Donald B. Marron Charitable Trust
/OVERVIEW: The Donald B. Marron Charitable Trust is the philanthropic vehicle of hedge funder Donald Marron. The trust's grantmaking supports education, arts and culture, health and more. Marron has provided ongoing support to the New York Public Library and New York University.
IP TAKE: This trust maintains a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals for funding.
PROFILE: A lifelong New York City resident, Donald B. Marron attended New York City public schools and the City University of New York. Now in his 80s, Marron is the founder and chairman of Lightyear Capital. Marron was once on the Forbes billionaire list, but it's unclear how much he's currently worth. He moves his philanthropy through the Donald B. Marron Charitable Trust, which doesn't have a website or a clear way to get in touch. In addition, Marron is listed as the sole trustee. His wife, Catherine, has separate philanthropic vehicle.
In 2013, Marron made a $40 million gift to New York University to launch the Marron Institute on Cities and the Urban Environment, a new hub for research on cities and the urban environment. The trust has also supported outfits such as Abyssinian Development Corporation, which works in educational programming, human services and community development in Harlem. Barnard College received $350,000 in a past year. Other New York education grantees include the Bronx High School of Science Alumni Association, the Dwight School and the Spence School.
Large sums have also gone to arts and culture outfits in New York City. Recent grants have gone to Carnegie Hall, which received a $200,000 grant in a past year; the Met, which received $200,000; Metropolitan Opera; Municipal Art Society of New York; Modern Museum of Art, which received close to $540,000; Neue Galerie New York; New York Philharmonic, and others. Marron has given millions to New York Public Library, where Catherine once served as chairman and is currently on the board of trustees. Catherine is also chair of Friends of the High Line, and is passionate about green spaces. At least $3.2 million has gone to Friends of the High Line in recent years.
Recent money has also gone to New York City health outfits such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which received more than $1 million in a recent year; and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, which received $75,000. Sums have also gone to human services outfits such as Coalition for Homeless and Phoenix House, a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization.
In a recent year, the trust held around $20 million in assets and gave away around $8.3 million. The trust’s average grant size is about $25,000. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the fund’s recent tax filings.
The Donald B. Marron Charitable Trust does not maintain a website or accept unsolicited proposals for funding. An address and phone number are provided below.
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CONTACT:
Donald B. Marron Charitable Trust
9 W. 57th St., 31st. Fl.
New York, NY 10019
Telephone: (212) 884-0198
