Orentreich Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: Norman Orentreich and his son David move their philanthropy through the Orentreich Family Foundation, which gave around $1.1 million in a recent tax year. The foundation’s grantmaking heavily involves New York City arts and culture organizations. Other interests include education, health, and Jewish causes.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture, Education & Youth, Health, Jewish Causes, NYC Community
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals.
PROFILE: Norman Orentreich is a pioneering New York dermatologist and father of modern hair transplantation. In 1961, he founded Orentreich Foundation for the Advancement of Science (OFAS), which is dedicated to “biomedical research that prevents, halts, or reverses those disorders that decrease the quality or length of life.” The family also founded the Orentreich Family Foundation in the 1980s, through which the Orentreich family funds select organizations in New York City and elsewhere.
Grants for New York and Arts & Culture
In recent years, New York arts and cultural institutions have been heavily featured in this vehicle’s grantmaking. Grantees have included American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Modern Art, Frick Collection, The Met, Park Avenue Armory, Gotham Chamber Opera, The Jewish Museum, The Whitney Museum, and The Kitchen, a “nonprofit experimental performance space.”
The family through their foundation has also directed sums to a vehicle called Artists Books & Writings Inc, which appears to be associated with David. Norman’s daughter, Catherine, while working for the family business, also holds an MFA from NYU.
Grants for K-12 Education
Apart from the arts, the Orentreich family also supports education and youth organizations in the city. Grantees have included Bronx Academy of Letters, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Columbia University Medical School, Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, and Horace Mann. David is an assistant clinical professor in the department of dermatology of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, where he completed his dermatology residency.
Grants for Jewish Causes
The family also lends support to New York City Jewish organizations like Central Synagogue, Emunah of America, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, and UJA Federation of New York. They’ve also supported organizations like Central Park Conservancy, and New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Important Grant Details
Unfortunately for grantseekers, this foundation keeps a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. In a recent tax year, the foundation gave away around $1.1 million to nonprofits. Each year, the foundation also directs grants under $1,000 to select nonprofits.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
The Orentreich Family Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the family, but below is an address:
Orentreich Family Foundation
909 5th Ave.
New York City, NY 10021
