Aaron M. Sosnick
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Caxton Associates, A.R.T. Advisors
FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture, Justice & Human Services, Education, Los Angeles, New York City
OVERVIEW: Aaron Sosnick moves his philanthropy through La Vida Feliz Foundation. According to available tax filing, the foundation awarded $21.8 million in grants in 2017. Sosnick’s priorities include arts and culture, justice and human services, education, and local causes in Los Angeles and New York City.
BACKGROUND: Aaron M. Sosnick attended Wagner High School at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, where his father was a faculty member. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1988 and joined Caxton Associates, a hedge fund founded by Bruce Kovner. Sosnick runs A.R.T. Advisors, a statistical arbitrage fund that operates from Caxton's offices.
ISSUES:
ARTS & CULTURE: Aaron Sosnick’s arts and culture philanthropy has supported many organizations in New York City. Among his grantees are City Lore, which aims to “document, present and advocate for New York City’s grassroots cultures to ensure their living legacy,” and Creative Time, which has “commissioned and presented ambitious public art projects with thousands of artists throughout New York City.” Additional past arts and culture grantees include the Black Rock Arts Foundation, the Esse Aficionado modern dance company, Howl Arts, the Municipal Art Society of New York, the Third Street Music School Settlement and Coney Island USA, "a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the cultural and economic revitalization of the Coney Island neighborhood."
JUSTICE & HUMAN SERVICES: Sosnick’s work in the area of justice and human services has prioritized underserved and vulnerable populations. One past grantee, Centurion Ministries, is a "a secular nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to free and vindicate from prison those who are completely innocent of the crimes for which they have been wrongly convicted." Another past grantee is Grace Outreach, a Bronx-based organization that “serves low-income women of all ages who seek to enhance their academic skills, pursue higher education and find employment.” Other past grantees include the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, Catholic Charities, New York City’s Hester Street Collaborative and the Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, which aims to “empower low-income individuals to become productive participants in the U.S. financial system and achieve their financial goals.” "
EDUCATION: Sosnick’s grantmaking in the area of education has also targeted underserved and at risk populations. He has funded CollegeSpring, which “partners with schools and community organizations to help students from low-income backgrounds,” as well as the Inner City Scholarship Fund, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, and Children’s Storefront, a free private school in Harlem area of New York City. Sosnick has also steadily supported the University of Southern California.
LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY: In Los Angeles, Sosnick’s philanthropy has prioritized transportation, civic spaces, and the environment. One past grantee is Longbeachize, which is an effort organized by Long Beach State students to “promote biking as an ecologically health conscious and invigorating alternative to local commuting.” Similarly, the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition, has used funding to improve conditions and promote bicycling as a means of transportation and a form of recreation. Other past grantees include the Friends of Griffith Park and the Friends of the Los Angeles River.
NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY: Sosnick has supported many causes in New York City, including historic preservation and alternative transportation. Past grantees include the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Historic District Council, the Fund for the City of New York, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Outstanding Renewal Enterprises, Recycle-A-Bicycle, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and Transportation Alternatives.
OTHER: Sosnick has also donated tens of millions to charities through his donor advised fund at Fidelity Charitable.
LOOKING FORWARD: Sosnick is likely to continue his support of innovative causes and organizations in Los Angeles and New York.
CONTACT:
The La Vida Feliz Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with Sosnick, but below is an address
La Vida Feliz Foundation
501 Silverside Rd., Ste. 123
Wilmington, DE 19809
