Understanding the Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation’s Giving in Southern California

Grantees include the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. Photo: f11photo/shutterstock

The Los Angeles-based Causeway Capital Management was co-founded by Sarah Ketterer, who is CEO of the company and responsible for investment research across all sectors. Ketterer has an economics and political science background and has been ramping up her philanthropic giving near her home in Pacific Palisades, California.

Here’s what we know so far about the Sarah Ketterer Foundation and how it gives in Southern California.

Many different interests

The Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation does not have a website, which limits its transparency. However, past tax records indicate that Ketterer has many different philanthropic interests, including education, youth and the arts. Through her foundation, she also gives steadily for health, religious causes and public policy efforts.

Ketterer is the foundation’s sole trustee, and there are no paid staff members or independent contractors involved at this point. Therefore, we can assume that this foundation’s giving closely follows its founder’s personal passions. For instance, Ketterer backs her alma maters, Stanford and Dartmouth, while her other education giving supports low-income youth. Other interests include supporting young women leaders, artistic engagement and nature conservation.

Most grants stay in the Los Angeles area

The Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation is based in Pacific Palisades, and Causeway Capital Management is headquartered in Los Angeles. Ketterer has strong ties to the region, including as a member of the Stanford University board of trustees and as co-chair of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall. In recent years, Ketterer’s foundation has supported numerous local groups including the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Village School in Pacific Palisades and College Springs, Inc.

The foundation supports a few national groups as well, such as the Nature Conservancy and One to World in New York City.

Unsolicited requests are not welcome

The Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation can be a challenging funder to get involved with. It independently chooses its own grantees and does not accept unsolicited proposals or share any details about its grantmaking process.

With over 35 years of investment industry experience, Ketterer is still very much involved in business at this point, but it is possible her philanthropy may become a greater personal priority in the future. The foundation has been awarding nearly $2 million annually in recent years.

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