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Kolatch Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.8M

Kolatch Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,839,158 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $102.4 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 89 awards (2024), 72 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: Information not publicly available (varies by recipient)
  • Geographic Focus: New Jersey and New York, with emphasis on the New York metropolitan area
  • Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: Englewood, NJ
EIN: 133918276
Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website, phone number, or email for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Kolatch Family Foundation was established in 1998 and has grown substantially over the past two decades, with assets increasing from approximately $14 million in 2012 to over $102 million by 2024. The foundation is governed by trustees Jonathan L. Kolatch and Mindy S. Kolatch. Jonathan Kolatch is a former Goldman Sachs partner (1982-1999) who founded Redwood Capital Management in 2000, a hedge fund specializing in distressed and stressed credit opportunities that grew to over $5 billion in assets under his leadership until his retirement in 2020. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on supporting preselected organizations in three primary areas: Jewish causes, education, and healthcare, with a particular emphasis on the Jewish community in the New York metropolitan area. The foundation does not engage in direct charitable activities but functions exclusively as a grantmaking entity, with charitable disbursements representing 97.6% of total expenses.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Kolatch Family Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than structured grant programs. All grants are made to preselected organizations chosen by the trustees. The foundation distributed $7.8 million in grants in 2024 across 89 awards, though specific grant amounts per recipient are not publicly disclosed.

Priority Areas

Jewish Causes (Primary Focus)

  • Jewish day schools and educational institutions
  • Synagogues and Jewish community centers
  • Jewish youth organizations
  • Organizations supporting Jewish children and families
  • Modern Orthodox institutions

Education & Youth

  • Higher education institutions, particularly Columbia University and NYU
  • Organizations supporting children dealing with illness or hardship
  • Youth development programs with Jewish connections

Healthcare

  • Medical centers and hospital foundations
  • Healthcare organizations serving the New Jersey/New York region

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation making grants only to preselected organizations, the foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established network
  • Unsolicited proposals from any organization
  • International organizations (focus is domestic, primarily NY/NJ)
  • Direct individual assistance

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Jonathan L. Kolatch (Trustee): Founder and former Managing Partner of Redwood Capital Management. Former Goldman Sachs partner (1982-1999), where he served as Head of Credit Arbitrage Group, Head of High Yield Trading Desk, and Head of Distressed Bond Trading. Graduated summa cum laude from Columbia College (1978) and earned MBA from Harvard Business School (1982). Retired from Redwood Capital in 2020 after achieving a 13% compounded return for the flagship fund during his tenure.

  • Mindy S. Kolatch (Trustee): Teacher at Ramaz School, a Modern Orthodox day school in Manhattan. Serves on the board of Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. Actively involved in the Jewish community in New Jersey and New York.

Both trustees serve without compensation. The foundation has no paid staff and operates as a trustee-managed entity.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Kolatch Family Foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS filings, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Trustee discretion and personal relationships
  • Organizations with which the trustees have direct connections
  • Institutions where trustees serve in leadership roles (e.g., Mindy's teaching position at Ramaz School, board service at Kaplen JCC)
  • Alma maters and organizations within their social/professional network

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through an application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates exclusively through preselected grantees, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, analysis of their giving patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

  • Jewish educational institutions, particularly Modern Orthodox day schools
  • Organizations where the Kolatches have direct personal involvement (Ramaz School, Kaplen JCC, Congregation Ahvath Torah)
  • Healthcare institutions in the New Jersey/New York area
  • Higher education institutions, especially Columbia University (Jonathan's alma mater) and NYU
  • Organizations supporting Jewish children and families (e.g., Chai Lifeline)

Giving Patterns Indicate:

  • Strong loyalty to organizations within their immediate community
  • Multi-year support for institutions where trustees serve in leadership roles
  • Preference for established institutions with proven track records
  • Geographic focus on the New York metropolitan area, particularly northern New Jersey and Manhattan
  • Significant support for organizations aligned with Modern Orthodox Jewish values

Common Thread Among Recipients: Organizations that receive funding typically have a direct connection to the trustees through personal involvement, shared community ties, religious affiliation, or educational background. The foundation demonstrates consistent support for institutions that serve the Jewish community in the New York metropolitan area.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals under any circumstances. Traditional grant seeking strategies will not be effective.
  • Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: All funding flows through preselected organizations with direct connections to the trustees.
  • Strong Jewish Focus: The vast majority of grants support Jewish causes, particularly Modern Orthodox institutions in the New York/New Jersey area.
  • Educational Emphasis: Both K-12 Jewish education and higher education receive substantial support, particularly institutions with personal connections to the trustees.
  • Geographic Concentration: Nearly all grants benefit organizations in New Jersey and New York, specifically the New York metropolitan area.
  • Trustee Involvement Indicates Support: Organizations where Mindy or Jonathan serve in leadership roles, teach, or have personal involvement receive ongoing support.
  • Asset Growth Trajectory: The foundation's assets have grown substantially (from $14M to $102M over 12 years), suggesting continued and potentially increasing grantmaking capacity in the future.

References

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