The Karsh Family Foundation
The Karsh Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Beverly Hills, California. Its 2025 filing lists grants for education, philanthropic activity, and arts, with recipients including educational institutions, civic and community organizations, and arts organizations.
The Karsh Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Karsh Family Foundation gave $19.9M across 91 grants in 2025 (avg $218K), top state New York. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,864,519
- -48.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 91
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $218,291
- -48.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $412,900,943
- +18.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (40 of 85, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (40% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Karsh Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9595 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1010, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: (213) 830-6402
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Karsh Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Virginia - Karsh Institute of Democracy ($5.3M). Together the top 10 received $17.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
377 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 248 grants of 377 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in New York (40%), Virginia (27%), California (23%), Georgia (5%), and Alaska (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Karsh Family Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 40 of 85 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $265K; repeat grants $206K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19.9M (2025) to $38.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 91 grants totaling $19.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia - Karsh Institute of Democracy Charlottesville, VA | Education | $5,300,000 |
| American Jewish Committee - Facts for Peace New York, NY | Philanthropic Activity | $2,500,000 |
| American Jewish Committee - Facts for Peace New York, NY | Philanthropic Activity | $2,500,000 |
| Kipp Foundation San Francisco, CA | Education | $2,500,000 |
| Teach for America (La & National) New York, NY | Education | $1,500,000 |
| Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Philanthropic Activity | $1,000,000 |
| Spelman College - Karsh Kipp II Scholarship Fund Atlanta, GA | Education | $1,000,000 |
| Headcount New York, NY | Philanthropic Activity | $500,000 |
| Jewish Federation Los Angeles, CA | Philanthropic Activity | $250,000 |
| New York Consolidated Inc (Center for Art Research and Alliances Inc) New York, NY | ARTS | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Karsh Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $412,900,943 | $66,895,372 | $22,252,549 | $19,864,519 | 91 | $19,994,039 | $37,578,652 | $18,135,727 |
| 2024 | $347,920,468 | $19,547,185 | $38,004,556 | $38,263,925 | 91 | $38,502,328 | $31,637,830 | $16,233,047 |
| 2023 | $336,064,099 | $42,306,654 | $30,425,367 | $28,706,900 | 66 | $28,906,373 | $26,163,740 | $15,905,040 |
| 2022 | $332,552,575 | $32,258,411 | $38,150,932 | $36,632,400 | 57 | $36,799,017 | $38,809,805 | $17,603,529 |
| 2021 | $335,641,822 | $46,343,233 | $29,081,939 | $26,746,063 | 72 | — | $43,935,317 | $17,043,187 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karsh Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants list purposes including education, philanthropic activity, and arts.
Some grantee missions illustrate the kinds of work represented in its grants. KIPP Foundation describes its work as creating academically excellent schools with families and communities to prepare students for college and beyond. The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation says it provides equipment, training, and public outreach programs to supplement city resources. Sitka Sound Science Center describes its work as education and research to increase understanding of Gulf of Alaska ecosystems. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 91 grants totaling $19,864,519. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $5.3 million, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $5.3 million to the University of Virginia – Karsh Institute of Democracy for education; two grants of $2.5 million each to American Jewish Committee – Facts for Peace for philanthropic activity; $2.5 million to KIPP Foundation for education; and $1.5 million to Teach For America (LA & National) for education. Other notable awards included $1 million to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation for philanthropic activity and $1 million to Spelman College – Karsh KIPP II Scholarship Fund for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bruce A. Karsh and Martha L. Karsh as trustees.
The Karsh Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bruce A. Karsh
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha L. Karsh
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Karsh Family Foundation
How much does The Karsh Family Foundation give each year?
The Karsh Family Foundation gave $19.9M across 91 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $38.3M across 91 grants.
What is The Karsh Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Karsh Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $218,291, across 91 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Karsh Family Foundation that year got $265K on average.
Where does The Karsh Family Foundation give grants?
The Karsh Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (27%) and California (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (36 grants), New York, NY (15 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants) and Durham, NC (3 grants).
Does The Karsh Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 91 grants with a stated purpose on The Karsh Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Philanthropic Activity" (55 grants), "Education" (19 grants) and "Health" (12 grants).
Who are The Karsh Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Karsh Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Virginia - Karsh Institute of Democracy ($5,300,000), American Jewish Committee - Facts for Peace ($5,000,000 across 2 grants) and Kipp Foundation ($2,500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Karsh Family Foundation?
The Karsh Family Foundation reported $412.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Karsh Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants list purposes including education, philanthropic activity, and arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Karsh Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Does The Karsh Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Karsh Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-karsh-family-foundation-morg_1dd88009a5654a9dbd6e2b42d21d68a0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_137147287_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Karsh Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-karsh-family-foundation-morg_1dd88009a5654a9dbd6e2b42d21d68a0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Karsh Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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