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Erwin Rautenberg Foundation
The Erwin Rautenberg Foundation is a private philanthropic entity created to deploy the wealth generated by Erwin Rautenberg's shipping and logistics...
Erwin Rautenberg Foundation
The Erwin Rautenberg Foundation is a private philanthropic entity created to deploy the wealth generated by Erwin Rautenberg's shipping and logistics enterprise, Air-Sea Forwarders, Inc. Operating from Santa Monica, the foundation's mandate is focused almost exclusively on strengthening Jewish causes, with a grantmaking footprint concentrated in Los Angeles, Israel, and select national programs. Thomas B. Corby, a longtime accountant and confidant of the founder, serves as President, a structure typical of closely held foundations where the founder's trusted advisor, rather than a next-generation family member, holds operational control. Unlike foundations that diversify aggressively across asset classes, the Rautenberg Foundation's corpus appears anchored by its founder's original commercial real estate holdings and liquid assets. Grantmaking targets Jewish education, human services, and leadership development. A signature initiative is the Rautenberg New Leaders Project, operated in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, which identifies and cultivates emerging lay leaders. The foundation does not operate a public website or solicit unsolicited proposals, a posture common among private non-operating foundations that already maintain a curated pipeline of grantees. No public-facing fund commitments or direct-investment programs are known. The foundation's operational structure outsources significant administrative and grantmaking advisory functions to the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, where President & CEO Marvin I. Schotland also holds a board seat at the Rautenberg Foundation. This interlocking relationship centralizes investment strategy and philanthropic vetting under a single institutional partner, a model that reduces internal staffing needs. Total assets are estimated at approximately $56 million based on recent filings, placing it in the mid-tier of private family foundations nationally. The foundation distinguishes itself structurally by outsourcing both investment management and grantmaking intelligence to an external community foundation partner—an arrangement more common among small-to-midsize private foundations seeking to avoid the operational drag of a standalone staff. This architecture concentrates decision-making influence within a tight circle of the founder's original professional relationships, suggesting succession and governance will be a critical junction when current leadership eventually rotates.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Santa Monica
Corporate office
Santa Monica, CA, United States
Principals
Thomas B. Corby
President
Marvin I. Schotland
Board Member
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment and grantmaking decisions at the Erwin Rautenberg Foundation?
Thomas B. Corby, who served as Erwin Rautenberg's longtime accountant and confidant, leads the foundation as President and is the key decision-maker. The foundation relies heavily on the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles for advisory services, which means its investment policy and grant vetting are likely shaped by the community foundation's professional staff. Marvin I. Schotland, who leads that community foundation, also sits on the Rautenberg Foundation's board, reinforcing tight alignment between the two entities.
Where does the foundation's underlying wealth originate?
The foundation's capital comes from Erwin Rautenberg, who built his wealth through Air-Sea Forwarders, Inc., a global shipping and freight forwarding company based in Los Angeles. The logistics business generated the liquidity and commercial real estate holdings that now form the majority of the foundation's asset base. Rautenberg structured the foundation as a legacy vehicle to deploy his wealth into Jewish causes rather than leaving the business as an ongoing operating entity for heirs.
Does the Erwin Rautenberg Foundation accept unsolicited grant proposals?
No. The foundation does not maintain a public website or issue open calls for proposals, and there are no known avenues for unsolicited grant applications. This is standard practice for private non-operating foundations that maintain a stable, long-term roster of grantees. The foundation's curated pipeline is shepherded by its President and the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles.
How is the foundation related to the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles?
The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles provides administrative and grantmaking advisory services to the Erwin Rautenberg Foundation under a formal partnership. This arrangement effectively outsources back-office functions and philanthropic expertise, reducing the Rautenberg Foundation's need for a large internal staff. The relationship is reinforced by an interlocking board structure: Marvin I. Schotland, President & CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation, holds a board seat at the Rautenberg Foundation.
What does the foundation invest in beyond grantmaking?
The foundation's asset base is estimated at approximately $56 million, derived from its founder's original liquidity event and a portfolio of commercial real estate in the Los Angeles area. There is no public evidence of venture capital allocations, fund commitments, or direct private-equity-style investing. The foundation functions as a traditional grantmaking endowment, likely managed with a conservative asset mix overseen by its community foundation partner.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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