Pechter Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Pechter Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, human services, arts, and culture.

IP TAKE: The foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines.

PROFILE: Established in 1993, the Pechter Foundation was founded by Wall Street veteran Richard S. Pechter, who joined Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in 1969 and retired in 2000 as a Director and Chairman of the firm’s Financial Services Group and Chairman of DLJDirect. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Pechter Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, human services, arts, and culture.

Grants for Education

The Pechter Foundation’s tax filings suggest it prioritizes education, particularly schools with which the family has a personal connection. Grantmaking supports Yale University, Richard’s alma mater, as well as schools his children attended — Sarah Lawrence College and Penn State. Richard is also strongly involved with Teach for America, which he joined after retiring from business. He spent five years teaching math at a community college and a Jersey City public high school. 

However, Pechter also spreads grantmaking, on a lower scale, across the arts, namely theater and museums; medical research; Jewish causes; and public media.

Grantmaking Insights

Grants range between $250 and $135,000. In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $762,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on New York and New Jersey. Past grantees have included Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Temple Sinai, Public Media NJ - NJTV, and Roundabout Theatre Company.

The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

The Pechter Foundation
One Magnolia Place
Summit, NJ 07901