Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes grants only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so an open application is not a route in.
- The filing does not explain how an organisation becomes preselected, so a warm introduction from someone already connected to the foundation is the more realistic approach.
- Its grants cover general operating support for a varied mix of public charities, including universities, independent schools, policy and research groups and food-distribution charities, with no stated subject focus, so the question is less about topic than about whether you are already in its circle.
- Of its 43 grants to organisations, about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $500,000, with a median of $50,000 and half at $50,000 or less, so a request near $50,000 is realistic for a small charity; the largest grant was $2,000,000, so that range is typical rather than a ceiling.
- The filing states no geographic focus, and its grants are mainly in California, Virginia and Pennsylvania, which describes where it has given rather than who may apply, and 95% of its grant dollars in the most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded earlier, so relationships matter a great deal.
Overview
Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s recorded grants are described as general operating support. Recipients include universities and business schools, independent schools, policy and research organisations, a medical centre, food-distribution charities, international-affairs organisations, civil-liberties organisations, and groups concerned with outdoor recreation and investment education. The record therefore shows support for a varied range of public charities rather than a single stated subject-area focus. Grants are recorded for organisations’ general operations, without a project-specific purpose. The filing says that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and that unsolicited requests are not accepted; it does not explain how an organisation can become preselected.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 43 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 12% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Stanford University · General operating support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression · General operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Americans for Prosperity · General operating support$200,0002024 tax year
- American Enterprise Institute · General operating support$75,0002024 tax year
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center · General operating support$75,0002024 tax year
- Saint Mark's School of Texas · General operating support$55,0002024 tax year
- World Affairs Council of America · General operating support$50,0002024 tax year
- Food Forward · General operating support$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Sarah Hotchkis Ketterer — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,606,869 | $2,395,000 | $48,933,340 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,016,923 | $2,815,000 | $51,996,735 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,381,888 | $3,160,000 | $55,209,873 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA
Applying to Sarah Ketterer Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA