The Kaplan Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts on medical institutions and higher‑education athletics/program endowments, while also supporting Jewish and pro‑Israel causes and a small set of national security/advocacy organizations. Their giving favors major hospitals and universities (frequent multi‑hundred‑thousand to multi‑million dollar commitments), youth education initiatives, and Jewish identity/travel programs, often via named chairs, scholarships, and capital projects.
A defining feature of The David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation C/o Citrin Cooperman is its repeated use of large named grants to build long-lived medical and academic commitments, especially at Cedars-Sinai and the University of Michigan. The foundation’s recent giving includes a $1,428,571 presidential chair at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and multi-year support for the David & Meredith Kaplan Distinguished Chair in Children’s Health, signaling a preference for endowed positions rather than one-time project funding. In higher education, the foundation has backed the University of Michigan through both athletics and student support, including an endowed men’s basketball scholarship fund and facilities-related gifts. It also supports Jewish identity and Israel-linked programming, such as synagogue-based Israel trips and Birthright Israel, while funding a smaller set of national security and anti-hate organizations. Medical relief appears as a separate thread, with support tied to Sheba Medical Center’s mission to Ukraine. Across the profile, the pattern is one of targeted, often named commitments to hospitals, universities, and community institutions.
Medical giving is a central part of the foundation’s portfolio. In 2025, it gave $666,667 to Cedars-sinai Medical Center for the Distinguished Chair in Children’s Health, and another $250,000 for the Thomas M Priselac Center for Innovation in Performance Improvement. Pediatric specialty care also appears in a $72,000 grant to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for the Center of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. The foundation also backs medical education and faculty support at Mayo Clinic, including $200,000 for scholarships in the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Beyond healthcare, the foundation funds Jewish education and Israel engagement. It gave $300,000 to Wilshire Boulevard Temple for a B’nei Mitzvah Israel trip and $240,000 to Birthright Israel Foundation for general support. Community and cultural giving includes $100,000 to Museum Associates Dba Los Angeles County Museum of Art for the LACMA exhibition fund.
Grant size varies widely, with a p25 of $16,800, a median of $100,000, and a p75 of $300,000. The distribution shows a mix of smaller community grants and much larger institutional commitments, including seven-figure and high six-figure awards. The foundation behaves like a regular private funder rather than a DAF and makes grants nationally. Recipients recur across years: Cedars-sinai Medical Center, the University of Michigan, Mayo Clinic, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, and the Anti-Defamation League all appear more than once in the recent record. It also funds individuals, alongside organizations, through scholarship and endowed support vehicles.
$12.8M
$24M
$7.6M
$12.8M
Most grants fall between $17K and $300K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$17K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$300K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, high‑value grants to a small number of repeat institutional grantees; mix of multi‑year or multi‑grant commitments and one‑off large gifts focused on naming opportunities, scholarships, capital projects, and mission‑aligned relief/advocacy.
Notable grantees: Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center, University of Michigan / Regents of the University of Michigan, Mayo Clinic, Birthright Israel Foundation, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (and Anti‑Defamation League)
Grants go entirely to U.S. recipients, with Los Angeles appearing frequently through Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Brentwood School, the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Ann Arbor also stands out through the University of Michigan and the Regents of the University of Michigan. New York appears through the Anti-Defamation League, Birthright Israel Foundation, and Youth Improving Non-profits for Children, while Rochester is represented by Mayo Clinic. The foundation’s top state by grant count is California, and none of the recent grants were made to New Jersey recipients.
Its recent grants cluster around medical institutions, universities, Jewish community organizations, and anti-hate or national security advocacy groups. Named recipients include Cedars-sinai Medical Center, the University of Michigan, Mayo Clinic, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, the Anti-Defamation League, and Birthright Israel Foundation.
Yes. Recent medical grants include $1,428,571 to Cedars-sinai Medical Center for a presidential chair, $250,000 to Cedars-sinai for the Thomas M Priselac Center for Innovation in Performance Improvement, and $72,000 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism work.
Yes. The foundation has backed university athletics and scholarships, including $500,000 to the University of Michigan for the David & Meredith Kaplan Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship Fund and $500,000 to the Regents of the University of Michigan for the Stephen M Ross Athletic Campus Facilities Project.
The grant-size profile is broad: p25 is $16,800, median grant size is $100,000, and p75 is $300,000. That mix points to a portfolio that includes smaller community gifts alongside larger institutional grants and endowments.
