# Philanthropy Q&A with William Ahmanson

> Ahmanson Foundation president discusses grant priorities and LA safety concerns.
- Title: Philanthropy Q&A with William Ahmanson | Shortify
- Summary: Ahmanson Foundation president discusses grant priorities and LA safety concerns. William Ahmanson says LA organizations face safety risks as government…
- Keywords: william ahmanson, ahmanson foundation, los angeles, foundation giving, grants, public safety, government funding cuts, business, local, Philanthropy, William, Ahmanson
- Source: Los Angeles Business Journal — https://labusinessjournal.com/special-reports/philanthropy-william-ahmanson
- Author: Monee Fields-White
- Published: 2026-10-05T15:30:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: william ahmanson, ahmanson foundation, los angeles, foundation giving, grants, public safety, government funding cuts, business, local
## William Ahmanson
William Ahmanson is the president of the Ahmanson Foundation established by financier Howard F. Ahmanson and his wife Dorothy Grannis Ahmanson in 1952.
## Foundation Giving Trends
Ahmanson says foundation giving is affected by donor intent shifts and stock market gains benefiting all organizations.
## Security Requests Rise
Organizations increasingly request security funding as facilities feel unsafe despite rising crime statistics not supporting this trend.
## Government Funding Cuts
State and federal funding reductions impact disaster response organizations needing equipment for search and rescue operations.
## Education and Trade Gaps
LA lacks quality education pipelines for trades and remediation for youth without basic skills.
## Loan Underwriting Approach
Ahmanson compares grant evaluation to loan underwriting focusing on financial solvency and long-term impact.
## Impact Measurement
Foundation measures impact through equipment usage and avoids grants for unused resources.
## Key takeaway

William Ahmanson says LA organizations face safety risks as government funding cuts impact disaster response equipment.