Maggie Kaplan’s Legacy of Purpose, Passion, and Philanthropy

For Margaret E. Kaplan, philanthropy is not an afterthought or an obligation—it is the lens through which she lives, creates, and connects. A former attorney turned full-time philanthropist, artist, and connector of people and ideas, the Sonoma, Calif., resident has shaped a giving legacy defined by passion, vision, and intellect. At the center of that legacy is her deep and evolving commitment to the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

“I live comfortably,” Maggie said, “but over 50% of my income goes to philanthropy. This is what I’ve chosen. It’s who I am.”

Her philanthropic journey with the Technion began more than 40 years ago, and not through her father, Sanford Kaplan, z”l, a significant benefactor. “My involvement kind of came through Jim Turkin, a fellow attorney who was trying to get more young people involved in the Technion,” she explained. Yet her personal story is interwoven with a proud family tradition. Her father left an indelible mark—with his name on buildings and an honorary doctorate degree. And her sister, Judy, is also a major donor.

Like her father, Maggie is a Technion guardian and member of the Board of Governors but isn’t interested in labels and recognition. “I’m a relationship person,” she said. “I invest in people. I don’t need my name on a building. I want to support those who are doing the work.”

At the Technion, her most enthusiastic support lies in sustainability research. Meeting Distinguished Professor Ilan Marek had a profound impact. “He’s one of the most interesting and dynamic professors I’ve ever encountered. He thinks scientifically but holds a humanitarian worldview,” she shared. Drawn by his vision and the interdisciplinary nature of the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Sustainability Center for Catalysis he heads, Maggie has become one of its key champions. “I believe in cross-collaboration—that’s where the magic happens.”

In addition to her generous giving during her lifetime, Maggie recently increased her estate gift to the American Technion Society. A major portion will support the Resnick Center, but a significant amount will provide student fellowships and scholarships.

“I’ve always believed in investing in the brightest minds — people who will make breakthroughs that benefit many. The Technion is full of them.”

Maggie Kaplan

She supports fellowships for exceptional women through the Technion Excellence Program and has long admired how female students balance academic rigor with military service and family life.

Maggie’s extraordinary generosity is shaped in part by the fact that she and her sister have no children. “We’re the end of the line,” she said. “So, all our money is going to charity.” Her estate plan leaves the largest portion to the Technion — a testament to her belief in its mission, its people, and its power to shape a better world.

Her philanthropy is guided by what she calls “the four Es”: environment, education of the best and brightest, economic empowerment of women, and expressive arts and spirituality. Beyond the Technion, her nonprofit, Invoking the Pause, funds interdisciplinary projects tackling climate change through art, journalism, and science. She’s also been a guarantor for microcredit loans to women in developing countries and served on the board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

A printmaker with exhibitions to her name, Maggie once considered a full-time career in the arts but felt called to do more. “I needed to engage more directly with the world. Art is beautiful, but I wanted to create impact.”

Maggie Kaplan’s encaustic “Vulnerable Heart” captures a sense of the delicacy and undefended nature of exposing one’s feelings.

As Maggie looks to the future, her hope is simple yet profound: “To help shape lives, to support the best and the brightest, and to leave the world a little better than I found it.”

Contact Judy Sager, Executive Director of Planned Giving, at judy@ats.org.