and wellness programmes
• Social Services: Programmes serving vulnerable populations

The foundation emphasises grantmaking that aligns with principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with priority consideration for organisations based in and serving Los Angeles County.

What They Don't Fund

• Endowments
• Vehicles
• Government agencies
• Educational institutions (as primary applicants)
• Medical research
• Political campaigns
• Organisations experiencing CEO or Executive Director transition within 12 months of LOI submission
• Organisations that received a grant payment within the past three calendar years

Governance and Leadership

Janice Taper Lazarof - President and daughter of founder S. Mark Taper, has led the foundation since 1994.

The foundation operates with a commitment to responsive grantmaking, reviewing 350-500 Letters of Inquiry annually and awarding grants to 60-80 organisations each cycle.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The S. Mark Taper Foundation conducts one grant cycle per year with a two-stage application process:

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Submit LOI through the online grants portal. Applications open in early December and close in early February. Only online submissions are accepted - late, incomplete, or emailed submissions will not be considered.

Stage 2: Full Proposal by Invitation
Selected organisations are invited to submit full proposals after LOI review.

Required Documentation:

• California Entity Status Letter from the California Franchise Tax Board and Registry of Charitable Trusts (generated within 30 days of LOI submission, with boxes 1 and 3 checked confirming good standing)
• Organisation must be 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit
• Fiscal sponsor organisations are eligible to apply

Eligibility Requirements:

• Serve one of eight Southern California counties: Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, or Ventura
• In good standing with California Franchise Tax Board and Charitable Trusts
• No grant payment received within past three calendar years
• No CEO/Executive Director transition within 12 months of LOI submission

Decision Timeline

• LOI Submission Window: Early December to early February (approximately 2 months)
• Final Decisions: Communicated by end of October
• Total Timeline: Approximately 9-10 months from LOI deadline to final decision

Success Rates

The foundation reviews 350-500 Letters of Inquiry annually and typically awards grants to 60-80 organisations, representing an approximate success rate of 15-20%. In 2024, the foundation made 71 awards totalling $6,632,800.

Application Success Factors

Proportionate Request Amounts: The foundation explicitly encourages organisations to "request an amount that is proportionate to the size of its past grants from other foundations and the size of its overall fundraising and budget." Grant requests should align with the organisation's budget size, prior grants received, and fundraising capacity.

Geographic Alignment: While the foundation serves eight Southern California counties, organisations based in and serving Los Angeles County receive priority consideration. For capital grants, only Los Angeles County-based nonprofits with projects serving Los Angeles County are eligible.

Organisational Stability: The foundation excludes organisations experiencing leadership transitions (CEO or Executive Director changes within 12 months of LOI submission), indicating they value organisational stability and continuity.

Compliance and Good Standing: Applicants must demonstrate compliance with California state requirements through a current Entity Status Letter. This reflects the foundation's emphasis on strong organisational governance.

Recent Funding Example: In January 2026, Pools of Hope received a $50,000 general operating support grant to provide adaptive therapeutic aquatic programmes for over 4,000 individuals with special health needs and preventive health education to 15,000 residents in North Long Beach.

Mission Alignment: The foundation's responsive grantmaking approach emphasises "impactful projects and mission-aligned funding" within their six focus areas, prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Plan for long timeline: With 9-10 months from LOI deadline to final decision, factor this extended timeline into organisational planning
• Three-year gap between grants: Organisations can only receive funding once every three years, so timing applications strategically is critical
• Right-size your request: Explicitly align your funding request with your organisation's budget size and past foundation grants - the foundation emphasises proportionate requests
• Prioritise LA County connection: If your organisation is based in and serves LA County, emphasise this as it receives priority consideration
• Demonstrate organisational stability: Avoid applying during leadership transitions, as this is an explicit disqualifier
• Competition is significant: With only 15-20% of LOIs resulting in grants, ensure your LOI is compelling and clearly aligned with foundation priorities
• Secure required documentation early: Obtain your California Entity Status Letter within 30 days of submission and ensure both required boxes are checked

References

• S. Mark Taper Foundation Official Website - https://www.smtfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• S. Mark Taper Foundation Grant Guidelines - https://www.smtfoundation.org/guidelines.html (accessed January 2026)
• S. Mark Taper Foundation Application Information - https://smtfoundation.org/apply.html (accessed January 2026)
• S. Mark Taper Foundation FAQ - https://smtfoundation.org/faq.html (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - S Mark Taper Foundation (EIN 320516588) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/320516588 (accessed January 2026)
• Wikipedia - Mark Taper - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Taper (accessed January 2026)
• InfluenceWatch - S Mark Taper Foundation - https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/s-mark-taper-foundation/ (accessed January 2026)
• PR Newswire - "Pools of Hope Awarded $50,000 Grant from S. Mark Taper Foundation" - January 7, 2026 - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pools-of-hope-awarded-50-000-grant-from-s-mark-taper-foundation-to-meet-rising-community-needs-302654729.html (accessed January 2026)