S. Mark Taper Foundation’s Grant Program – US

Deadline: 2-Feb-22

The S. Mark Taper Foundation is inviting applications for its grant program to provide funding in the following areas:

• Arts
• Civic affairs
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services

Types of Grant Funding Provided

• General Operating Support (GOS): unrestricted, core operating support that bolsters an organization’s overall mission and can be allocated as the organization sees fit.
• Program: funding is allocated to a specific program or project within the organization.
• Capital: funding is allocated to a physical project, such as the purchase of a building and / or land, renovating an existing building, constructing a new building, or purchasing equipment.

Funding Information

• Grants as per their respective categories are:
  • Small – Up to $ 50,000
  • Medium – $ 50,000 to $ 100,000
  • Large – $ 100,001 and above
• These categories are meant to serve as a guide to assist organizations in determining an appropriate request amount. They encourage each organization to request an amount that is proportionate to the size of its past grants from other foundations and the size of its overall fundraising and budget.
• Between 70 and 90 grants are awarded each year.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

• An applicant must be certified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. During the Foundation’s review process, equal consideration and due diligence will be given to all organizations – both those that are past grant recipients and those that have never received a grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation.
• The S. Mark Taper Foundation will consider a Letter of Inquiry from a non-profit organization that provides services in any of the following eight Southern California counties:
  • Los Angeles County
  • Imperial County
  • Orange County
  • Riverside County
  • San Bernardino County
  • San Diego County
  • Santa Barbara County
  • Ventura County
• A non-profit organization must be in good standing with the California Franchise Tax Board and the California Registry of Charitable Trusts. Each organization will be required to upload a California Entity Status Letter as part of their LOI. 
• A non-profit organization that received a grant payment from the S. Mark Taper Foundation within the past three calendar years is not eligible for the current grant cycle. 

Grant Limitations

Grants are generally not approved for the following:

• Endowment funds
• Vehicles
• Government agencies
• Universities (public and private) and community colleges
• Elementary, middle and high schools (public and private)
• Charter schools
• Hospitals / hospital foundations
• Scientific and / or medical research
• Organizations focused on specific diseases (eg, diabetes, heart disease)
• Grants for programs that re-grant donated funds to other entities
• Elections, political candidates, or political campaigns
• Documentary filmmaking or television programming
• Organizations that have had a change in CEO / Executive Director in the last twelve months

For more information, visit http://www.smtfoundation.org/guidelines.html