PR's Family Foundations — Inside The 990s

Updated June 20, 2026.

A look inside the family foundations of leading independent PR firm owners. The IRS 990-PF is the public record — it shows what each foundation holds, what it gives, and who runs it. Six foundations, six trajectories.

Daniel J. Edelman Family Foundation

Chicago-based. EIN 36-7184921. Tax-exempt since 1997. Founded by Daniel J. Edelman — founder of Edelman, the world's largest independent PR firm. Daniel Edelman died in January 2013. The foundation is now run by his three children: Richard W. Edelman, John D. Edelman, and Renee Edelman, all listed as trustees.

FY2024 (filed April 2025): revenue $194,099, expenses $162,312, charitable disbursements $138,200, net assets $1.69 million. Funding pattern is consistent year over year — roughly $130,000–$270,000 in qualifying distributions annually since 2017.

Howard J. Rubenstein Family Foundation

New York-based. EIN 13-3384019. Tax-exempt since 1987. Founded by Howard Rubenstein — founder of Rubenstein (originally Rubenstein Associates, now led by his son Steven Rubenstein). Howard Rubenstein died in December 2020. The foundation is now run by his daughters Amy Rubenstein (Treasurer) and Roni Rubenstein (Officer).

FY2024 (filed November 2025): revenue $559,247, expenses $477,876, charitable disbursements $453,000, net assets $841,380. The foundation's giving has actually accelerated since Howard's death — $453,000 in 2024 is one of its largest annual distribution totals on record.

Note: Howard's legacy firm Rubenstein is distinct from Rubenstein Public Relations (RPR), founded separately in 1987 by his other son Richard Rubenstein.

David and Laura Finn Family Foundation

New York-based. EIN 13-6179414. Tax-exempt since 1965 — the oldest foundation on this list by three decades. David Finn co-founded Ruder Finn with Bill Ruder in 1948. David Finn died in February 2021. The foundation is now run by his daughter Kathy Bloomgarden — CEO of Ruder Finn since 2011 — alongside Ruder Finn senior executives Peggy Walsh (COO), Ian Glover (CFO), and Rachel Spielman.

FY ending March 2025: revenue $0, expenses $4,387, charitable disbursements $1,700, net assets $63,034. The Finn foundation has been wound down dramatically from its earlier-era peaks; recent filings show minimal grantmaking activity. The Finn family's philanthropy now runs primarily through other channels — most notably the Catskill Mountain Foundation.

Catskill Mountain Foundation

Hunter, NY. EIN 13-3992139. Founded 1998 by Peter Finn — son of David Finn, former Co-CEO of Ruder Finn, and the founder and CEO of FINN Partners (launched 2011) — with his wife Sarah Finn. Peter serves as Chairman. Sarah serves as President.

FY2024: revenue $3.0 million, expenses $3.28 million, total assets $11.7 million. Categorized as an arts and culture operating foundation rather than a grantmaker. By the Finns' own reporting, the foundation has invested nearly $16 million in facilities and $45+ million in the northern Catskills region across performing arts, visual arts, film, and arts education. The largest single foundation associated with a PR firm founder on this list, by an order of magnitude.

Michael and Nancy Sitrick Family Charitable Foundation

Los Angeles-based. EIN 95-4660931. Tax-exempt since 1998. Founded by Michael Sitrick, founder and CEO of Sitrick and Company — the West Coast crisis communications firm acquired by Resources Connection Inc. in 2009.

Per most recent IRS 990 data: $83,488 in grants distributed across 16 awards in 2024, year-end assets $27,870. Grantmaking concentrated in education, Jewish philanthropy, and human services, primarily in California, New York, and Texas. Consistent 15–16 grants per year for the past three filing cycles.

The Ronn Torossian Family Foundation Inc.

FY ending August 2024: revenue $45,785, expenses $73,500, charitable disbursements $73,500 — 100% of expenses went to charitable distributions. FY ending August 2025: revenue $19.3k, expenses $5.6k, net assets $119k. Stated focus: cancer research, education, literacy, Jewish causes, and individual professional advancement. Torossian has separately reported personal giving to American Friends of Duvdevan, Chabad, Park East Synagogue, Tikva Children's Home, the NAACP, the American Cancer Society, and others.

What the 990s show

Three of the founders are gone. The foundations they set up are now in second-generation hands — with very different trajectories. Edelman holds steady under his three children. Rubenstein is giving more, not less, after Howard's death. The original Finn vehicle has been wound down, but Peter Finn's Catskill Mountain Foundation dwarfs anything else on this list. Sitrick maintains a steady, modest grant cadence. Torossian remains operator-led.

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Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and Instrumentl, most recent available filings.