Karsh Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: Headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, the Karsh Family Foundation supports a variety of K-12 projects including the KIPP charter school network. 

IP TAKE: Karsh is neither a transparent nor an accessible funder. It does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. The absence of a significant web presence makes it difficult for new grantseekers to follow the foundation’s activities. It’s also not approachable and doesn’t like to be contacted much. This is a tough funder to crack unless you know a family member.

PROFILE: The Karsh Family Foundation was founded in 1998 by Bruce Karsh, the founder of Oaktree Capital, and his wife, Martha. The foundation is based in Beverly Hills, California. The Karsh Family Foundation does not maintain a website or outline its funding priorities, but tax filings suggest that this foundation broadly supports education, human services, and health grantmaking.

Grants for Higher Education 

The Karsh Family Foundation broadly makes substantial donations to universities such as Duke, University of Virginia, West Virginia University, University of Pennsylvania, and Spelman College. It also supports the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), a network of over 200 public charter schools in the United States. Karsh has also funded education-related nonprofits and other organizations like the Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles, which provides prevention, treatment and advocacy for at-risk children in the greater Los Angeles area, and iCivics, an online resource that offers free educational materials for teaching K-12 students about government.

Grants for Public Health and Diseases

Tax filings show that the Karsh Family Foundation has a history of broad health-related philanthropy, with grants to Weill Cornell Medical School, Tourette Syndrome Association, and Crim Fitness Foundation.

Grants for Arts and Culture

Tax filings show that the Karsh Family Foundation has supported arts and cultural institutions in and around Los Angeles, California, including Skirball Cultural Center, KCRW, LA County Museum of Art, and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. 

Important Grant Details:

Grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000, but some grants may run into the millions. The Karsh Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. A mailing address is provided below. 

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

The Karsh Family Foundation

1201 Tower Grove Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

(213) 830-6402