The Max and Betty Ratner
The Max and Betty Ratner is a private foundation based in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Its 2024 filing says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The 2025 filing reports no grants and no assets, so the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Max and Betty Ratner at a glance
- Revenue (2025)
- $663
- +476.5% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $663
- -98.5% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $663
- -98.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Max and Betty Ratner
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. This is the policy reported on that filing; the 2025 filing reports no grants and no assets.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3401 Tuttle Road 350, Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone: (440) 345-3686
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Max and Betty Ratner funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The listed 2024 recipients were based in Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; New York, New York; San Francisco, California; Burbank, California; Amherst, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois. These are recipient locations and do not establish a broader geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How The Max and Betty Ratner gives
- In 2024 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2019) to $43K (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $43K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago, IL | Annual Fund | $4,363 |
| First Book Washington, DC | Annual Fund | $4,363 |
| Room to Read San Francisco, CA | Annual Fund | $4,363 |
| Physicians for Human Rights Inc New York, NY | Annual Fund | $4,363 |
| Psychophysiologic Disorders Association Portland, OR | Annual Fund | $4,363 |
| National Yiddish Book Center Inc Amherst, MA | Annual Fund | $4,362 |
| Conservancy Guardians USA Fund Inc Park City, UT | Annual Fund | $4,362 |
| Palestine Childrens Relief Fund Los Angeles, CA | Annual Fund | $4,362 |
| Hammer Museum Los Angeles, CA | Annual Fund | $2,146 |
| SCI-Arc Los Angeles, CA | Annual Fund | $2,146 |
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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 | — | $663 | $663 | — | — | $663 | $3 | — |
| 2024 | — | $115 | $43,704 | $43,445 | 14 | $43,679 | $115 | $1,016 |
| 2023 | $43,589 | $319 | $154 | — | — | $154 | $319 | $2,138 |
| 2022 | $43,424 | $74 | $244 | — | — | $244 | $74 | $2,140 |
| 2021 | $43,594 | $5 | $144 | — | — | $144 | $5 | $2,148 |
| 2020 | $43,733 | $14 | $12,144 | $12,000 | 3 | — | $14 | $2,466 |
| 2019 | $55,863 | $273 | $5,144 | $5,000 | 1 | — | $273 | $2,948 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions address education and literacy, human rights, children’s healthcare, mindbody medicine, and zoo conservation. For example, First Book says it works to expand children’s access to quality education, while Room to Read describes its vision as a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. Physicians for Human Rights says it works to secure human rights and justice, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund describes its work as non-political humanitarian relief focused on healthcare for children in Palestine.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported $43,445 in grants across 14 grants, an average of about $3,103 per grant. Among the listed recipients, First Book, the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association, Physicians for Human Rights, and Room to Read each received $4,363. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the National Yiddish Book Center each received $4,362. The Cleveland Zoological Society and Open Books Ltd each received $1,063.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Austin Ratner was listed as president, director, and secretary on the 2025 filing.
The Max and Betty Ratner is led by Austin Ratner, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Austin 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 The Max and Betty Ratner
What does The Max and Betty Ratner fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions address education and literacy, human rights, children’s healthcare, mindbody medicine, and zoo conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Max and Betty Ratner?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Max and Betty Ratner make grants?
The listed 2024 recipients were based in Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; New York, New York; San Francisco, California; Burbank, California; Amherst, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois. These are recipient locations and do not establish a broader geographic focus.
What is The Max and Betty Ratner's EIN?
The Max and Betty Ratner's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8037805. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Max and Betty Ratner 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 29, 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 April 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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