The Jm Kaplan Fund Incorporated
The J.M. Kaplan Fund is a family private foundation (est. 1945) based in New York that funds environment, heritage conservation, and social justice work and administers the J.M.K. Innovation Prize. The organization's website lists staff, contact details (71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY), grant guidelines (grants generally by invitation) and program/funds pages.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Established nonprofits (typically 501(c)(3) or documented equivalents abroad) working in environment, cultural heritage preservation, or social justice with projects suitable for general operating support or capacity-building and with demonstrable alignment to the foundation’s program areas.
Good Fit
- • Project or organizational focus on environment, heritage conservation, or social justice.
- • Request matches general operating support, capacity building, or one of the foundation’s named programs.
- • Located in New York or another U.S. state but with a clear case for national or international relevance.
- • Clear governance and tax-exempt status (or documented equivalent for non-U.S. applicants).
- • Ability to engage in relationship-building or respond to program officer outreach.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year span roughly 40 states and include international recipients, though New York received a large share (about 45% of 2024 dollars).
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 267 distinct recipients across multiple fields (heritage, environment, social justice) and a wide distribution of grant sizes, indicating a broad and diverse recipient set.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of access: 176 new recipients appeared in 2024 (about 66% of recipients), and the foundation posts application guidance on its website; despite language that grants are generally by invitation, the observed turnover and published application route indicate unfamiliar applicants do gain entry.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
