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S. Mark Taper Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.6M
Grant Range
$3K - $1.1M
Decision Time
10mo
Success Rate
17%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,632,800 (2024)
  • 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 $186 million, the foundation distributed $6.6 million across 71 grants in 2024. The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations in Southern California through responsive and inclusive grantmaking across three funding categories: general operating support, program support, and capital support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

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

Program Funding: Support allocated to specific programs or projects within an organization. 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 organizations and arts programs
  • Civic Affairs: Community engagement and civic participation initiatives
  • Education: Educational programs and institutions
  • Environment: Environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives
  • Health: Health services and wellness programs
  • Social Services: Programs serving vulnerable populations

The foundation emphasizes grantmaking that aligns with principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with priority consideration for organizations 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
  • Organizations experiencing CEO or Executive Director transition within 12 months of LOI submission
  • Organizations 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 organizations 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 organizations 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)
  • Organization must be 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit
  • Fiscal sponsor organizations 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 organizations, representing an approximate success rate of 15-20%. In 2024, the foundation made 71 awards totaling $6,632,800.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that receive grant payments are ineligible to apply for three full calendar years following their grant. Declined applicants may reapply in the next grant cycle without waiting period restrictions.

Application Success Factors

Proportionate Request Amounts: The foundation explicitly encourages organizations 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 organization's budget size, prior grants received, and fundraising capacity.

Geographic Alignment: While the foundation serves eight Southern California counties, organizations 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.

Organizational Stability: The foundation excludes organizations experiencing leadership transitions (CEO or Executive Director changes within 12 months of LOI submission), indicating they value organizational 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 organizational governance.

Recent Funding Example: In January 2026, Pools of Hope received a $50,000 general operating support grant to provide adaptive therapeutic aquatic programs 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 emphasizes "impactful projects and mission-aligned funding" within their six focus areas, prioritizing 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 organizational planning
  • Three-year gap between grants: Organizations 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 organization's budget size and past foundation grants - the foundation emphasizes proportionate requests
  • Prioritize LA County connection: If your organization is based in and serves LA County, emphasize this as it receives priority consideration
  • Demonstrate organizational 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

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