# W. M. Keck Foundation

W. M. Keck Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Los Angeles, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Los Angeles, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 515 South Flower Street Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, United States
- **Founded:** 1954
- **Assets under management:** 1700 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** wmkeck.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.wmkeck.org

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The W. M. Keck Foundation was established in 1954 by William Myron Keck, founder of Superior Oil Company. His grandson Robert A. Day led the organization as chairman and CEO from 1995 until his death in 2023. Current leadership rests with family members Joseph Day and Stephen M. Keck as co-CEOs and co-chairs. The foundation allocates across private equity, venture strategies, and public equity holdings that include SPY and VO ETFs. It maintains limited partner positions in Revelation Healthcare Fund IV and Tiverton Agrifinance III. Geographic exposure spans the United States and Mexico through holdings such as Cabo Del Sol. Confirmed grants include $110 million to the Keck School of Medicine at USC and $50 million to LACMA for gallery infrastructure. The foundation reports 1,700 professionals in its extended network through service providers and maintains its headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. It also funds the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. August 2024: Sponsored the Keck Research Program Informational Workshop at the University of Arkansas. Adjacent vehicles include the Oakmont Corporation family office and historical ties to TCW Group. The foundation operates under a grant-focused mandate that requires annual distribution of investment returns to research institutions and community programs. This architecture creates a direct link between portfolio performance and philanthropic output without intermediary fund vehicles.

## Sectors

- Healthcare
- Biotechnology
- Energy & Utilities

## People

- Joseph Day — Co-CEO and Co-Chair
- Stephen M. Keck — Co-CEO and Co-Chair
- Robert A. Day — Former Chairman and CEO

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at W. M. Keck Foundation?

Joseph Day and Stephen M. Keck serve as co-CEOs and co-chairs. Cambridge Associates acts as the external investment advisor.

### How does W. M. Keck Foundation source proprietary deal flow?

The foundation receives grant proposals through an online portal and participates in limited partner commitments to private equity and venture funds.

### Does W. M. Keck Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

It participates in both fund commitments such as Revelation Healthcare Fund IV and direct philanthropic grants to institutions.

### What investment stages does W. M. Keck Foundation typically target?

The foundation targets early stage, expansion, buyout, and secondaries strategies through its private equity and venture allocations.

### What is W. M. Keck Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?

The foundation acts as a limited partner in external funds and does not lead direct co-investments outside its grant program.

## Related profiles

- [The Wallace Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/the-wallace-foundation)
- [Versorgungseinrichtung der Bezirksärztekammer Koblenz](https://altss.com/profile/versorgungseinrichtung-der-bezirks-rztekammer-koblenz)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/w-m-keck-foundation

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