Tapper Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,591,264 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $25 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: Multi-state (21 states), primarily Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania

Contact Details

• Website: http://www.tapperfoundation.org
• Phone: 508-477-9300
• Address: 509 Falmouth Road, Mashpee, MA 02649
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

Established in 1979 and receiving IRS charitable status in 1980, the Tapper Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation with assets of $18.5 million and annual income of $10.2 million. The foundation has demonstrated significant growth in its grantmaking, expanding from $535,000 in annual giving in 2021 to $1.9 million in 2022, and maintaining strong grantmaking levels with $1.59 million distributed in 2024. Operating as a private trust controlled by the Tapper family through Act II Prescott Corporation, the foundation has distributed 204 grants totaling $2.4 million to date. The foundation takes a strategic approach to philanthropy, focusing on education, human services, and philanthropic infrastructure across 21 states, with particular emphasis on organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate structured grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from $25 to $250,000. The median grant size falls between $3,000 and $5,000, with an average grant of approximately $12,000. Grants are distributed on an invitation-only basis throughout the year.

Priority Areas

• Education initiatives and institutions
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations
• Human Services programs

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's invitation-only approach effectively excludes organizations not already in their network or pre-selected for funding consideration.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates as a private trust with five officers/trustees. The Principal Officer is Act II Prescott Corporation, and the foundation is supported by donations from members of the Tapper family. The foundation maintains a lean governance structure typical of family foundations, allowing for flexible and responsive grantmaking within their pre-selected network of charitable organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to their IRS filings, the Tapper Charitable Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis, with recipients chosen by the foundation's trustees rather than through an open application process.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's website at http://www.tapperfoundation.org may provide additional information about their interests and activities. Given the invitation-only nature of their grantmaking, organizations should focus on demonstrating impact in the foundation's priority areas of education, human services, and philanthropy within their geographic focus regions, particularly Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Ohio.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed due to the invitation-only nature of the grantmaking process.

Success Rates

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only grantmaking approach.

Application Success Factors

As an invitation-only funder, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that have received funding from the Tapper Charitable Foundation typically:

• Operate in the foundation's priority geographic areas (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania account for the majority of grants)
• Focus on education, human services, or philanthropic infrastructure
• Have established credibility and track records in their sectors
• May have existing connections to the foundation's network or trustees

The foundation's grant distribution patterns show consistent support for certain organizations, suggesting they value long-term partnerships with pre-selected grantees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Tapper Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications - all grants are made to preselected organizations
• The foundation has significantly increased its grantmaking capacity, growing from $535K in 2021 to $1.9M in 2022
• Grant amounts vary widely from $25 to $250,000, but most grants fall in the $3,000-$5,000 range
• Geographic focus is primarily on Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania
• The foundation focuses on education, human services, and philanthropic infrastructure
• With assets of $18.5 million and annual income of $10.2 million, the foundation has substantial capacity for growth
• Organizations should focus on building visibility and credibility in the foundation's priority areas rather than preparing traditional grant applications

References

• Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/042700063 (Accessed March 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-2700063 (Accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42700063 (Accessed March 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/tapper-charitable-foundation (Accessed March 2026)
• Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/tapper-charitable-foundation,042700063/ (Accessed March 2026)
• Grantmakers.io Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/042700063-tapper-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed March 2026)
• Foundation Website: http://www.tapperfoundation.org (Accessed March 2026)