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Fascitelli Family Foundation
The Fascitelli Family Foundation was established in 1993 by Michael D. Fascitelli and his wife Elizabeth Cogan Fascitelli, both veterans of Goldman Sachs.
Fascitelli Family Foundation
The Fascitelli Family Foundation was established in 1993 by Michael D. Fascitelli and his wife Elizabeth Cogan Fascitelli, both veterans of Goldman Sachs. Michael Fascitelli later served as CEO of Vornado Realty Trust, one of the largest commercial landlords in New York, while Elizabeth became a partner at Goldman. The foundation reflects that dual pedigree — part philanthropy, part direct investment vehicle for a real estate fortune. Rather than limiting itself to check-writing, the foundation directly owns and operates commercial real estate assets. Public records tie it to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and The Goodtime Hotel in Miami Beach, alongside New York properties including Henry Hall at 515 West 38th Street and a mixed-use development at 509 West 38th Street. The foundation lists buyout, growth, expansion, and mezzanine strategies, suggesting it deploys capital across the capital stack rather than functioning as a passive limited partner. Investment stages span late-stage venture to control equity. Michael Fascitelli also runs MDF Capital LLC, his personal investment vehicle, and has co-invested alongside figures like Eric Birnbaum of Imperial Companies and Noam Gottesman, co-founder of Landscape Acquisition Holdings. The Fascitellis sit on the boards of the Urban Land Institute, The Rockefeller University, the Child Mind Institute, and Dartmouth College — a network that doubles as a sourcing funnel for real estate and operating-company deals. The foundation's structure blurs the line between a 501(c)(3) and a family office. It holds operating real estate directly — an unusual choice for a charitable entity — and does not maintain a public website or disclose a grantmaking budget. That opacity, combined with the hard-asset portfolio, makes it a hybrid: a foundation that acts like a proprietary investment partnership.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1993
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Michael D. Fascitelli
President and Board Member
Elizabeth Cogan Fascitelli
Treasurer and Board Member
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Fascitelli Family Foundation?
Michael D. Fascitelli serves as President and board member of the foundation, and investment decisions appear to flow through him and his personal vehicle, MDF Capital LLC. Elizabeth Cogan Fascitelli is Treasurer and also sits on the board. There is no separate investment committee disclosed publicly.
Is the Fascitelli Family Foundation structured as a traditional grantmaking foundation?
No. It is a 501(c)(3) organization, but it directly owns commercial real estate assets including hotels and mixed-use developments — a structure more typical of a family office than a standard foundation. Its grantmaking focuses on education, youth, health, and the arts, but the foundation does not publish grant reports or maintain a public website.
What real estate assets does the foundation hold?
Public records connect the foundation to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, The Goodtime Hotel in Miami Beach, and New York properties including Henry Hall (515 West 38th Street), 509 West 38th Street, and a residential unit at 170 East End Avenue. The portfolio spans commercial, hospitality, and residential assets across major US markets.
How does the Fascitelli family's wealth connect to Goldman Sachs?
Michael Fascitelli was head of real estate investment banking at Goldman Sachs before becoming CEO of Vornado Realty Trust. Elizabeth Cogan Fascitelli was also a Goldman Sachs partner. Their combined careers at the firm — and Michael's later role at one of the largest public REITs — form the basis of the family's wealth.
Does the foundation co-invest with external partners?
Yes, indirectly. Michael Fascitelli has co-invested with Eric Birnbaum, co-founder of Imperial Companies, and Noam Gottesman, co-founder of Landscape Acquisition Holdings Ltd. While it is unclear whether the foundation itself participates in these co-investments, the relationship network suggests a willingness to partner on deals.
What investment strategies does the foundation employ?
The foundation lists buyout, growth, expansion, and mezzanine strategies, covering both control and minority positions across the capital structure. This range implies the foundation can act as an equity sponsor, a lender, or a growth investor depending on the opportunity.
Why does the foundation not have a public website?
The Fascitelli Family Foundation maintains a deliberately low public profile. It does not solicit grant applications, publish an annual report, or maintain a web presence. This is consistent with many family-run foundations that view philanthropy as a private matter and prefer to operate without external scrutiny.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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