Perelman Family Charitable Trust I

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $16.5 million (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A - Invitation only
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000+
• Geographic Focus: National (US), primarily Northeast

Contact Details

• Website: None
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Address: C/O PFTC LLC, 35 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065
• Alternative Contact: MacAndrews & Forbes contact page may accept inquiries

Overview

The Perelman Family Charitable Trust I is a private foundation established in 2017 with assets of approximately $391 million. As part of billionaire Ronald O. Perelman's philanthropic ecosystem, the trust distributes approximately $16-19 million annually to preselected charitable organizations. Ronald Perelman, chairman and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings and a Giving Pledge signatory, operates multiple charitable vehicles including this trust. The foundation maintains an exceptionally low profile and focuses its giving on elite institutions including major universities, academic medical centers, and established cultural and Jewish organizations. Matthew H. Kamens serves as trustee through Perelman Family Trust Company LLC.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not have formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants through trustee selection:

• Major Institutional Support: $100,000 - $1,000,000+ (elite universities and medical centers)
• Jewish Organizations: $5,000 - $500,000 (religious education, Orthodox institutions)
• Arts & Culture: $10,000 - $500,000 (performing arts centers, museums)
• Health Research: $50,000 - $1,000,000+ (academic medical centers, specialized research)

Priority Areas

• Higher education (elite universities)
• Academic medical centers and hospitals
• Jewish causes and Orthodox Judaism
• Arts and cultural institutions
• Mental health initiatives
• Women's health and reproductive medicine
• Public health research

What They Don't Fund

• Grassroots organizations
• Small to medium-sized nonprofits
• Organizations without pre-existing relationships
• General operating support for non-elite institutions
• Individual requests
• Political causes

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Perelman Family Trust Company LLC (uncompensated) Named Trustee: Matthew H. Kamens, Esq. - Attorney at Cozen O'Connor with extensive experience in structuring major philanthropic gifts

Principal: Ronald O. Perelman - Chairman and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, billionaire philanthropist and Giving Pledge signatory who has pledged to give away at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made exclusively to preselected charitable organizations at the discretion of the trustees. The foundation explicitly states it "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations that believe they are an exceptional match for the Perelman philanthropies' focus areas may attempt contact through:

• The provided address (C/O PFTC LLC, 35 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10065)
• The MacAndrews & Forbes contact page
• Through board members or senior staff with existing relationships to Ronald Perelman or his business associates
• Via trustees or leadership at institutions that have previously received Perelman family support

The trust is known to identify beneficiaries through its extensive network of business relationships and connections to elite institutions where Ronald Perelman has served as a board member or major donor.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed - grants appear to be made on a rolling basis at trustee discretion

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model

Application Success Factors

Based on patterns of Perelman family philanthropy:

• The trust consistently funds institutions where Ronald Perelman has personal connections, board positions, or alumni relationships
• Major universities that have received support include Brown University ($25 million in 2023) and Columbia Business School ($100 million pledge)
• Medical institutions with named Perelman centers receive ongoing support (NYU Langone, Weill Cornell)
• Jewish organizations receiving support are primarily Orthodox institutions in areas where the family has connections
• The trust favors transformational gifts to elite institutions over smaller grants to multiple organizations
• Organizations with existing Perelman family support are more likely to receive additional grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - unsolicited proposals will not be reviewed
• Focus is exclusively on elite institutions: major universities, academic medical centers, and highly recognized cultural organizations
• Grassroots and medium-sized organizations are explicitly not viable candidates for funding
• Pre-existing relationships with Ronald Perelman, his business associates, or the trustees are essential
• The trust makes substantial grants ($100,000+) to preselected institutions rather than smaller grants to many organizations
• Jewish organizations should be Orthodox-aligned to match the family's religious philanthropic focus
• Consider this a relationship-based funding opportunity rather than a traditional grant application process

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Perelman Family Charitable Trust I (EIN: 82-6501838), accessed March 3, 2026
• CauseIQ.com - Perelman Family Charitable Trust I organizational profile, accessed March 3, 2026
• Instrumentl - Perelman Family Charitable Trust I 990 Reports analysis, accessed March 3, 2026
• Grantmakers.io - Perelman Family Charitable Trust I Profile and grant history, accessed March 3, 2026
• Inside Philanthropy - "Perelman Family Foundation: Grants for Higher Education, Health, Jewish Causes", accessed March 3, 2026
• Brown University News - "$25 million from Perelman Family Foundation to establish arts district at Brown" (April 18, 2023)
• MacAndrews & Forbes - Corporate philanthropy page, accessed March 3, 2026
• Foundation Guide - "Ronald Perelman - Making a Big Difference By Giving Back", accessed March 3, 2026
• Tax Exempt World - Perelman Family Charitable Trust I profile and 990-PF filings, accessed March 3, 2026