Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family
The Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family is a private foundation based in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including children’s relief, education, arts, environmental stewardship, and immigration law organizations.
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family at a glance
In short: Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family gave $267K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $266,666
- -82.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -88.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,630
- +44.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $62,009
- -80.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3401 Tuttle Road 350, Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone: (440) 345-3687
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Save the Children Federation Inc ($150K). Together the top 9 received $267K.
Grant Size Distribution
277 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 243 grants of 277 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (56%), Massachusetts (19%), Pennsylvania (9%), and California (8%), among other states. It also lists grants to organizations in Ohio, Illinois, and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family gives
- Giving fell 83% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $267K (2025) to $1.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $267K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Save the Children Federation Inc Fairfield, CT | Annual Fund | $150,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | President's Discretionary Fund | $50,000 |
| New Israel Fund Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support Fund | $25,000 |
| Hammer Museum Los Angeles, CA | Annual Fund | $16,666 |
| Cleveland Kids' Book Bank Cleveland, OH | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Franklin Grove, IL | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| Immigrant Defenders Law Center Los Angeles, CA | Support for Defending Children in Immigration Cases | $5,000 |
| J Street Education Fund Washington, DC | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| Park Synagogue Pepper Pike, OH | Ilana Skoff Memorial Fund | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,009 | $4,361 | $266,816 | $266,666 | 9 | $266,816 | $4,361 | $4,641 |
| 2024 | $324,464 | $76,257 | $1,539,402 | $1,539,061 | 75 | $1,539,295 | $76,150 | $55,234 |
| 2023 | $1,787,609 | $119,686 | $1,571,521 | $1,558,665 | 74 | $1,558,839 | $116,737 | $127,656 |
| 2022 | $3,239,444 | $411,219 | $1,594,011 | $1,580,499 | 63 | $1,580,643 | $402,231 | $187,423 |
| 2021 | $4,422,236 | $676,165 | $1,406,501 | $1,395,873 | 56 | $1,396,017 | $166,391 | $275,308 |
| 2020 | $5,152,572 | $47,272 | $532,471 | $526,470 | 31 | — | $50,970 | $270,074 |
| 2019 | $5,637,771 | $100,504 | $503,098 | $356,475 | 37 | — | $100,504 | $286,555 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included annual-fund support, a university president’s discretionary fund, general operating support, and support for children in immigration cases.
The grantees describe a range of work. Save the Children says its mission is to improve how the world treats children and achieve lasting change in their lives. Brandeis University describes its work as advancing the humanities, arts, and sciences and providing a broad liberal arts education. Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank says it fosters literacy and a love of reading by providing free books to children. Immigrant Defenders Law Center describes itself as a social justice law firm defending immigrant communities. Friends of Nachusa Grasslands says it supports stewardship, land protection, education, scientific activity, and land acquisition at the preserve. J Street Education Fund says it provides education about the need for American leadership toward a peaceful, viable, and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 9 grants totaling $266,666. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $150,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest grants were $150,000 to Save the Children Federation Inc. for its annual fund; $50,000 to Brandeis University for the president’s discretionary fund; $25,000 to New Israel Fund for general operating support; and $16,666 to the Hammer Museum for its annual fund. Other listed grants included $5,000 each to Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, Immigrant Defenders Law Center, J Street Education Fund, and Park Synagogue.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Deborah Ratner as president, director, and secretary.
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family is led by Deborah Ratner, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Deborah Ratner
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family
How much does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family give each year?
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family gave $267K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 75 grants.
What is Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's typical grant size?
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $29,630, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family give grants?
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family gives mostly in Connecticut: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (19%) and Pennsylvania (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's largest grantees?
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family's largest 2025 grantees include Save the Children Federation Inc ($150,000), Brandeis University ($50,000) and New Israel Fund ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family?
Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family reported $62K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $267K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included annual-fund support, a university president’s discretionary fund, general operating support, and support for children in immigration cases. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does Ronald and Deborah Ratner Family accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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