Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
The S. Mark Taper Foundation will consider a Letter of Inquiry for any program or organization in Southern California. Applicants must be certified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. During the Foundation's review process, equal consideration and due dilligence will be given to all organizations - both those that are past grant recipients and those that have never received an S. Mark Taper Foundation grant.
A nonprofit organization is eligible for another grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation only after three full grant cycles have elapsed following the grant cycle during which a previous grant was made. The S. Mark Taper Foundation has one grant cycle each year, so this works out to a three-year period of ineligibility. For example, an organization that received a grant payment in December 2005 will next be eligible for a grant beginning with the Foundation’s 2009 grant cycle. The Letter of Inquiry process is the same for new organizations and past grantees, and all eligible Letters of Inquiry compete on an equal footing. Please refer to our most recent set of guidelines before submitting a Letter of Inquiry.
The S. Mark Taper Foundation has four size categories as follows:
| Category | Grant Size | |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Up to $ 25,000 | |
| Medium | $ 25,001 - $ 150,000 | |
| Large | $ 150,001 - $ 400,000 | |
| Jumbo | Over $ 400,000 |
These categories are meant as a guide to assist organizations in determining how much to request. Requests will compete with one another within each category and, in general, no category is more or less competitive. Due to limited resources, Foundation staff members are not available to discuss individual situations.
Yes, the S. Mark Taper Foundation does fund general operating support, in addition to program and capital support. Due to limited resources, Foundation staff members are not available to discuss individual situations.