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Kaplen Brothers Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$6.1M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,124,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $800,000
  • Average Grant: $118,704
  • Geographic Focus: National (primarily New York, Massachusetts, California, and other states)

Contact Details

Location: Montclair, NJ (operational base: New York, NY)

EIN: 45-4694896

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries. They do not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Kaplen Brothers Fund Inc is a private family foundation established and granted tax-exempt status in December 2012. With approximately $91.3 million in assets, the foundation distributed $6.17 million in charitable grants in 2024 (representing 94.7% of annual expenses). The foundation is managed by trustees Veronica Kaplen and Lawrence Kaplen and operates as a traditional private grantmaking foundation. The fund supports organizations across the United States with a notable focus on arts and culture, Jewish heritage organizations, media and journalism, education, medical research, and social justice causes. The foundation takes a proactive approach to philanthropy, identifying and selecting organizations for support rather than responding to public applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Kaplen Brothers Fund does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. Instead, grants are made through trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Grant Distribution (2024):

  • 48 grants totaling $6,124,000
  • Grant range: $3,000 to $800,000
  • Median grant: $50,000
  • Average grant: $118,704

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant recipients, the foundation focuses on:

Arts & Culture:

  • Theater companies (Roundabout Theatre Company - $800,000 for capital campaign)
  • Arts education and access programs
  • Cultural preservation

Jewish Heritage & Culture:

  • Jewish cultural institutions (Yiddish Book Center - $800,000 for general operating support)
  • Educational programs focused on Jewish history and culture

Media & Journalism:

  • Public radio (WNYC New York Public Radio - $400,000 for capital campaign)
  • Oral history projects (StoryCorps - $500,000 for general operating support)
  • Literary and free expression organizations (PEN America - $500,000 for general operating support)

Medical Research:

  • University-based research programs (Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology for age-related macular degeneration research)

Environmental & Social Justice:

  • Climate advocacy (Climate Emergency Fund - $250,000 for general operating support)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's giving patterns suggest they do not typically fund:

  • International organizations (focus is on U.S.-based entities)
  • Small grassroots organizations (average grant size suggests established organizations)
  • Religious congregations
  • Individual scholarships or fellowships

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Veronica Kaplen - Trustee
  • Lawrence Kaplen - Trustee

Both trustees receive nominal annual compensation of $500 for their service. The foundation operates with minimal administrative overhead, directing the vast majority of its expenses (94.7%) to charitable distributions.

The foundation maintains a low profile with limited public information about the trustees' backgrounds or philanthropic philosophy. Decision-making authority rests entirely with the trustees, who personally identify and select grant recipients.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify organizations for support based on their own research and relationships.

Organizations receive funding through:

  • Direct trustee identification and outreach
  • Existing relationships with foundation trustees
  • Referrals from trusted advisors or other organizations

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate on a public application cycle. Trustees make funding decisions throughout the year based on their ongoing identification of organizations to support.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so there is no traditional success rate. All grants are initiated by the trustees.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates exclusively through trustee-identified grants, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, examining their funding patterns reveals what attracts their support:

Organization Characteristics:

  • Established institutions: The foundation consistently funds well-established organizations with strong track records (major theater companies, universities, nationally recognized cultural institutions)
  • Significant impact: Grant recipients tend to be organizations with substantial reach and impact in their fields
  • Cultural and educational value: Strong emphasis on organizations preserving culture, promoting arts, and advancing knowledge

Funding Patterns:

  • Multi-year relationships: Evidence suggests the foundation builds ongoing relationships with select organizations rather than making one-time grants
  • General operating and capital support: The foundation provides substantial grants for both operating support and capital campaigns, indicating trust in organizational leadership
  • Strategic grants: Larger grants ($400,000-$800,000) go to major capital campaigns and core operating support for flagship organizations

Areas of Interest:

  • Organizations at the intersection of culture and education
  • Jewish cultural preservation and celebration
  • Quality journalism and free expression
  • Climate and social justice initiatives
  • Medical research at leading institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: Do not send unsolicited grant applications - they will not be reviewed. This foundation identifies and approaches organizations for funding.
  • High-value grantmaking: With an average grant of nearly $120,000, this foundation makes substantial investments in established organizations.
  • Cultural and educational focus: The strongest pattern is support for arts, culture, Jewish heritage, and quality journalism/media.
  • Trustee-driven strategy: All funding decisions rest with Veronica and Lawrence Kaplen, who personally select organizations based on their philanthropic interests.
  • Building relationships is key: If your organization aligns with their demonstrated interests, focus on visibility in relevant networks where trustees might encounter your work.
  • Geographic reach: While based in New Jersey/New York, the foundation funds organizations across multiple states.
  • Institutional credibility matters: Grant recipients tend to be well-established organizations with strong reputations in their respective fields.

References

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