How the Bruce Karatz Family Foundation Gives Locally in Los Angeles

Karatz’s grantees include L.A.’s Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Photo: Felix Lipov/shutterstock

Although Bruce Karatz was born and raised in the Midwest, most of his philanthropic life has centered on Southern California. Karatz is the owner of BK Capital, LLC and co-founder of a real estate company called Nafilyan & Partners. His history in the region dates back to when he got his J.D. degree from the University of Southern California and eventually became the CEO of the Southern California-based home-building company KB Home.

Here’s a look at Karatz’s local philanthropy and where his foundation’s grants have been going in recent years.

Philanthropic Beginnings

Karatz’s first big philanthropic effort involved rebuilding Camp Hollywoodland, a retreat for inner-city kids, after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. He also worked with the Los Angeles mayor in the early 1990s to provide computer access to children in the city.

In 2007, Karatz started the Keep Your Home Foundation to help Californians at risk of home foreclosure during the mortgage crisis. He has been a full-time volunteer at HomeBoy Industries since his retirement from KB Home, helping formerly incarcerated gang members reenter society.

This philanthropist has been married three times and to women who have often been involved in the nonprofit community as well. For example, his first wife, Janet Dreisen, was a board member for various arts and nonprofit organizations. Karatz’s current wife, Lilly Tartikoff, is a cancer activist who co-founded Revlon run/walk events in Los Angeles and has raised more than $80 million for cancer research.

Local Leadership

As referenced above, Karatz is both a donor and a philanthropic leader in the Los Angeles community. He has been recognized for philanthropic leadership by HomeBoy Industries, and via the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Crystal Angel Award by the Los Angeles Police Foundation and the Jack Webb Award by the LA Police Historical Society.

Karatz had a Jewish upbringing, and some of his philanthropy has benefited Jewish causes. This is a well-rounded philanthropist committed to many different human service, education, and youth-focused causes. Furthermore, he tends to support the same or similar organizations year after year.

Recent Philanthropic Giving

Karatz remains involved with HomeBoy Industries’ board and also with Phoenix House, a nonprofit that works in the field of substance abuse treatment. Overall, Karatz’s interests include youth, health, the arts, education and Jewish causes. Recent grantees include Crossroads School for the Arts in Santa Monica and the Wilshire Temple in Los Angeles. Karatz is interested in disaster relief efforts and was a big supporter of Hurricane Katrina relief. The Karatz Family Foundation does not have a website, and past tax records indicate that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.

The foundation is headquartered on Grand Avenue in Los Angeles and run entirely by Karatz family members. Check out IP’s full profile, Bruce Karatz Family Foundation: Grants for Los Angeles, in our Southern California funding guide to learn more about this funder’s local giving.