Donald A Pels Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an invitation should not send an application cold.
- In its most recent filing, 96% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in one of its two previous filings, so existing relationships matter a great deal.
- Half of its 553 grants to organisations across its last three filings were $60,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $500,000, so a request in that range is typical, although its largest grant was $2,500,000.
- Its filings describe almost all recorded grants as general operating support but set out no formal thematic priorities, so fit is hard to judge from published material alone.
Overview
Donald A Pels Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in Harrison, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The trust's filings describe almost all its recorded grants as general operating support. Its recipients include universities and research institutions; civil-liberties, reproductive-rights and environmental organisations; humanitarian and refugee charities; food banks and community-service organisations; museums, arts organisations and public-media and journalism bodies. The grants reach organisations working in health, education, civic participation, immigration and conservation, alongside cultural institutions and local services. New York accounts for the largest share of recorded grant dollars, followed by the District of Columbia, while recipients are recorded across 18 states. The filings do not set out formal thematic priorities or describe an open application route.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, District of Columbia and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 553 grants to organisations were $60,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations Donald A Pels Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 186 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Rockefeller University · General operating support$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America · General operating support$2,250,0002024 tax year
- Duke University · General operating support$2,100,0002024 tax year
- Friends Of Highline · General operating support$2,100,0002024 tax year
- Neo Philanthropy State Infrastructure Fund · General operating support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Earthjustice · General operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Natural Resources Defense Council · General operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- American Civil Liberties Union Foundation · General operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Valerie Pels Co PKF O'Connor Davies — Trustee
- Wendy Keys Co PKF O'Connor Davies — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $36,994,855 | $34,344,900 | $345,762,250 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $37,033,883 | $34,755,300 | $368,413,591 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $38,777,845 | $36,347,878 | $375,751,049 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Donald A Pels Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Harrison, NY
Applying to Donald A Pels Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Harrison, NY