Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $35.3 million (2023)
Total Assets: $271 million (2023)
Grant Range: $250 - $2,500,000
Average Grant: $186,700 (2023)
Number of Awards: 182 grants (2023)
Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, District of Columbia, and California
Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 500 Mamaroneck Ave Ste 301, Harrison, NY 10528-1648

Phone: 914-381-8900

Administrative Contact: C/o PKF O'Connor Davies

Note: This is a private foundation that does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust was established in 1992 (tax-exempt since December 1993) and is named after Donald Pels, who passed away in 2014 at age 86. Donald Pels was a prominent businessman who led LIN Broadcasting for 20 years and served as a trustee of Rockefeller University for more than two decades. The trust continues to be managed by his wife, Wendy Keys, and daughter, Valerie Pels, as co-trustees who serve without compensation.

With assets exceeding $271 million, the trust is one of the most active private foundations in the region, distributing over $35 million annually across approximately 180-185 grants. The foundation takes a broad approach to philanthropy, supporting arts and culture, education, environment, health, sports and recreation, and international human rights. The trust particularly focuses on education, human services, and cultural institutions, with a strong concentration in New York and other major metropolitan areas.

Donald Pels's personal philanthropic philosophy emphasized hands-on engagement. Despite not having scientific training, he was described as "a quantitative and analytical thinker interested in how science works and in fostering a creative environment," and he "derived enormous pleasure from meeting with young investigators to learn about their work."

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The trust supports organizations across multiple sectors:

Education: Major focus area including higher education institutions, degree completion programs, and educational access initiatives

Arts & Culture: Film preservation, visual arts, performing arts, and cultural institutions

Health & Medical Research: Biomedical research, structural biology, and health-related initiatives

Human Services: Social service organizations and community support programs

Environment: Environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives

Sports & Recreation: Athletic programs and recreational facilities

International Human Rights: Organizations working on global human rights issues

Philanthropy & Voluntarism: Support for other grantmaking organizations and philanthropic infrastructure

Geographic Priorities

Primary focus on:

New York (strongest concentration)
District of Columbia
California
Other major U.S. metropolitan areas

Grant Size Range

The trust demonstrates flexibility in grant sizes:

Range: $250 - $2,500,000
Median Grant: $55,000
Average Grant: $186,700
The trust makes both small capacity-building grants and large multi-million dollar transformational gifts

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the trust appears to focus on established institutions with proven track records rather than startup organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees (both serve without compensation):

Wendy Keys - Wife of founder Donald Pels. Co-trustee with decision-making authority over the trust's grantmaking. Wendy and Donald were early supporters of the High Line project in Manhattan and were described as championing the park with "vision, dedication, and inspiring generosity."

Valerie Pels - Daughter of founder Donald Pels. Co-trustee with decision-making authority over the trust's grantmaking.

Both trustees work with PKF O'Connor Davies (accounting firm) for administrative support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust operates as a private foundation where trustees proactively identify organizations to support based on their philanthropic priorities and personal interests. The trust does not accept unsolicited grant proposals or maintain an application portal.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, typically to organizations with which the trustees have an existing relationship or awareness. The trust's grantmaking reflects the personal philanthropic interests of the Pels family, continuing the legacy established by Donald Pels during his lifetime.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee initiative rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept public applications, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, understanding the trust's grantmaking patterns can provide insight into their priorities:

Proven Track Record: The trust supports established institutions with demonstrated impact. Examples include major universities (Rockefeller University, CUNY), prestigious cultural institutions (Film at Lincoln Center), and recognized nonprofits (Magnum Foundation, Human Rights Watch).

Institutional Capacity: The trust makes significant grants, with an average award of nearly $187,000. Recipients need the organizational capacity to manage and effectively deploy substantial funding.

Multi-Year Commitments: Evidence suggests the trust maintains long-term relationships with grantees. For example, Donald Pels's 1988 gift to Rockefeller University was followed by additional support over decades, and in 2024, the trust continued supporting Film at Lincoln Center through the establishment of the Wendy Keys and Donald A. Pels Archive Fund.

Areas of Personal Connection: The trust's grantmaking reflects the family's personal interests, particularly in:

Scientific research and young investigators (reflecting Donald Pels's passion for supporting early-career scientists)
Arts and culture (film, music, visual arts)
Educational access and completion (such as the $4 million gift to CUNY's ACE program)
Urban development and public spaces (early support for the High Line)

Geographic Concentration: Strong preference for New York-based organizations, followed by institutions in Washington D.C. and California.

Transformational Impact: The trust appears to favor projects where funding can make a significant difference, such as establishing named centers, endowed professorships, or archive funds that create lasting legacies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This trust cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They identify and select grantees through trustee initiative.
Relationship-Driven: Grants flow to organizations where trustees have existing awareness, relationships, or personal connection to the mission.
Substantial Resources: With $35 million in annual giving and average grants of $187,000, this is a major funder capable of transformational gifts up to $2.5 million.
Broad Portfolio: The trust supports diverse causes (education, arts, health, human rights, environment) rather than concentrating on a single issue area.
Legacy Continuation: Current trustees Wendy Keys and Valerie Pels continue Donald Pels's philanthropic vision, maintaining support for his priority areas while potentially adding their own interests.
New York Focus: Organizations based in New York, particularly those in higher education, cultural institutions, and human services, receive the strongest concentration of funding.
Multi-Year Perspective: The trust maintains long-term relationships with grantees, providing sustained support over many years rather than one-time grants.

References

Information accessed December 2025