1. How do I apply for a grant?

The first step in applying for a grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation is to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through our online application portal. Please visit our How to Apply page for additional information.

2. Who may submit a request to the S. Mark Taper Foundation?

Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves clients in Southern California, has an up-to-date California Entity Status Letter (see How to Apply for more detail) and has not received a grant payment from the Foundation during the last three grant cycles.

3. What types of funding does the S. Mark Taper Foundation provide?

We provide General Operating Support, Program Support, and Capital Support. Note: Capital funding is currently restricted to nonprofit organizations based in and serving Los Angeles County

4. What issue areas does the S. Mark Taper Foundation fund?

The Foundation typically funds organizations that work in the following fields: Arts, Civic Affairs, Education, Environment, Health and Social Services.

5. What geographic areas does the S. Mark Taper Foundation fund?

The 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, and Santa Barbara County. Note: For General Operating Support and Program Support, priority is given to organizations serving residents of Los Angeles County. Capital funding is currently restricted to nonprofit organizations based in and serving Los Angeles County. Capital projects must also be based in and serving Los Angeles County only.

6. What amount should I request in my Letter of Inquiry?

The Foundation does not provide guidance to organizations on the amount of their request. Instead, we recommend that you make this decision based on the size of your organization and the size of past grants (both from the S. Mark Taper Foundation and other foundations). Note: Due to the scope of the capital grant application process, the minimum request amount for a capital grant should be $100,000. If the planned request amount is under $100,000, we recommend applying for General Operating or Program support.

7. Does the S. Mark Taper Foundation provide multi-year funding?

The Foundation only provides multi-year grants for capital projects.

8. How many grants are awarded each year?

On average, the Foundation receives LOIs from 350 to 500 organizations each year. Of these, approximately, 60 to 80 receive grant awards.

9. My organization has a fiscal sponsor. Can we apply for a grant?

Yes, the Foundation provides grants to organizations with fiscal sponsors.

10. I work for a local branch of a national non-profit organization. Can we apply for a grant?

Organizations that provide services in one of eight counties in Southern California are eligible to apply for a grant. Please see the How to Apply page to see a list of eligible counties. Priority is given to organizations serving residents of Los Angeles County.

11. I recently received a grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation. When may I submit another Letter of Inquiry?

A past grantee is not eligible for three grant cycles immediately following the year in which they received their grant payment. For example, an organization that received a grant payment in December 2022 will not be eligible to re-apply until the 2026 grant cycle.

12. Can I submit a proposal after the deadline?

The Foundation does not accept late proposals.

13. Are Grant Guidelines available?

Yes. Please see LOI Guidelines.

14. May I have a meeting or a phone call with a Foundation staff member regarding my organization's eligibility or LOI proposal?

Foundation staff members do not have meetings or phone calls to discuss individual LOIs. However, if you have general questions regarding eligibility, the online grants portal or the LOI Guidelines, please email us at grants@smtfoundation.org or call (310) 476-5543.

15. How will I know if my LOI has been approved to move forward to the application stage?

The Foundation will reach out via email to your organization's CEO/Executive Director and the staff person that submitted your LOI to invite your organization to submit a full application. Please be sure that all contact information is up-to-date on your organization's profile. Every applicant will receive a final decision by the end of October.

16. What if there is not a check mark in either box 1 or 3 of the California Entity Status Letter?

If both boxes 1 and 3 are not checked, the LOI is ineligible for Foundation consideration and will be declined. In such a case, we recommend that you contact the California Franchise Tax Board and/or the California Registry of Charitable Trusts to obtain more information. The Foundation is not able to provide individual guidance or direction on this matter.

17. Our LOI was declined. Can you tell us why? How soon can we re-apply?

Due to time constraints on our staff, the Foundation cannot provide individualized feedback on declines. An organization that has been declined and meets the Foundation's guidelines is eligible to reapply in the next grant cycle. A past grantee is not eligible for three grant cycles immediately following the year in which they received their grant.

18. What kinds of supporting documentation will we be asked to submit with the LOI and the Grant Application?

Prior to the opening of a new grant cycle, the Foundation will make PDF versions of each LOI available for download on the website. These documents include full lists of required uploads.