Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6.7 million (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $340 - $10,000,000+
• Geographic Focus: National (U.S.) and Israel
• Assets: $96.6 million

Contact Details

Address: 5150 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230-4914
Phone: 310-280-5001
EIN: 83-0801999

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or funding requests.

Overview

The Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation was established in 1987 by the late Jona Goldrich, a Holocaust survivor and prominent Los Angeles real estate developer who co-founded the Goldrich Kest real estate firm. The foundation received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in February 2019. With total assets of $96.6 million and annual charitable disbursements of $6.7 million (representing 88.3% of expenses), the foundation represents the continued philanthropic legacy of Jona Goldrich, who passed away in 2016, and is now led by his daughter Andrea G. Cayton (President) and son-in-law Barry Cayton (Treasurer). The foundation has grown its grantmaking steadily from 20 awards in 2020 to 45 awards in 2023, focusing primarily on Jewish organizations in the U.S. and Israel, healthcare institutions (particularly Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), Holocaust education and remembrance, and children's programs. The foundation tends to support the same grantees year after year, demonstrating a relationship-based approach to philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. Instead, it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations based on the family's values and connections.

Major Healthcare Gifts: $3,000,000+ annually

• The foundation provided a $30 million gift to establish the Cedars-Sinai Cayton BRCA Center for research and treatment of BRCA-related cancers
• In 2019, donated $10 million to establish the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders at Cedars-Sinai
• Annual grants of $3 million or more to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Israel and Jewish Organizations: $340 - $225,000 per grant

• Most grants fall within this range for Jewish organizations in the U.S. and Israel
• Support for organizations including Jewish Agency of Israel, Tel Aviv University, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, PEF Endowment Fund
• U.S. Jewish grantees include Jewish Community Centers, Hillel organizations, and Jewish Federation Los Angeles

Arts and Culture: $10,000+

• Film Independent receives $10,000 annually for the Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation Fellowship, awarded to a Jewish filmmaker in their Documentary Lab
• Support for children's museums and cultural institutions

Donor-Advised Fund Strategy: The foundation made 28 grants to Fidelity Donor Advised Fund Z97-0 in recent years, indicating they may channel some grantmaking through this vehicle.

Priority Areas

1. Healthcare and Medical Research

   • Cancer research, particularly BRCA-related cancers
   • Alzheimer's disease and memory disorders
   • Major medical institutions, especially Cedars-Sinai

2. Holocaust Education and Remembrance

   • USC Shoah Foundation
   • Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
   • Holocaust memorial projects and education initiatives
   • Yiddish language, literature, and culture preservation

3. Jewish Community Support

   • Israeli organizations and causes
   • Jewish education and youth programs
   • Jewish community centers and camps
   • University Hillel organizations

4. Children and Youth Development

   • Children's museums (including naming gift for Cayton Children's Museum in Santa Monica)
   • Children's hospitals
   • Youth programs emphasizing values of kindness, responsibility, social justice, and inclusivity

5. Social Justice

   • Community programs supporting vulnerable populations
   • Educational initiatives promoting tolerance and understanding

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. They only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Andrea G. Cayton - President
Daughter of founder Jona Goldrich, Andrea leads the foundation's work and has continued her father's legacy of Holocaust education and remembrance. She has stated about Holocaust education: "I want to help children learn about the past and be more tolerant," crediting her father with teaching her to give back and continue educating people about the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Barry Cayton - Treasurer
Andrea's husband and co-leader of the foundation's philanthropic initiatives. The Caytons place tremendous importance on values like kindness, responsibility, social justice, and inclusivity.

David Rochkind - Secretary
A close associate of Jona Goldrich who stated that Goldrich "wanted people to remember his philanthropy as his legacy."

Garrett Cayton - Director
Lindsay Cayton - Director

All board members serve on a voluntary basis with zero compensation, ensuring all resources go toward charitable purposes.

Foundation History

Jona Goldrich (1927-2016) was a Holocaust survivor who became an iconic Los Angeles real estate developer. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Los Angeles Holocaust Memorial in 1992 and the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust in Pan Pacific Park in 2010. He started the annual Yom HaShoah ceremony commemorating victims of the Holocaust in Pan Pacific Park. He was recognized as one of four "philanthropic visionaries" by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University in 2013.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation explicitly states on their tax filings that they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through:

• Trustee discretion based on family values and priorities
• Existing relationships with organizations
• Invitations to specific organizations aligned with their mission
• Long-term partnerships with repeat grantees

The foundation tends to support the same grantees year after year, indicating that once an organization is in their portfolio, they maintain ongoing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has specific connections to:

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center system in Los Angeles, where they have established multiple named centers and maintain annual giving commitments
• USC Shoah Foundation, reflecting the family's commitment to Holocaust education
• Film Independent, through their named fellowship for Jewish filmmakers
• Jewish Federation Los Angeles, where they maintain a connection for community giving
• Israeli organizations focused on Jewish causes, education, and defense
• Organizations connected to Tel Aviv University, particularly the Jona Goldrich Institute for Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture established in 2005

