Karen Keating Ansara

Co-founder, Ansara Family Fund

Karen Keating Ansara and her husband Jim make grants from the Boston Foundation to build equitable health systems and end global poverty, particularly in Haiti and in their region north of Boston. Karen founded and chairs the Board of New England International Donors, a learning and giving hub for global philanthropists and grantmakers. A Co-founder in 2010 of the Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund at the Boston Foundation, Karen serves on the board of its successor, the Haiti Development Institute, as well as on the boards of Build Health International, MCE Social Capital, and the Millennium Campus Network.  She is a long-time member of the Leadership Council of Oxfam America and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Irish International Immigrant Center and the Pardee School for Global Studies at Boston University.

Contributions

Grantmaking Strategies for Family Funders: Supporting Resiliency and Recovery

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Orlando Watkins, Diana Scearce, Karen Keating Ansara

plant growing out of asphalt
The National Center for Family Philanthropy is dedicated to serving families who give and those that work with them. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we are offering conversations on topics of interest to all philanthropic families associated with family foundations, donor-advised funds, family offices, and other philanthropic vehicles. For questions about this series, please contact Jen Crino at jen.crino@ncfp.org… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving to Nepal Earthquake Response? Take Three Long Breaths

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Karen Keating Ansara

With today’s news of the horrific Nepal earthquake I am driven to take immediate action — to make an on-line donation or wire money to friends of friends in the dust-choked streets of Kathmandu and green pinnacles of rural Nepal. I am consumed with the grief of my many Nepali friends who are like family to me. But my experience of the Haiti earthquake response via the Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation has taught me one paramount lesson: TAKE A BREATH. Unless I am physically on the scene, I imagine my Nepali friends with their contemplative souls would agree. Take a breath and assess… Read More
Voices from the Field

Karen Keating Ansara: “I’Ll Have What She’s Having”

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Karen Keating Ansara

Editor’s note: We are pleased to reprint Karen Ansara’s prepared comments (more than were spoken) from her conversation with Lowell Weiss, President, Cascade Philanthropy Advisors; William Campbell, Chair, Campbell Family Foundation and The End Fund; and Mario Morino, Morino Institute and Founding Chairman, Venture Philanthropy Partners on May 8th at the National Forum on Family Philanthropy. These comments were originally posted on… Read More

Family Giving Beyond Borders for Long-Term Results

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Karen Keating Ansara, Rob Buchanan

How can a family foundation or donor advised fund maintain the long-term focus - and patience - needed to achieve real results in international philanthropy? How can families just getting started in international philanthropy make the most difference, even with small grants, and what are the rules and regulations guiding this work?… Read More

We’re here to equip you with the tools you need to make a meaningful impact. Contact NCFP for support.

Get in Touch

Keep up with trends in family philanthropy. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Signup

Gain access to personalized support and a network of peers. Join our community!

Join Now