OVERVIEW: The Kaphan Foundation supports a broad range of progressive causes in Seattle and nationally.
IP TAKE: The Kaphan Foundation maintains a low profile, but tax filings indicate that it supports maintains interest in many progressive causes. While some of the foundation’s grantees appear to enjoy ongoing support, Kaphan’s giving is also responsive to emerging issues in areas like democracy, reproductive health and criminal justice. Kaphan gives locally in Seattle, but also supports national organizations and U.S.-based global nonprofits. This funder does not accept applications for funding, so a connection to Shel Kaphan or a past grantee may be the only way to proceed here.
PROFILE: Established in 2003, the Kaphan Foundation is steered by tech mogul Shel Kaphan, who was vice president and CTO of Amazon.com and responsible for the the online retailer’s early programming. The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax filings, the Kaphan Foundation’s broad interests include civic engagement and democracy, global development and health, criminal and immigrant justice, reproductive and maternal health, education, economic opportunity and Jewish causes.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Democracy is one of the Kaphan’s largest giving areas. Shel serves on the board of MapLight, “a nonpartisan research organization that reveals money’s influence on politics,” and strongly supports the organization via his foundation. Additional grantmaking appears to prioritize organizations that promote individual rights and voter engagement. Grantees include the ACLU, FairVote, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Voter Participation Center and Democracy Now Productions.
Grants for Journalism and Media
Kaphan’s journalism grantmaking works in tandem with its giving for democracy by supporting initiatives for free and fair media in the U.S. and abroad. The foundation has supported groups including Pro Publica, the Wikimedia Foundation, the Global Press Institute and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Grants for Global Development and Human Rights
Kaphan’s grants have gone to several U.S. based organizations and NGOs working for equitable and sustainable global development and aid.
The foundation has supported the global literacy campaign Worldreader, Global Partnerships and the Electronic Frontier Institute, which works globally to protect individuals’ digital rights.
Grants have also supported organizations responding to disasters and conflicts around the world. Recipients include Doctors Without Borders and the International Rescue Committee.
The foundation has also supported Seattle’s Upaya Social Ventures, which “provides investment and support to early-stage companies creating dignified jobs for people in extreme poverty.”
Grants for Education, Work and Opportunity
Kaphan’s giving for economic opportunity appears to prioritize technology education and training for high-demand jobs. Grantees include Code for America Labs, Code.org, Year Up Bay Area and Laboratoria, which helps “women who dream of a better future to start and grow careers in technology.” In Washington, the foundation has supported the Bellevue College Foundation and the United Way of King County.
Grants for Immigrants and Refugees
Kaphan has recently ramped up its giving for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. Grants have gone to Seattle’s Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, RAICES of San Antonio and Casa Latina, which “offers job dispatch, English classes, worker rights workshops, and community organizing for Latino immigrants in Seattle.”
Grants for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform
Kaphan’s grants support organizations that work for racial justice and equity in the U.S., especially in the area of criminal justice and police reform. Recipients include the Brennan Center for Justice, the Legal Defense Fund, the Innocence Project and Families Against Mandatory Minimums.
Grants for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Food Systems
Environmental and climate concerns are smaller areas of grantmaking interest for Kaphan, but a handful of grants support organizations working in these areas. In Washington, grants have gone to the Sightline Institute, which aims to “make Cascadia a global model of sustainability— strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment,” and the Tilth Alliance, which works toward “a sustainable, healthy and equitable food future.” Other grants have supported the Natural Resources Defense Council, Tacoma’s Earth Economics and California’s Sugar Pine Foundation.
Grants for Public Health, Reproductive and Maternal Health
Health giving appears to prioritize large organizations in Seattle, as well as reproductive care and rights.
Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and UW Medicine have both received hundreds of thousands in recent grants.
Grants for reproductive care and rights have supported the National Abortion Federation Call Center, the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York City and Planned Parenthood of Idaho.
Grants for Jewish Causes
Only a few of Kaphan’s grants have gone to Jewish organizations. Recipients include the American Jewish World Service, A Jewish Voice for Peace and Hias, a Jewish organization that works globally to “provide[…] humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $1,500 to $632,000.
Giving is national in scope, including U.S.-based organizations that work globally, but Seattle, where the foundation is based, appears to be an area geographic priority.
This funder tends to support medium- and large-sized organizations that are well established in the foundation’s progressive interest areas.
Many grantees appear to receive multi-year support.
The Kaphan Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.
See the foundation’s past tax filings for additional information about past giving.
The foundation keeps maintains a low profile and does not provide a direct way to get in touch. Shel Kaphan has a page on LinkedIn, and the foundation’s phone number is listed as 206-691-9864. A mailing address is provided below.
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CONTACT:
The Kaphan Foundation
PO Box 18801
Seattle, WA 98118-0801
206-691-9864
