Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg
The Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg Family Foundation is a private foundation located in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Established in 2008, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg
- EIN
- 20-8004524
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $575,291
- Grants made (2025)
- 41
- Average grant
- $14,031
- Median grant
- $3,600
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (12 of 39, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (48% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg's 41 itemized 2025 grants were Maryland (48%) and District of Columbia (44%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (22 grants), North Bethesda, MD (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Silver Spring, MD (2 grants). 80% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 39 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$575K
+2.6% YoY
Grant Count
41
+5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-2.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in the following areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Historic Preservation
- Arts and Culture (including performing arts)
- Jewish community initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation made 24 grants in its most recent fiscal year, with total giving of $560,957.
Grant Range
s:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 41 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,145,125
- Total Revenues: $120,850
- Total Expenses: $571,088
- Total Giving: $560,957
Staffing: The foundation operates with no employees.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
171 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Jewish Federation of Greater Washington ($250,000), National Archives Foundation ($60,000), Natl Symphony Orchestra Assoc of Washington DC ($51,596 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON North Bethesda, MD | 2025 ANNUAL FUND | $250,000 |
| NATIONAL ARCHIVES FOUNDATION Washington, DC | ANNUAL FUND | $60,000 |
| NATL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOC OF WASHINGTON DC Washington, DC | ANNUAL FUND-$35,000 AND THE NOSEDA ERA FUND-$12,500 | $47,500 |
| EDLAVITCH JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF WASHINGTON DC Washington, DC | ANNUAL FUND | $40,000 |
| FEDERAL CITY COUNCIL Washington, DC | ANNUAL FUND | $25,000 |
| INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE INC Washington, DC | DEMOCRACY RISING COLLABORATIVE FUND | $20,000 |
| BROOKLYN COMMUNITY HOUSING & SERVICES Brooklyn, NY | ANNUAL FUND | $10,000 |
| MEDSTAR HEALTH Columbia, MD | ANNUAL FUND | $10,000 |
| SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Washington, DC | MEDITATION GARDEN FUND | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia, PA | WHARTON SCHOOL-URBAN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FUND | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deborah R Salzberg | Pres/Dir/Sec | 1 | — |
| Michael Salzberg | VP/Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Deborah Ratner Salzberg was elected Chair of the Meyer Foundation Board. She is also identified as President of Uplands Real Estate Partners and was recognized as a 2021 Laureate by Junior Achievement of Greater Washington.
Michael And Deborah Ratner Salzberg Family FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg fund?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in the following areas: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Historic Preservation • Arts and Culture (including performing arts) • Jewish community initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 24 grants in its most recent fiscal year, with total giving of $560,957. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $700 to $200,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW): $200,000 for Annual Fund • Jewish Federation of Cleveland: $50,000 for Campaign for Jewish Needs • National Archives Foundation: $50,000 for We the People Capital Campaign The foundation has also supported initiatives including the National Symphony…
Where does Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • District of Columbia • Maryland • New York
What size grants does Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg award?
In 2025, Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg awarded 41 grants totaling $575K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg's EIN?
Michael and Deborah Ratner Salzberg's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8004524. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.