Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation
The Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including music, theater, publishing, healthcare, philanthropy, and Central Park.
Key facts about Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation
In short: Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation gave $239K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in New York. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-4197999
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $238,907
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $8,532
- Median grant
- $4,045
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (6 of 28, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,048,622
- Primary geography
- New York (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+25.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$239K
-17.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
-15.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-3.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 28 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for cultural organizations, publishers, a hospital foundation, and a philanthropic fund.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. The New Press says it publishes books on cultural, historical, and social issues to increase educational and social awareness, and organizes free public forums. Manhattan Theatre Club describes its work as producing and developing theater, nurturing artists, and offering education programs. Young Concert Artists says its mission is to launch young classical musicians’ careers and expand classical music’s reach. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $238,907. Grant amounts ranged from $81 to $90,000, with a median of $4,045.
The largest reported grants included $90,000 to Jewish Communal Fund to promote philanthropy; $15,000 each to Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Carnegie Hall Society, and Central Park Conservancy; and $13,000 to The New Press. Other grants included $10,000 each to the New York Philharmonic and Southampton Hospital Foundation, $9,000 to American Friends of the Salzburg Easter Festival, and $7,964 to New York City Ballet.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 2% to recipients in Colorado; the reported share for Georgia was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $239K (2024) to $309K (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $239K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Communal Fund ($90K). Together the top 10 received $192K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 140 grants of 147 (95%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Communal Fund New York, NY | To Promote Philanthropy | $90,000 |
| Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival New York, NY | To Promote Chamber Music Concerts | $15,000 |
| Carnegie Hall Society New York, NY | To provide funds for the maintenance and use of Carnegie Hall's activities | $15,000 |
| Central Park Conservancy New York, NY | To restore, manage and enhance Central Park | $15,000 |
| The New Press New York, NY | To support to publish books of cultural,historical and educational value | $13,000 |
| New York Philharmonic New York, NY | To maintain and foster interest in music | $10,000 |
| Southampton Hospital Foundation Southhampton, NY | improve quality of healthcare | $10,000 |
| American Friends of the Salzburg Easter Festival New York, NY | support for and attendance at the Easter Festival | $9,000 |
| New York City Ballet New York, NY | To Perform, Promote, and Sustain Classical Ballet | $7,964 |
| American Ballet Theatre (Ballet Theatre Fdn) New York, NY | To present ballets, one-act classics and new works to audience | $7,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,048,622 | $1,286,595 | $277,600 | $238,907 |
| 2023 | $4,008,968 | $9,149 | $333,240 | $290,494 |
| 2022 | $4,386,982 | $204,825 | $351,638 | $308,862 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,048,622 | $4,008,968 | $4,386,982 |
| Revenue | $1,286,595 | $9,149 | $204,825 |
| Expenses | $277,600 | $333,240 | $351,638 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $239,407 | $295,534 | $309,535 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,253,402 | $198,970 | $165,280 |
| Distributable Amount | $256,167 | $261,406 | $292,519 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Herbert M Wachtell as president, treasurer, and director; Svetlana Stone Wachtell as vice president, secretary, and director; and Laura Murphy as a director.
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation is led by Herbert M. Wachtell, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Herbert M. Wachtell
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Murphy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Svetlana Stone Wachtell
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 51 West 52Nd Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 403-1000
Frequently asked questions about Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation
How much does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation give each year?
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation gave $239K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $290K across 33 grants.
What is Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's typical grant size?
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,045, and its average grant was $8,532, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation give grants?
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation gives mostly in New York: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (16 grants) and New York City, NY (6 grants).
Does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's largest grantees?
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Communal Fund ($90,000), Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival ($15,000) and Carnegie Hall Society ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation?
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $239K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $256K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for cultural organizations, publishers, a hospital foundation, and a philanthropic fund. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's EIN?
Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4197999. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation 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.
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