How Debrah Lee Charatan Gives in New York City
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Large arts organizations like MoMA get funding, alongside smaller service providers. Photo: mikecphoto/shutterstock
People around New York City know Debrah Lee Charatan for her role in the city’s real estate market, grounded in a career in commercial and residential real estate spanning over 40 years. But Charatan has also pursued philanthropy in the city for over 20 years, channeling much of that charitable giving through the Charatan Family Foundation.
Here are some key details to know about Debrah Lee Charatan’s family foundation and how it distributes grants throughout New York City.
NYC Arts Funding
Charatan prioritizes New York City’s arts scene and recognizes the city’s importance as an artistic hub. The foundation looks to preserve the arts and make them more accessible to the public through education, performances and exhibitions. Funding in this category typically goes to large and well-established arts organizations such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Jewish Causes in NYC
Charatan is actively involved in the city’s Jewish community and is a member of the Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation. Her dedication to her faith has led to support for organizations that serve the city’s 1.1 million Jewish people, including synagogues, Jewish medical centers and Jewish schools. Past support has gone to the Gottesman RTW Academy, Chabad of Southampton and the Hampton Synagogue.
Grants for Vulnerable Local Populations
Basic needs grants from the Charatan Family Foundation focus on New York City’s most vulnerable people, such as the elderly, youth and people who are disabled. Special priority is given to Holocaust survivors, people who are deaf and children with special needs. These grants assist vulnerable people with shelter, food and housing. Recent grantees include the Cleary Foundation for the Deaf and the Hebrew Academy for Special Children.
Medical Care Support
The last major giving category is medical care support, and there, as well, Charatan’s grants have a strong New York City angle. These grants go to major foundations that have national reach in some cases, but maintain strong ties to NYC. Sample grantees include the Kellner Pediatric Liver Foundation and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Cancer is a big focus for Charatan, but other interests are substance abuse and organ and tissue transplants.
While the Charatan Family Foundation welcomes general inquires by email, it is not in the habit of accepting unsolicited funding requests from nonprofits, even ones based in New York City. Most grants go to groups that have already established relationships with the Charatan family. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt to reach out to this funder with new ideas. Requests for funding can be anywhere from $100 to $100,000.
Check out IP’s full profile of the Charatan Family Foundation and our donor profile of Debrah Lee Charatan to learn more about this funding force in NYC.
