The Tapper Charitable Foundation is a concentrated supporter of arts and cultural institutions, providing large, unrestricted grants primarily for general operations. Its giving favors performing arts and cultural heritage organizations (and occasional higher-education partners) rather than a broad mix of causes, and it tends to make repeated, sizable investments in a small set of grantees.
Small, concentrated portfolio: few grants but very large amounts, with repeat multi-grant support to the same organizations and a preference for unrestricted/general operations funding.
Notable grantees: AMT Theater, City Lore Inc, Brandeis University
Tapper Charitable Foundation’s recent giving is defined by large, unrestricted general-operating grants to a small group of arts and cultural institutions. The biggest award in the record goes to Amt Theater in New York, alongside repeated support for City Lore Inc, another New York-based cultural organization. That pattern points to a funder that backs institutional stability rather than project-only work. The foundation also makes substantial multiyear commitments to higher-education and cultural partners. Brandeis University received multiple general-operating grants across 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, including awards of $350,000, $250,000, $100,000, and $100,000. In the same vein, Boston University, Clark University, and Northeastern University appear in the grant list as general-operating recipients. Beyond the largest awards, the foundation’s portfolio includes cultural heritage and community-serving organizations such as Birthright Israel, Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, and Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action. The recurring use of unrestricted support suggests the foundation favors core capacity, overhead, and organizational sustainability across arts, heritage, and related educational institutions.
Performing arts institutions are a clear priority. Tapper Charitable Foundation awarded $793,580 to Amt Theater in 2026 and $594,000 in 2025, both for general operations, signaling sustained operating support for a major theater organization. Cultural heritage work is another visible area. City Lore Inc received $400,000 in 2025 and $367,500 in 2026, again for general operations. That recurring support sits alongside grants to Jewish cultural and community organizations such as Birthright Israel, Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, and Jewish Family & Children’s Services. The foundation also supports higher-education partners connected to arts and culture. Brandeis University appears multiple times with general-operating grants, and Boston University, Clark University, Northeastern University, and The Graduate Center Foundation also received support. These awards show a consistent pattern of backing institutional infrastructure rather than restricted program projects.
$1.8M
$17.4M
$898K
$2M
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Tapper Charitable Foundation’s grant sizes cluster around modest-to-large operating awards: p25 is $1,000, the median is $4,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent grants list also shows a separate set of much larger institutional gifts, including six-figure awards and repeated support across multiple years. The same recipients appear more than once, especially Brandeis University, City Lore Inc, Amt Theater, Capital Squash, Birthright Israel, and Yeshiva Achei T’mimim, which points to ongoing rather than one-off relationships. The foundation is not a funder of individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grants are consistently listed as general operations, indicating an unrestricted or core-support orientation.
Grantmaking is regionally concentrated in the Northeast, with Massachusetts receiving the largest share of grants by count and 23% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. New York City is a major recipient hub, with Amt Theater and City Lore Inc both based there. Boston, Waltham, Worcester, Hartford, and Framingham also appear repeatedly in the recent grants list. Outside the United States, there are no recipient-country entries in the data; all recorded grants go to U.S. organizations.
The recent grants point to performing arts theaters, cultural heritage and folklore organizations, and university arts and cultural programs. The foundation’s awards are typically listed as general operations, suggesting support for organizational stability and core capacity rather than restricted projects.
The foundation’s grant descriptions are consistently labeled general operations. It also shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Brandeis University, City Lore Inc, and Amt Theater, which indicates ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Among all grants in the dataset, the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $4,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent-grants list also includes much larger institutional grants, including six-figure operating awards.
Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, and 23% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Other frequent recipient locations in the recent list include New York City, Boston, Waltham, Worcester, Hartford, and Framingham.
Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Brandeis University, City Lore Inc, Amt Theater, Capital Squash, Birthright Israel, and Yeshiva Achei T’mimim. That pattern shows repeat funding is a meaningful part of the foundation’s grantmaking.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMT THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $793,580 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CITY LORE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $367,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | WALTHAM, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| YESHIVA ACHEI TMIMIM | WORCESTER, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TAMARACK CAMPS | BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JEWISH ALLIANCE FOR LAW & SOCIAL ACTION | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF METROWEST | FRAMINGHAM, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HARTFORD PROMISE | HARTFORD, CT | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE DEBORAH PROJECT | MERION STATION, PA | $12,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO | BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF CENTRAL MASS | WORCESTER, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PHILLY FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FANS FOR THE CURE | LARCHMONT, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ANIT-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE | WALLINGFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GABRIELLES ANGEL FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RES | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PLAYHOUSE SQUARE | CLEVELAND, OH | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GARY BURNSTEIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | PONTIAC, MI | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CLEVELAND RAPE CRISIS CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CLEVELAND FOOD BANK | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D | WELLESLEY, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MIRACLE LEAGE OF CT | WEST HARTFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PLAYHOUSE ON PARK | WET HARTFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDS OF THE WALTHAM FAMILY SCHOOL | WALTHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CAMP BAUERCREST | AMESBURY, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MACHNE ISRAEL | BROOKLYN, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WKSU IDEASEAM PUBLIC MEDIA | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SHE LEADS JUSTICE | HARTFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BELFAIRE | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER OF GR CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CT FORUM | HARTFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY | HARTFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE GATHERING PLACE | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HELPING HANDS TOGETHER | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THEATERWORKS | HARTFORD, CT | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BOMBYX | FLORENCE, MA | $1,100 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DIGNITY GROWS | HARTFORD, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TEMPLE EMANUEL SINAI | WORCESTER, MA | $754 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $200 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LIEBA FISCHER PESACH FUND | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $200 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UMASS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE | WORCESTER, MA | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| JEWISH HEALTHCARE CENTER | WORCESTER, MA | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NORTH HILL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY | NEEDHAM, MA | $25 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AMT THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $594,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
AMT THEATER
$793,580GENERAL OPERATIONS
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL OPERATIONS
YESHIVA ACHEI TMIMIM
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
TAMARACK CAMPS
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
JEWISH ALLIANCE FOR LAW & SOCIAL ACTION
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE DEBORAH PROJECT
$12,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
JEWISH FEDERATION OF CENTRAL MASS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PHILLY FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FANS FOR THE CURE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE
$7,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
GARY BURNSTEIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
$7,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
CLEVELAND FOOD BANK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MIRACLE LEAGE OF CT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PLAYHOUSE ON PARK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF THE WALTHAM FAMILY SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CAMP BAUERCREST
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MACHNE ISRAEL
$4,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WKSU IDEASEAM PUBLIC MEDIA
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
SHE LEADS JUSTICE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
BELFAIRE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER OF GR CLEVELAND
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
CT FORUM
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE GATHERING PLACE
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
HELPING HANDS TOGETHER
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THEATERWORKS
$1,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
BOMBYX
$1,100GENERAL OPERATIONS
TEMPLE EMANUEL SINAI
$754GENERAL OPERATIONS
TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM
$200GENERAL OPERATIONS
LIEBA FISCHER PESACH FUND
$200GENERAL OPERATIONS
UMASS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE
$100GENERAL OPERATIONS
JEWISH HEALTHCARE CENTER
$100GENERAL OPERATIONS
NORTH HILL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
$25GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMT THEATER
$594,000GENERAL OPERATIONS