Given the foundation's focus on relationship-based grantmaking, connections would most likely develop through:

• Board members who work in sectors aligned with the foundation's priorities (healthcare, Jewish community, Holocaust education)
• Existing grantee organizations that could make introductions
• The Los Angeles Jewish philanthropic community network
• Leadership involvement with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center or related institutions

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their preselection process rather than through competitive application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation made 45 grants in 2023, up from 33 in 2022, 30 in 2021, and 20 in 2020, showing steady growth in their grantmaking portfolio.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. However, their pattern of supporting "the same grantees year after year" suggests that organizations in their portfolio can expect ongoing consideration for continued support.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, the key to potential funding lies in alignment with their core values:

1. Connection to Holocaust Education and Remembrance

   • Jona Goldrich's legacy as a Holocaust survivor remains central to the foundation's identity
   • Andrea Cayton has emphasized education about the Holocaust to promote tolerance among children
   • Organizations with Holocaust education, Jewish memory preservation, or tolerance-building missions align strongly

2. Healthcare Innovation and Access

   • Major focus on cancer research, particularly hereditary cancers (BRCA)
   • Alzheimer's disease and memory disorders research
   • The family has been personally affected by BRCA gene mutations, driving their commitment to this cause
   • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is their flagship healthcare partner

3. Values-Based Youth Development

   • The Caytons emphasize teaching children "kindness, responsibility, social justice, and inclusivity"
   • Children's museums, hospitals, and educational programs that promote these values align with their mission
   • Programs that help children "learn about the past and be more tolerant"

4. Jewish Community Strength

   • Both U.S. and Israeli Jewish organizations receive significant support
   • Preference for organizations supporting Jewish education, culture, and community cohesion
   • Organizations connected to Israeli causes, particularly through named institutions

5. Long-Term Partnerships

   • The foundation "tends to support the same grantees year after year"
   • Once in their portfolio, organizations can expect ongoing support if they maintain mission alignment
   • Multi-year commitments for major institutional support (e.g., annual $3M+ to Cedars-Sinai)

Recent Funding Examples

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: $3 million+ annually, plus $30 million for BRCA Center and $10 million for Alzheimer's Center
• Film Independent: $10,000 annually for the Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation Fellowship for Jewish filmmakers
• Israeli organizations: Various grants to Jewish Agency of Israel, Tel Aviv University, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, PEF Endowment Fund
• U.S. Jewish organizations: Jewish Community Centers of Denver, Ramah in the Rockies camp programs, Hillel at UCLA
• Cayton Children's Museum: Naming gift in Santa Monica

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation operates exclusively through preselected organizations and trustee-directed grantmaking
• Holocaust education and remembrance remain core to the foundation's mission, stemming from founder Jona Goldrich's experience as a Holocaust survivor
• Major healthcare gifts focus on hereditary cancer (BRCA) research and Alzheimer's disease, driven by the family's personal experiences with these conditions
• Long-term relationship approach - the foundation supports the same grantees year after year, making initial entry into their portfolio challenging but ongoing support likely once established
• Jewish community focus - significant support flows to both U.S. and Israeli Jewish organizations, with emphasis on education, culture, and community strength
• Children and youth development aligned with values of kindness, responsibility, social justice, and inclusivity receives priority
• Grant sizes vary dramatically - from $340 to multi-million dollar gifts, with most Jewish organization grants falling in the $340-$225,000 range and healthcare gifts reaching $3-10 million
• Donor-advised fund usage - the foundation channels some grantmaking through Fidelity Charitable, which may indicate strategic tax planning or additional flexibility in their giving

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Cayton Goldrich Family Foundation Profile (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/830801999) - Accessed January 2026
2. USC Shoah Foundation - Andrea and Barry Cayton Donor Spotlight (https://sfi.usc.edu/get-involved/donor-spotlights/andrea-and-barry-cayton) - Accessed January 2026
3. Cedars-Sinai Newsroom - "Cayton Goldrich Foundation $30M Gift Creates Cedars-Sinai BRCA Center" (https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/cayton-goldrich-foundation-30m-gift-creates-cedars-sinai-brca-center/) - Accessed January 2026
4. Inside Philanthropy - Goldrich Family Foundation Profile (https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-g/goldrich-family-foundation) - Accessed January 2026
5. Jewish Journal - "Jona Goldrich, philanthropist and real estate developer, 88" (https://jewishjournal.com/news/worldwide/187086/) - Accessed January 2026
6. Beverly Press & Park Labrea News - "Community remembers Jona Goldrich, a pioneer in housing and philanthropy" (https://beverlypress.com/2016/06/community-remembers-jona-goldrich-a-pioneer-in-housing-and-philanthropy/) - Accessed January 2026
7. Film Independent - "Film Independent Selects Filmmakers for the 2023 Documentary Lab" (https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/film-independent-selects-filmmakers-for-the-2023-documentary-lab/) - Accessed January 2026
8. Cause IQ - The Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation Profile (https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cayton-goldrich-family-foundation,830801999/) - Accessed January 2026