The Charatan Family Foundation
The Charatan Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000 and based in New York City. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting charitable causes that create positive change within the New York City community.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26K
-83.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$199K
+2.2% YoY
Grant Count
37
-19.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+27.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Charatan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "Our mission is to aid and grow charities that make a difference in the New York City community."
The foundation's core goals include:
- Building upon work in New York City by fostering a community led by grounded morals and a common goal to change lives for the better
- Supporting charities that represent laudable causes, particularly in cultural support and medical care
- Helping individuals assist one another to instill a solid foundation in communities
Primary Funding Areas:
The Arts — Supporting organizations dedicated to sharing art through performance, exhibitions, and education. The foundation recognizes New York City's historic role as an epicenter for artistic growth and seeks to preserve and continue the arts.
Jewish Initiatives — Supporting the Jewish community in New York City, which has historically served as both a home and refuge for Jewish people since the city's founding.
Youth, Elderly, Sick and Disabled — Providing assistance to vulnerable populations through charitable initiatives.
Social and Environmental Causes — Supporting organizations addressing social and environmental issues.
Education — Funding educational programs and institutions.
Core Values: The foundation emphasizes community, care, clarity, and culture in its philanthropic endeavors. The foundation believes in transparency and ensuring that a charity's vision aligns with its core values before providing support.
Grantmaking
Recent grants have been made to organizations including:
Grant Range
$19
Average Grant
$19
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in New York City. However, the foundation's giving extends to various cities and states across the United States, including California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and internationally to locations such as Toronto.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2025):
- Total Assets: $25,701
- Total Revenue: $175,000
- Total Expenses: $202,903
- Total Liabilities: $0
Previous Year Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $151,000
- Total Revenue: $150,000
- Total Expenses: $200,000
Grant Distribution: The foundation reported approximately 24 grants in recent filings, with total giving of approximately $195,000-$199,000 annually.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,701 | $151,004 | $200,726 |
| Revenue | $175,000 | $150,000 | $200,390 |
| Expenses | $202,903 | $199,722 | $174,339 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $202,903 | $199,722 | $174,339 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $4,351 | $8,573 | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include United States Holocaust Memorial Mu ($55,300), Self Help Community Service ($30,000), Johns Hopkins Univ-the Phyllis Albs ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,297 |
| SELF HELP COMMUNITY SERVICE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| UJA FEDERATION OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| CHABAD OF SOUTHAMPTON SOUTHHAMPTON, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $180 |
| UPPER EAST SIDE HATZOLAH NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $250 |
| PARK EAST SYNAGOGUE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,875 |
| AUSCHWITZ JEWISH CENTER NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV-THE PHYLLIS ALBS BALTIMORE, MD | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| ENCOURAGE KIDS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $18,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Debrah L. Charatan — President and Founder Debrah Charatan founded the Charatan Family Foundation in the mid-1990s and has been instrumental in the New York City community's altruistic development for over two decades.
Bennat Berger — Secretary and Chief Financial Officer Berger serves in a volunteer capacity without compensation.
Both leaders serve without compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBRAH L CHARATAN | President | — | — |
| BENNAT BERGER | Secty,, CFO | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to actively support arts and cultural institutions in New York City, with recent focus on emerging artists programs and museum support. The foundation maintains an active presence through its website and blog, sharing information about supported initiatives and cultural announcements relevant to its grantees.
The Lincoln Center Announces A New Cohort of Emerging Artists | Debrah CharatanSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Charatan Family Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** "Our mission is to aid and grow charities that make a difference in the New York City community." The foundation's core goals include: • Building upon work in New York City by fostering a community led by grounded morals and a common goal to change lives for the better • Supporting charities that represent laudable causes, particularly in cultural support and medical care • Helping individuals assist one another to instill a solid foundation in communities **Primary Fundi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Charatan Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $36 to $55,300 • Average grant size: $19 • Recent grants include awards of $7,500, $6,500, and $5,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants have been made to organizations including: • New York Board of Rabbis ($7,500) • Bass Museum of Art ($6,500) • Green Vision NY ($5,000) • Lincoln Center Corporate Fund • Metropolitan Museum of Art • The Museum of Modern Art • The Jewish Museum **Application Process:** No specific application process informat…
Where does The Charatan Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in New York City. However, the foundation's giving extends to various cities and states across the United States, including California, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and internationally to locations such as Toronto.
What size grants does The Charatan Family Foundation award?
In 2025, The Charatan Family Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $199K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Charatan Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Charatan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Charatan Family Foundation's EIN?
The Charatan Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4126715. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Charatan Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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