The Kaplen Brothers Fund concentrates on major gifts to cultural and literary institutions, with a strong emphasis on Jewish cultural preservation and performing arts. They provide large, often multi-grant investments (including capital/campaign support and unrestricted operating support) to a small number of organizations rather than broad, small-dollar giving. Their grants reflect interest in sustaining institutional infrastructure and public-facing programs in the arts and free expression sectors.
A defining feature of The Kaplen Brothers Fund Inc. is its repeated support for institutions that preserve Jewish literary culture and sustain performing arts infrastructure. The Yiddish Book Center received $1,000,000 in 2025 for general operating support, following $900,000 in 2023 and $800,000 in 2024. Roundabout Theatre Company also received large commitments, including $1,000,000 in 2025 for its capital campaign and $800,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. These awards show a funder comfortable making major, multi-year investments rather than spreading small grants across many organizations. The foundation’s recent grants also point to support for public conversation and free expression. Pen America received $500,000 in both 2023 and 2025, with funding tied to general operating support and the Centenary Campaign. Storycorps received $500,000 in 2025 and $500,000 in 2024 for general operating support. Together with arts and literary awards, these grants suggest a portfolio built around institutions with public-facing missions, durable operating needs, and long-term program commitments.
In Jewish cultural preservation, the funder gave $1,000,000 in 2025 to the Yiddish Book Center for general operating support, alongside earlier support of $900,000 in 2023 and $800,000 in 2024. In performing arts, Roundabout Theatre Company received $1,000,000 in 2025 for the capital campaign and $800,000 in 2024 for the same campaign, while The Play Company received $250,000 in 2025 for general operating support. The foundation also backs organizations tied to public media and cultural programming. Wnyc New York Public Radio received $400,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the capital campaign "Hear the Future." New York Philharmonic received $200,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for radio broadcasts. Film Forum received $200,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024 for general operating support.
Typical awards are sizable: p25 is $20,000, the median grant is $50,000, and p75 is $125,000, but the recent grant list shows many gifts well above that range, including seven-figure and mid-six-figure commitments. The funder is a regular grantmaker, not a DAF, and it also funds individuals. Recipients appear across multiple years, especially in arts, literary, and cultural preservation work, which points to recurring support rather than one-off giving. Grant purposes are often unrestricted operating support or capital campaign support, with some special gifts and project-specific awards.
$6.4M
$95.2M
$10.7M
$6.8M
Most grants fall between $20K and $125K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$125K
About 7% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Highly concentrated philanthropy: few, large grants; repeat funding to core grantees; mix of capital campaign and general operating support rather than many small or exploratory grants.
Notable grantees: Yiddish Book Center, Roundabout Theatre Company, PEN America
Giving is regional and overwhelmingly U.S.-based: the recipient country distribution shows 153 grants in the United States. New York City is the clearest grant hub, with multiple awards to organizations in New York, Brooklyn, and other nearby borough locations. Amherst, Massachusetts, appears through the Yiddish Book Center, and Beverly Hills, California, appears through Climate Emergency Fund. The top state by grant count is New Jersey, but only 6% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on cultural and literary institutions, especially Jewish cultural preservation, performing arts, and free expression organizations. Examples include the Yiddish Book Center, Roundabout Theatre Company, Pen America, Storycorps, and Wnyc New York Public Radio.
The typical grant-size profile is p25 $20,000, median $50,000, and p75 $125,000. Recent grants also include much larger commitments, including $1,000,000 awards and several $500,000 and $400,000 gifts.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Yiddish Book Center in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Roundabout Theatre Company in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Pen America in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Storycorps in 2024 and 2025; and Wnyc New York Public Radio in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant list is entirely U.S.-based, with 153 grants to recipients in the United States. New York City and nearby locations account for many of the named recipients, including New York, Brooklyn, Amherst, and Beverly Hills.
The recent grants show a pattern of general operating support, capital campaign support, and special gifts. Named examples include general operating support for the Yiddish Book Center and Storycorps, capital campaign support for Roundabout Theatre Company and Wnyc New York Public Radio, and a special gift and early payment for Roundabout Theatre Company.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2026 | FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| YIDDISH BOOK CENTER | AMHERST, MA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PEN AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND THE CENTENARY CAMPAIGN |
| STORYCORPS | BROOKLYN, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WNYC NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN "HEAR THE FUTURE" |
| CLIMATE EMERGENCY FUND | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEPT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH |
| NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | FOR RADIO BROADCASTS |
| FILM FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ABUNDANT WATERS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $105,931 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEPT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | RETINOBLASTOMA RESEARCH TO ADVANCE EYE CANCER CARE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. BRIAN MARR |
| STORYCORPS | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | FOR THE BRIDGE FUND TO OFFSET THE LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS |
| CLIMATE EMERGENCY FUND | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | FOR THE CLIMATE RESISTANCE INCUBATOR |
| THE PLAY COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE PLAY COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE PLAY COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE PRESERVATION (GVSHP) | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ABUNDANT WATERS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $51,536 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | WHERE NEEDED MOST |
| NEW YORK COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING FUND INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYCENTER FOR EARTH ETHICS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT |
| EMERSON COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR CONCERTS AND LECTURES |
| ABUNDANT WATERS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $42,533 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PREGNANCY JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GUILD HALL | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | AN ADDITIONAL GRANT FOR EDUCATION |
| DE LA SALLE ACADEMY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FAMILY HOME FOUNDATION OF NORTH JERSEY | ROCKLEIGH, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| TOGETHER FOR YOUTH | CANAAN, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMBER WAVES FARM | AMAGANSETT, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COUNCIL OF AMERICAN JEWISH MUSEUMS | JACKSON, MS | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK CITY CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR ENCORES |
| KEEN COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE EMANU-EL | CLOSTER, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GROWNYC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUMPSTART | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GERERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMPASSION AND CHOICES | LITTLETON, CO | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YIDDISH BOOK CENTER | AMHERST, MA | $18,000 | 2026 | FOR A GALA TABLE TO BE USED BY THE BOOK CENTER STAFF |
PEN AMERICA
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND THE CENTENARY CAMPAIGN
WNYC NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
$400,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN "HEAR THE FUTURE"
FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEPT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
$250,000AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION RESEARCH
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
$200,000FOR RADIO BROADCASTS
ABUNDANT WATERS INC
$105,931FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEPT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
$100,000RETINOBLASTOMA RESEARCH TO ADVANCE EYE CANCER CARE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. BRIAN MARR
THE PLAY COMPANY
$85,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE PLAY COMPANY
$85,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE PLAY COMPANY
$80,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
$75,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
VILLAGE PRESERVATION (GVSHP)
$75,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ABUNDANT WATERS INC
$51,536FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
$50,000WHERE NEEDED MOST
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
EMERSON COLLEGE
$50,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ABUNDANT WATERS INC
$42,533FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GUILD HALL
$25,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
TOGETHER FOR YOUTH
$25,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMBER WAVES FARM
$25,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
KEEN COMPANY
$20,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TEMPLE EMANU-EL
$20,000FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JUMPSTART
$20,000FOR GERERAL OPERATING SUPPORT