The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $962,000 (2024)
• Total Assets: $20.9 million (2024)
• Number of Grants: 35 awards (2024)
• Average Grant Size: ~$27,500
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $650,000 (based on historical data)
• Geographic Focus: New York metropolitan area, with select national institutions
• Application Process: No unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: C/o Alfred Dunner, 1333 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-944-6660
EIN: 13-3962647
Classification: Private Independent Foundation

Note: The foundation does not have a public website. It operates as a family foundation and does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

Overview

The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation was established in 1995 (IRS ruling in 1997) by Joseph J. Aresty and his wife Catherine "Kitty" Fortuin Aresty after Joseph retired from his position as CEO of Alfred Dunner Inc., one of the largest privately-owned clothing manufacturers in the United States. As a first-generation college graduate from a modest Sephardic Jewish immigrant family from Monastir (now Bitola, Macedonia), Joseph Aresty was dedicated to helping the underprivileged receive quality education. The foundation currently holds approximately $20.9 million in assets and distributed $962,000 in grants in 2024 across 35 awards. Following Joseph's death in March 2018 at age 95, the foundation continues to operate under the leadership of his son, Steve Aresty, as President.

Funding Priorities

Primary Focus Areas

Education: The foundation's primary emphasis is on educational access and quality, particularly for underserved communities in the New York metropolitan area. Joseph Aresty's commitment to education stemmed from his own experience as a first-generation college graduate who attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Early Childhood Education: The foundation is an active donor to Early Childhood Partners NYC, a collaborative fund established by The New York Community Trust to expand access to effective early childhood services in New York City. Steve Aresty also participated in the Donor's Education Collaborative.

Higher Education: Major beneficiaries have included:

• University of Rochester (Joseph's birthplace)
• University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School (Joseph's alma mater)
• University of Southern California, particularly the Keck School of Medicine
• Harvard Medical School's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Medical Research: Particularly urology and cancer research. After Joseph Aresty defeated cancer twice with the help of the USC Department of Urology, the couple made a substantial naming gift in 2001, establishing the Catherine and Joseph Aresty Department of Urology at USC's Keck School of Medicine. Joseph stated, "My hope was that these sums would, in some way, help future patients afflicted with urologic malignancies, and that research would someday conquer this dreadful disease."

Known Grant Recipients

Historical grants have been made to:

• University of Rochester - Multiple grants for various programs
• Prep for Prep - Educational access program
• Planned Parenthood of NYC - Reproductive health services
• Harlem Academy - Independent school for underserved students
• Jay Heritage Center, Rye, NY - $650,000 for Arts & Culture (2008)
• Open Door Family Medicare Centers, Ossining, NY - $5,000 for Social & Human Services (2008)
• Citizen's Committee for Children - Child welfare advocacy
• Community Resource Center of Mamaroneck - Community services

Subject Areas Supported

• Education (primary focus)
• Early childhood development
• Medical research and urology
• Arts and culture (selective)
• Social and human services
• Reproductive health
• Children and youth programs

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Steve Aresty - President
Steve Aresty is the son of founders Joseph and Catherine Aresty. He has continued his parents' philanthropic legacy and is actively involved in collaborative philanthropy efforts in New York City. Steve has written about learning effective grantmaking through collaboration and participates in The New York Community Trust's funder collaboratives, including Early Childhood Partners NYC and the Donor's Education Collaborative.

Foundation History

Joseph J. Aresty (1922-2018) - Co-Founder, Former Vice President
Born May 6, 1922, in Rochester, NY, to Juda Joseph and Emma Nahmias Aresty, Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Monastir. One of nine children, Joseph graduated from Wharton School in 1943, served as a U.S. Army Air Corps staff sergeant flying reconnaissance missions in WWII, and built a successful career in the apparel industry, rising from vice president of men's accessories at Macy's to equity partner and eventual leader of Alfred Dunner Inc. He passed away March 13, 2018.

Catherine "Kitty" Fortuin Aresty - Co-Founder, Former President
Catherine met Joseph while working at Macy's as fashion coordinator. Together they were married for 60 years and created the foundation to fund education and community projects.

Family Involvement

The foundation operates as a family foundation with involvement from:

• Peter Aresty - Son of Joseph and Catherine
• Roseanne Aresty - Daughter-in-law
• Five grandchildren (family continuity)

The foundation is one of 94 active donors in The New York Community Trust's funder collaboratives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

This is a critical distinction for potential applicants. The foundation operates through:

• Pre-existing relationships with organizations
• Participation in collaborative funding groups (e.g., Early Childhood Partners NYC, Donor's Education Collaborative)
• Strategic initiatives identified by foundation leadership
• Long-term institutional relationships established by the founders

There is no public application process, online portal, or grant guidelines available.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations may come to their attention through:

1. Collaborative Funding Initiatives: The foundation participates in The New York Community Trust's collaborative funds, particularly Early Childhood Partners NYC and the Donor's Education Collaborative. Organizations working with these collaboratives may receive support.

