# Arete Foundation

Arete Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Philadelphia, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Philadelphia, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- **Founded:** 1986
- **Assets under management:** 73 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** www.aretecapital.com

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Arete Foundation was created in 1986 by Edward E. Cohen, who serves as Chairman and primary donor. Betsy Z. Cohen, founder of The Bancorp, sits as a trustee alongside family members Jonathan Z. Cohen and Daniel G. Cohen. The foundation functions as a grantmaking entity under 501(c)(3) status with no disclosed investment program beyond asset preservation. The foundation's activity centers on charitable disbursements. It lends a Hellenistic art collection to the National Gallery of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It also supports the Abigail Cohen Fellowship in Documentary Photography in New York. Geographic focus remains concentrated in Philadelphia and New York with no reported commitments outside the United States. The foundation lists no additional offices or investment staff. Daniel G. Cohen chairs the Paideia Institute board. Betsy and Edward Cohen serve as trustees and donors to the Barnes Foundation. Jonathan Z. Cohen chairs the executive committee at Lincoln Center Theater. No operational events from the last 24 months appear in available records. Governance stays within the Cohen family through trustee appointments. No external investment committee or succession plan has been disclosed.

## Sectors

- Philanthropy

## People

- Edward E. Cohen — Chairman of the Board and primary donor
- Betsy Z. Cohen — Trustee
- Jonathan Z. Cohen — Trustee
- Daniel G. Cohen — Trustee

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Arete Foundation?

Edward E. Cohen serves as Chairman of the Board. Trustees include Betsy Z. Cohen, Jonathan Z. Cohen, and Daniel G. Cohen. No separate investment committee is disclosed.

### Does Arete Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

No fund commitments or direct investment activity are recorded. The foundation's documented activity is limited to grantmaking and art lending.

### What investment stages does Arete Foundation typically target?

No investment stages are disclosed. The foundation does not publish an investment program.

### How is Arete Foundation related to the Cohen family operating businesses?

Trustees Jonathan Z. Cohen and Daniel G. Cohen hold roles at HEPCO Capital Management and The Bancorp respectively. The foundation itself remains a separate 501(c)(3) entity.

## Related profiles

- [Woomi Development](https://altss.com/profile/woomi-development)
- [Worcester College (Oxford) Endowment](https://altss.com/profile/worcester-college-oxford-endowment)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/arete-foundation

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology