Steven Aresty Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 31-6666392

The Steven Aresty Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2001. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization classified as a private independent foundation under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE).

Key facts about Steven Aresty Foundation

EIN: 31-6666392
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $216,000
Grants made (2024): 27
Average grant: $8,000
Median grant: $2,500
New grantees (estimate): 4% first-time grantees (1 of 27, 2024)
Total assets: $4,561,284
Primary geography: New York (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Steven Aresty Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Steven Aresty Foundation's 27 itemized 2024 grants were New York (62%), Connecticut (14%) and Rhode Island (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (10 grants), Lakeville, CT (5 grants), Salisbury, CT (4 grants) and Sharon, CT (3 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For the Use of the Donee Organization" (27 grants).

Is Steven Aresty Foundation open to new grantees?

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 1 of 27 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $8K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $2K repeat.

81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.6M

+6.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$216K

-19.1% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-19.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steven Aresty Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking priorities focus on:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services

The foundation's approach to grantmaking emphasizes collaborative decision-making and evidence-based giving. According to the foundation's leadership, the organization has evolved from a single-donor model toward a more strategic approach that prioritizes systemic solutions to educational challenges, particularly those affecting children in poverty.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

s:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $90,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

New York
Connecticut
Rhode Island

Grant Distribution by State

New York $135K (62%)

Connecticut $31K (14%)

Rhode Island $25K (12%)

Pennsylvania $25K (12%)

Florida $1K (0%)

Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Connecticut Florida Massachusetts New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island

Cities

New YorkSalisburyLakevilleSharonPhiladelphiaRyeProvidenceAnnandaleonhudsonSheffieldMiamiForest HillsIthaca

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $4,561,284
Total Giving: $216,000
Total Revenues: $520,021
Total Expenses: $247,772
Number of Employees: 0

Investment Income (2024): $140,297

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $4,290,000
Total Revenues: $101,000
Total Expenses: $311,000

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$4,561,284	$4,288,785	$4,500,933
Revenue	$520,021	$101,076	$244,764
Expenses	$247,772	$310,972	$302,739
Qualifying Distributions	$216,250	$267,250	$269,750
Net Investment Income	$488,499	$97,798	$212,450
Distributable Amount	$255,686	$241,804	$243,896

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

153 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Symphony Space ($46,500), Academy for Teachers ($25,000), Brown University ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
SYMPHONY SPACE New York, NY	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$46,500
ACADEMY FOR TEACHERS New York, NY	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$25,000
BROWN UNIVERSITY Providence, RI	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$25,000
THE WHARTON SCHOOL UNIV OF PA Philadelphia, PA	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$25,000
WESTSIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER New York, NY	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$15,000
CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN OF NY New York, NY	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$10,000
HOTCHKISS SCHOOL Lakeville, CT	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$10,000
HUDSON RIVER COMMUNITY SAILING New York, NY	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$10,000
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY New York, NY	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$10,000
PROJECT SAGE Lakeville, CT	FOR THE USE OF THE DONEE ORGANIZATION	$8,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Steven Aresty serves as a principal decision-maker for the foundation. He has participated in collaborative grantmaking initiatives including the Donors' Education Collaborative and Early Childhood Partners NYC, both established by The New York Community Trust. His late father, Joseph Aresty, was a first-generation college student who founded a related foundation with a focus on helping others achieve educational opportunities.

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Steven Aresty	Trustee	5	—
Charles Aresty	Trustee	5	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has been active in collaborative grantmaking efforts through The New York Community Trust's structured giving programs. Steven Aresty has publicly discussed his evolution as a grantmaker, noting that participation in collaborative funds has deepened his understanding of educational challenges and evidence-based solutions for addressing poverty through improved educational access.

$3 Million Gift from Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Powers Innovation

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Steven Aresty Foundation fund?

The foundation's grantmaking priorities focus on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation's approach to grantmaking emphasizes collaborative decision-making and evidence-based giving. According to the foundation's leadership, the organization has evolved from a single-donor model toward a more strategic approach that prioritizes systemic solutions to educational challenges, particularly those affecting children in poverty.

How do I apply for a grant from Steven Aresty Foundation?

**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $90,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $216,000 in giving. Recent grantees include: • The Symphony Space ($46,500) • The Academy for Teachers ($25,000) • Brown University ($25,000) • New York Philharmonic **Grant Type:** Grants are designated "for the use of the donee organization."

Where does Steven Aresty Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • Connecticut • Rhode Island

What size grants does Steven Aresty Foundation award?

In 2024, Steven Aresty Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $216K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Steven Aresty Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Steven Aresty Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.