The Karsh Family Foundation
The Karsh Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Beverly Hills, California. Established in 1999, the foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with approximately $336 million in assets. The foundation supports a variety of education, community health, social welfare, and democracy initiatives across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$347.9M
+3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$38.3M
+33.3% YoY
Grant Count
91
+37.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$420K
-3.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karsh Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on three primary philanthropic priorities:
- Education — The foundation's largest area of focus, with particular emphasis on higher education, scholarship programs, and institutional development
- Community Health and Social Welfare — Support for health-related initiatives and community programs
- American Democracy — Promotion and strengthening of democratic institutions and civic engagement
The founders have committed over $450 million to support these three priorities.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $7,500 to $5.3 million
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or maintain a public website. It operates on an invitation-only basis and prefers a proactive approach to grantmaking. The foundation does not respond to unsolicited funding requests.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects nationally across the United States, with particular activity in:
- California
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Texas
- Virginia
- And numerous other states and cities throughout the country
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2023:
- Total Assets: $336,064,099
- Total Revenue: $42,306,654
- Total Expenses: $30,425,367
- Total Liabilities: $2,760,000
- Investments: $312.5 million
Historical Growth: Over the past five years, the organization has increased revenue by an average of 1.7% annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $347,920,468 | $336,064,099 | $332,552,575 |
| Revenue | $19,547,185 | $42,306,654 | $32,258,411 |
| Expenses | $38,004,556 | $30,425,367 | $38,150,932 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $38,502,328 | $28,906,373 | $36,799,017 |
| Net Investment Income | $31,637,830 | $26,163,740 | $38,809,805 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,233,047 | $15,905,040 | $17,603,529 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cedars-sinai Medical Center ($5,000,000), Kipp Foundation ($2,500,000), Kipp Foundation ($2,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS LOS ANGELES, CA | PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITY | $10,000 |
| ALLIANCE COLLEGE - READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS LA LOS ANGELES, CA | HEALTH | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BABY 2 BABY LOS ANGELES, CA | PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITY | $5,000 |
| BET TZEDEK LOS ANGELES, CA | PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITY | $10,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITY | $5,000 |
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | HEALTH | $5,000,000 |
| CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND BROOMFIELD, CO | EDUCATION | $1,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders and Trustees:
- Bruce A. Karsh — Co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management; graduate of Duke University; earned J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law; clerked for retired Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy
- Martha L. Karsh — Has devoted over 25 years to philanthropy; serves on the KIPP Foundation Board
Both Bruce and Martha Karsh were awarded Honorary Doctorates at Howard University's 155th commencement ceremony in May 2023 in recognition of 25 years of philanthropic support for education in America.
The foundation operates with zero employees and is managed by the trustees without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE A KARSH | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| MARTHA L KARSH | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In May 2023, Bruce and Martha Karsh received Honorary Doctorates from Howard University at its 155th commencement ceremony
Malcolm Brogdon, Martha Karsh to Serve as UVA Campaign Co ...The foundation awarded $10 million to Howard University
University of Virginia announced plans for a $100 million Institute of Democracy, led by a Karsh Family Foundation gift
Led by Karsh Family Gift, UVA Plans $100 Million for Institute of DemocracyCedars-Sinai received $35 million from the foundation for cardiology initiatives
Martha Karsh serves as a co-chair of the University of Virginia campaign
Malcolm Brogdon, Martha Karsh to Serve as UVA Campaign Co ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Karsh Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation focuses on three primary philanthropic priorities: • **Education** — The foundation's largest area of focus, with particular emphasis on higher education, scholarship programs, and institutional development • **Community Health and Social Welfare** — Support for health-related initiatives and community programs • **American Democracy** — Promotion and stre…
How do I apply for a grant from The Karsh Family Foundation?
**Annual Giving:** $28.7 million (fiscal year 2023) **Grant Range:** $7,500 to $5.3 million **Number of Grants:** 66 awards in 2023; 84 grants in the most recent reporting period **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or maintain a public website. It operates on an invitation-only basis and prefers a proactive approach to grantmaking. The foundation does not respond to unsolicited funding requests. **Recent Major Grants (2023):** • Knowledge is Power Pr…
Where does The Karsh Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects nationally across the United States, with particular activity in: • California • New York • District of Columbia • Texas • Virginia • And numerous other states and cities throughout the country
What size grants does The Karsh Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Karsh Family Foundation awarded 91 grants totaling $38.3M — an average of about $420K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Karsh Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Karsh Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Karsh Family Foundation's EIN?
The Karsh Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7147287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Karsh Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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