About the Foundation
In 1958 Mayer and Morris Kaplan, father and son, established The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation as a manifestation of their commitment to Tzedakah, a Jewish concept of helping others and encouraging justice. A large portion of the Foundation’s resources came from the 1986 sale of the family’s business, Sealy Mattress Company, and a bequest of funds from lifelong friend Jerome Joss.
For more than 50 years, Morris (Morry) Kaplan’s strong leadership guided the Foundation and inspired his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to embrace philanthropic responsibility. Morry remained actively and passionately involved in the activities of the Foundation until his death on June 1, 2011. Morry’s vision for the Foundation was that it would promote philanthropy and a responsibility to give back and bring multiple generations together to have important discussions about important issues – all while enjoying time together as a family. Today, Morry’s vision is reality – the family gathers throughout the year to learn together and to make strategic and thoughtful funding decisions. The ongoing participation of each generation honors Morry’s legacy and continues to shape the spirit and future of the Foundation.
Morry’s oldest son, Burton Kaplan, helped to establish the Foundation’s philanthropic vision and remained an integral member of the board until his death in March of 2011. Much of the Foundation’s grantmaking was guided by Burt’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for the underserved and his passion for art of all kinds. The legacy of these two leaders continues to influence both the family and its philanthropic endeavors.
Five generations of Kaplans have served on the board of the Foundation since its inception. Today, the Foundation is led by three generations of family and a dedicated staff of professionals.
Historically, the Foundation has focused grantmaking in the city of Chicago in multiple program areas including arts, education, social services, environment, and community organizing. In 2009, to allow Trustees living outside Chicago to better engage in the work of the Foundation, the board expanded it’s giving geographies to include parts of California and the Rocky Mountain West. Today, the Foundation makes grants Education-focused grants in Chicago and Los Angeles, and the Environment grants across the country.
In 2005, to mark the Foundation’s fiftieth year, Morris Kaplan, founding chairman, documented his sentiments about and aspirations for the Foundation. His thoughts are as relevant today as they were then, and his vision continues to guide staff, family, and the Foundation’s mission and purpose.
In 2005, Morry wrote:
Hopefully, we try to bind our community closer together and enable a better quality of life to emerge in the areas that we support. Although we celebrate 50 years of our Foundation, our story begins well before 1955. Mayer Kaplan came from a humble working-class background with resolute strength and determination to endow me with a philosophy of ‘sharing and giving,’ which led the Foundation to pass on its leadership to children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and in-laws who work closely with the staff.
Gathering as a family is the most profound aspect of our work. It has been true gift to sit with my extended family three times a year to ponder on how to best husband our resources to meet the challenges of our time. We’ve played together, learned to love and respect each other, and remained together starting with three family members – which has now grown to thirty five.
With each new generation, we’ve added fresh perspectives and have been aided by a compassionate and competent professional staff.
Replete with a sense of ‘history in our time,’ the Foundation has grown and has developed an appreciation of common bonds and family togetherness. We are grateful for the opportunities we all have to reach out with compassion for one another and to those who seek help.
It is has been a privilege to work with all of our grantees… and we look forward to providing support and encouragement in the future.
Morris A. Kaplan
Founding Chairman,
The Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation
Family
We believe in the importance of being a multi-generational family who engages with one another in the present, and in the pursuit of effective and impactful philanthropy. It is through the time we spend working to help others, debating strategies and building consensus that our family continues to grow together as a cohesive community of diverse individuals.
Learning
We believe that education is critical to the health and success of the larger society. We are committed to our own lifelong learning and cultural enrichment, and to bring those same opportunities to under-resourced communities in our society.
Responsiveness
We know that our goal – seeking to better society – is lofty and that the challenges are without a single, clear-cut solution. We therefore strive to make forward-looking decisions and to be nimble and flexible in response to the changing needs of those we serve. Our approach includes embracing innovation and well-considered risk, and investing in relevant and creative solutions.
Rigor
A strong work ethic is present in all that we do – whether in our work, play, athletic endeavors, or philanthropy. As a family committed to growth and advancement, we constantly seek to learn, arrive at innovative solutions, and establish new goals for ourselves. We do this with focus and discipline and with a realization that we prefer to try and fail rather than to wait for the perfect solution, or not try at all. In the process, we question our strategies; are committed to high standards; are thoughtful and empathetic in our approach; and are willing to engage in spirited discussion.
Social Justice
Our commitment to social justice is rotted in the Jewish tradition of Tzedakah. We believe that it is our moral responsibility to try and make the world a better, more equitable place. As such, we attempt to address root causes to societal problems and to help the less fortunate, with the ultimate goal of bringing equal opportunity and rich cultural diversity into all of our communities.
Staff
Dinaz Mansuri
Executive Director
312-777-1765
dmansuri@kapfam.com
Shira Bernstein
Program Officer
312-777-1764
sbernstein@kapfam.com
Board
Aura de la Fuente - Chair
Hilary Kaplan Loretta - President
Anne Kaplan - Vice President
Mike Kaplan - Treasurer
Henry Karmin - Secretary
Beth Kaplan Karmin
Charlie Kaplan
Chloe Karmin
Curt Kaplan
Dave Moore
Edmund Karmin
Emma Kaplan
Hallvard Lundevall
Hannah Karmin
Iselin Lundevall
Jessica Kaplan Lundevall
Kaja Rumney
Sarah Kaplan Moore
Stella Kaplan
Tellef Lundevall
Grantmaking Committees
Education
Environment
Aura de la Fuente
Beth Kaplan Karmin
Charlie Kaplan
Frankie Loretta
Hannah Karmin
Hilary Karmin
Iselin Lundevall
Jessica Kaplan Lundevall
Kaja Rumney
Sarah Kaplan Moore
Stella Kaplan
Chloe Karmin
Curt Kaplan
David Kaplan
Edmund Karmin
Emma Kaplan
Henry Karmin
Mike Kaplan
Iselin Lundevall
Tellef Lundevall
Torjus Lundevall
Hallvard Lundevall
Grantmaking committees are comprised of Foundation trustees and, at times, the spouses/partners of Foundation trustees.
Investment Management
The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation investments are managed by Alan Tinsmon, Managing Director of Lorelei Partners LLC, with portfolio investment advice provided by Monticello & Associates.
Financial Statements