2. Institutional Relationships: The foundation has maintained long-term relationships with specific universities and medical institutions, particularly those connected to the founders' personal history (University of Rochester, University of Pennsylvania, USC).

3. New York Metro Focus: Organizations serving underserved communities in the New York metropolitan area, particularly those focused on education and early childhood development, align with the foundation's mission.

4. Philanthropy New York Network: The foundation is a member of Philanthropy New York, a network of grantmakers. Organizations connected to this network may have opportunities for visibility.

Important: Even relationship-building approaches should respect the foundation's stated policy of not accepting unsolicited requests. Organizations should focus on building presence within the collaborative funding spaces where the foundation is active rather than direct solicitation.

Grant Characteristics

• Number of Awards: 35-39 grants annually (recent years)
• Total Annual Grantmaking: Approximately $960,000-$1,400,000
• Average Grant Size: Approximately $27,500
• Grant Range: Historically from $5,000 to $650,000
• Multi-year Grants: Not publicly documented, but institutional relationships suggest potential for ongoing support
• Grant Type: Primarily general operating support and specific program support

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received support share certain characteristics:

Alignment with Founder Values

1. Educational Access for the Underserved: Joseph Aresty's personal story as a first-generation college graduate from an immigrant family deeply influenced the foundation's priorities. Organizations that provide pathways to education for underserved communities strongly align with this mission.

2. Evidence-Based Impact: As a Wharton graduate and successful business leader, Joseph valued measurable results. Organizations that can demonstrate clear outcomes in education and community development align with this approach.

3. Connection to New York Metro Communities: The foundation's stated geographic focus is the New York metropolitan area, particularly organizations serving communities with limited access to resources.

Organizational Characteristics of Past Recipients

• Educational Innovation: Organizations like Prep for Prep and Harlem Academy that create pathways to educational excellence for underserved students
• Early Childhood Focus: Programs that provide quality early childhood education and care
• Established Track Record: The foundation appears to support organizations with proven effectiveness rather than start-ups
• Collaborative Approach: Willingness to work within funding collaboratives and coordinate with other funders

Strategic Priorities Evidenced by Grants

The foundation has supported:

• Direct educational services to children and youth
• Medical research and clinical care (particularly urology/oncology)
• Arts and cultural preservation (Jay Heritage Center)
• Reproductive health services (Planned Parenthood NYC)
• Child welfare advocacy (Citizen's Committee for Children)
• Community-based social services

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Unsolicited Applications: This is the most critical factor. The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Direct grant applications will not be successful.

2. Collaborative Funding Pathway: Organizations may receive support through the foundation's participation in collaborative funding initiatives, particularly Early Childhood Partners NYC through The New York Community Trust.

3. Education is Central: The foundation's core mission centers on educational access and quality for underserved communities, rooted in Joseph Aresty's personal values as a first-generation college graduate.

4. Geographic Focus: While the foundation supports select national institutions (particularly universities), the primary focus is the New York metropolitan area for community-based organizations.

5. Institutional Relationships Matter: The foundation maintains long-term relationships with specific institutions, particularly those connected to the founders' personal history and values.

6. Family Foundation Continuity: Under the leadership of Steve Aresty, the foundation continues the philanthropic vision established by Joseph and Catherine Aresty, with an emphasis on collaborative grantmaking.

7. Moderate Grant Sizes: With an average grant of approximately $27,500, the foundation makes numerous modest grants rather than a few large awards, though historical data shows capacity for larger grants ($650,000) for major institutional partners.

References

• Charity Navigator Profile: The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/133962647 (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133962647 (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• CauseIQ Foundation Profile: The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-catherine-and-joseph-aresty-foundation,133962647/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Philanthropy New York Member Directory: Catherine & Joseph Aresty Foundation. https://philanthropynewyork.org/redhen/org/170 (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• USC Keck School of Medicine: "In memoriam: Philanthropist Joseph Aresty, 95." https://keck.usc.edu/news/in-memoriam-philanthropist-joseph-aresty-95/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• USC News: "In memoriam: philanthropist and USC supporter Joseph Aresty, 95." https://today.usc.edu/in-memoriam-philanthropist-joseph-aresty-95/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Women's Wear Daily: "Joseph J. Aresty, Philanthropist and Former Alfred Dunner CEO, Dies at 95." https://wwd.com/eye/people/joseph-j-aresty-95-philanthropist-alfred-dunner-chief-executive-officer-dies-1202628629/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• The New York Community Trust: "From the Desk of Steve Aresty: Learning effective grantmaking through collaboration." https://thenytrust.org/news/from-the-desk-of-steve-aresty-learning-effective-grantmaking-through-collaboration/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• The New York Community Trust: "Early Childhood Partners NYC." https://www.nycommunitytrust.org/results/collaborative-funds/early-childhood-partners-nyc/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Grantmakers.io Profile: Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation Inc. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/133962647-catherine-and-joseph-aresty-foundation-inc/ (Accessed March 4, 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory: The Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation Inc. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=ARES006 (Accessed March 4, 2026)