The Kaplen Brothers Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Fund makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation it has not already chosen should not send one.
- In its latest filing, 98% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the filings before, so repeat giving dominates and new grantees look rare.
- Its typical grants fall between $10,000 and $250,000 (about 8 in 10 of its 153 grants), with a median of $50,000 and half of grants at $50,000 or less, so a request near $50,000 sits in line with its record, though its largest grant was $1,000,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- Its stated geographic focus is absent, and its grants are mainly in New York and Massachusetts, but that pattern is not a rule about who may apply.
- Its recorded grants span theatre, museums, journalism, environmental justice, education and other fields without a single stated area, so fit depends on how closely your work matches that varied record.
Overview
The Kaplen Brothers Fund is a US private foundation based in Montclair, NJ.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across its recorded grants, the Fund has supported a broad mix of organisations. Its recipients include theatre and performing-arts organisations, museums, archives and literary bodies, as well as radio and journalism organisations. The stated purposes include general operating support and capital campaigns, alongside support for broadcasts, concerts and lectures, and research into eye conditions. Other grants have supported environmental justice and climate work, civil liberties, reproductive rights, homelessness services, education and youth organisations. The filings show substantial support for organisations based in New York, alongside grants to organisations in Massachusetts and elsewhere. The grant record reflects varied charitable giving rather than a single stated field or beneficiary type.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York and Massachusetts.
How to apply
It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 153 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations The Kaplen Brothers Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 56 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Roundabout Theatre Company · For the capital campaign$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Yiddish Book Center · For general operating support$1,000,0002025 tax year
- StoryCorps · For general operating support$500,0002025 tax year
- PEN America · General operating support and the centenary campaign$500,0002025 tax year
- WNYC New York Public Radio · Capital campaign "hear the future"$400,0002025 tax year
- Climate Emergency Fund · For general operating support$250,0002025 tax year
- Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology · Age-related macular degeneration research$250,0002025 tax year
- New York Philharmonic · For radio broadcasts$200,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lawrence Kaplen — Trustee
- Veronica Kaplen — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $6,100,608 | $5,816,500 | $113,645,993 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,517,000 | $6,124,000 | $120,994,248 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $6,816,411 | $6,362,000 | $128,637,834 | Filing for 2025 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 The Kaplen Brothers Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Montclair, NJ
Applying to The Kaplen Brothers Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Montclair, NJ