Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation
The Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001 and incorporated on November 20, 2001, in New York. Based in New York City at 51 West 52nd Street, the foundation focuses on cultural, educational, and philanthropic initiatives.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds to:
- Maintain and foster interest in music
- Support the publication of books of cultural, historical, and educational value
- Support the needs of young musicians
- Promote philanthropy
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$4,000
Average Grant
$9,700
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, with some activity in Georgia and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $4,008,968
- Total giving: $242,481–$308,900
- Total expenses: $333,240
- Total revenues: $9,149
- Number of employees: 0
Earlier Data (2024):
- Total assets: $5,048,622
- Total giving: $238,907
| 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 |
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
147 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Communal Fund ($90,000), Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival ($15,000), Carnegie Hall Society ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Ballet Theatre (Ballet Theatre Fdn) NEW YORK, NY | To present ballets, one-act classics and new works to audience | $7,000 |
| American Friends of Keshet Eilon POUND RIDGE, NY | TO SUPPORT TALENTED YOUNG VIOLINISTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THR WORLD | $2,000 |
| 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 |
| French Institute - Alliance Francaise NEW YORK, NY | TO POPULARIZE THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE | $1,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund NEW YORK, NY | TO PROMOTE PHILANTHROPY | $90,000 |
| Manhattan Theatre Club NEW YORK, NY | TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT REVIVALS | $5,000 |
| Metropolitan Opera Association NEW YORK, NY | to promote awareness and appreciation of opera | $2,400 |
| The New Press NEW YORK, NY | To support to publish books of cultural,historical and educational value | $13,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Herbert M Wachtell – President, Treasurer, and Director
- Svetlana Stone Wachtell – Vice President, Secretary, and Director
- Laura Murphy – Director
Herbert M Wachtell is the co-founder of the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HERBERT M WACHTELL | PRES/TREAS/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SVETLANA STONE WACHTELL | VP/SECY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA MURPHY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 51 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019-6119
- Phone: 212-403-1000
- EIN: 13-4197999
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds to: • Maintain and foster interest in music • Support the publication of books of cultural, historical, and educational value • Support the needs of young musicians • Promote philanthropy
How do I apply for a grant from Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 29-32 grants in recent years • Typical award range: $81,000–$145,000 • Median grant size: $4,000 • Average grant size: $9,700 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Jewish Communal Fund: $120,000 (to promote philanthropy) • New York Philharmonic: $15,000 (to maintain and foster interest in music) • Central Park Conservancy: $15,000 (to restore, manage, and enhance Central Park) **Historical Grantees:** • Middle East Forum • Carnegie Hall Society • Ballet Theatre…
Where does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, with some activity in Georgia and Colorado.
What size grants does Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation award?
In 2024, Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $239K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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