Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family
The Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2006 and incorporated in Delaware. Based in Shaker Heights, Ohio, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$324K
-81.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-1.3% YoY
Grant Count
75
+1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-2.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family reported a distributable amount of $55K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports educational, charitable, and cultural initiatives. Based on grant activity, funding interests include:
- Higher education and academic programs
- Holocaust education and remembrance
- Arts and sciences education
- Faculty recognition and support programs
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with the following financial profile:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has demonstrated funding activity in Ohio and nationally, with grants supporting institutions across multiple states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $324,464 | $1,787,609 | $3,239,444 |
| Revenue | $76,257 | $119,686 | $411,219 |
| Expenses | $1,539,402 | $1,571,521 | $1,594,011 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,539,295 | $1,558,839 | $1,580,643 |
| Net Investment Income | $76,150 | $116,737 | $402,231 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,234 | $127,656 | $187,423 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brandeis University ($250,000), Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($126,250), Save the Children Federation Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OXFAM AMERICA BOSTON, MA | ANNUAL FUND | $5,000 |
| HAVEN HOME LLC CLEVELAND, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $500 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | CLEVELAND STANDS WITH ISRAEL | $126,250 |
| THE RATNER SCHOOL PEPPER PIKE, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $18,750 |
| PARK SYNAGOGUE PEPPER PIKE, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| THE RATNER SCHOOL PEPPER PIKE, OH | 2024 KALEIDOSCOPE FUND | $5,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | AID FOR GAZA | $10,000 |
| MILESTONES AUTISM RESOURCES WARRENSVILLE HTS, OH | REACHING FOR THE STARS | $5,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | THE CARE. NO MATTER WHAT. CELEBRATION | $50,000 |
| DIVERSITY CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | ANNUAL WALK, ROCK, ROLL & RUN & HUMANITARIAN AWARD CELEBRATION | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Deborah Ratner Salzberg, identified as a principal associated with the foundation family, serves as President of Forest City Washington and has held leadership positions including Chair of the Meyer Foundation Board.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH RATNER | PRES/DIR/SEC | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported:
Faculty awards at Ohio State University's College of Arts and Sciences
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Awards Presented to Five Faculty Members | CollegeEducational initiatives at Brandeis University
Holocaust education programs through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
[PDF] INSPIRING - United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumAcademic professorships at Northwestern University
Contact Information
Address: 3401 Tuttle Road, Suite 350, Shaker Heights, OH 44122-6395
Telephone: 440-345-3687
EIN: 20-8038060
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family fund?
The foundation supports educational, charitable, and cultural initiatives. Based on grant activity, funding interests include: • Higher education and academic programs • Holocaust education and remembrance • Arts and sciences education • Faculty recognition and support programs
How do I apply for a grant from Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family?
The foundation maintains active grantmaking operations with the following financial profile: • **Total Assets:** $1,787,609 (as of 2023) • **Total Giving:** $1,558,665 (2023) • **Annual Expenses:** $1.54M (2024) • **Annual Revenue:** $76,257 (2024) The foundation has supported faculty awards and professorships at major universities, including endowed positions and recognition programs for educators.
Where does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family make grants?
The foundation has demonstrated funding activity in Ohio and nationally, with grants supporting institutions across multiple states.
What size grants does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family award?
In 2024, Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family awarded 75 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family reported a distributable amount of $55K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's EIN?
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8038060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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