No. The foundation gives nationally, with recent grants spread across California, Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Washington, DC, and Florida. California has the highest recipient count, with Los Angeles showing up repeatedly in the recent grant list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,428,571 | 2025 | PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $666,667 | 2025 | DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | STEPHEN M ROSS ATHLETIC CAMPUS FACILITIES PROJECT |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | THOMAS M PRISELAC CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $250,000 | 2025 | FUND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $240,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $200,000 | 2025 | TIKKUN OLAM FELLOWSHIP TRAINING FUND IN PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE MAYO CLINIC ALIX SCHOOL OF MEDICINE |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | ANTI-MASKING EFFORTS |
| WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | SECURE CAMPUSES |
| YOUTH IMPROVING NON-PROFITS FOR CHILDREN | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SIXPOINT INC | SAINT PETERSBURG, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION COUNCIL OF GREATER LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | NOVA EXHIBIT |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | BERESHIT INITIATIVE |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | SMIDT HEART INSTITUTE |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $43,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN'S GUILD CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | 2024 WOMEN'S GUILD GALA |
| ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | HEROES AMONG US CELEBRATION |
| JQ INTERNATIONAL | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ERASE PTSD NOW | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $18,000 | 2025 | RABBI LEDER GALA |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | WOMEN'S CAMPAIGN LOS ANGELES |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER BOARD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $666,667 | 2024 | TOUCHDOWN SPONSORSHIP, DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $500,000 | 2024 | DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN MEN'S BASKETBALL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $200,000 | 2024 | ENDOWMENT FUND |
| MUSEUM ASSOCIATES DBA LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | LACMA EXHIBITION FUND |
| WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | FUNDING FOR B'NEI MITZVAH ISRAEL TRIP |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $72,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE CENTER OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES, AND METABOLISM |
| WOMEN'S GUILD CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUTH RENEWAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2024 | RAISE FUNDS TO DEVELOP AND MONITOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED ISRAELI YOUTHS. |
| THE PAINTED TURTLE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | TRIBUTE DONATION IN HONOR OF SHARYN GERTZ TRIBUTE DONATION IN HONOR OF SHARYN GERTZ. |
| MELANOMA RESEARCH ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF MRA LIVE |
| LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,265 | 2024 | FEAST PATRON FOR 2023 COUNCIL LITERARY FEASTS. |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER BOARD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $691,667 | 2023 | TOUCHDOWN SPONSORSHIP, DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $500,000 | 2023 | SHEBA MEDICAL RELIEF MISSION TO UKRAINE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $500,000 | 2023 | DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN MEN'S BASKETBALL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2023 | THE ABRAHAMIC REGIONAL CENTER AGAINST HATE |
| WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $300,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR B'NEI MITZVAH ISRAEL TRIP |
| BRENTWOOD SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $200,000 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT FUND |
| MUSEUM ASSOCIATES DBA LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | LACMA EXHIBITION FUND |
| WOMEN'S GUILD CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHATTERPROOF | NORWALK, CT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI FOUNDATION | HATTIESBURG, MS | $16,800 | 2023 | NURSING DEVELOPMENT FUND |
| TOURETTE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA | BAYSIDE, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LOS ANGELES JEWISH HEALTH | RESEDA, CA | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAGBIT FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | IN HONOR OF BEN NAZARIAN |
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$500,000STEPHEN M ROSS ATHLETIC CAMPUS FACILITIES PROJECT
THOMAS M PRISELAC CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$250,000FUND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$200,000TIKKUN OLAM FELLOWSHIP TRAINING FUND IN PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
MAYO CLINIC
$200,000SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE MAYO CLINIC ALIX SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
$100,000SECURE CAMPUSES
HEROES AMONG US CELEBRATION
ERASE PTSD NOW
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
$18,000RABBI LEDER GALA
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER BOARD
$666,667TOUCHDOWN SPONSORSHIP, DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$500,000DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN MEN'S BASKETBALL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MAYO CLINIC
$200,000ENDOWMENT FUND
LACMA EXHIBITION FUND
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
$100,000FUNDING FOR B'NEI MITZVAH ISRAEL TRIP
SUPPORT THE CENTER OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES, AND METABOLISM
RAISE FUNDS TO DEVELOP AND MONITOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED ISRAELI YOUTHS.
TRIBUTE DONATION IN HONOR OF SHARYN GERTZ TRIBUTE DONATION IN HONOR OF SHARYN GERTZ.
FEAST PATRON FOR 2023 COUNCIL LITERARY FEASTS.
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER BOARD
$691,667TOUCHDOWN SPONSORSHIP, DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH
SHEBA MEDICAL RELIEF MISSION TO UKRAINE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$500,000DAVID & MEREDITH KAPLAN MEN'S BASKETBALL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE
$300,000FUNDING FOR B'NEI MITZVAH ISRAEL TRIP
MAYO CLINIC
$200,000ENDOWMENT FUND
LACMA EXHIBITION FUND
TOURETTE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LOS ANGELES JEWISH HEALTH
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT