From family inspiration to historic gift: David A. and Karen Richards Sachs ’83 give $25 million to Brandeis University
May 26, 2026
David A. and Karen Richards Sachs
For trustee Karen Richards Sachs ’83, the inspiration for the largest single alumni gift in Brandeis University’s history is rooted in honoring her mother, whose admiration for the university and its mission left a lasting impression — along with a renewed commitment to Brandeis at a pivotal moment.
The $25 million gift, made with her husband David A. Sachs and announced over the 2026 Commencement weekend, honors Sachs’ mother, Dorothy “Dot” Richards, P’83, and reinforces the university’s investment in the campus and in the student experience.
The gift will reshape the student living, learning, and social experience across campus, creating new spaces for student connection and expanding programming to encourage engagement. At the heart of the gift is the Dorothy Richards Campus Commons, known as “The Dot,” a new hub adjacent to the new residence hall complex currently under construction. Designed to bring students together through shared space, the Commons will be an open and accessible destination for the entire student community.
A portion of the gift will also be set aside to create “The Dot Experience," which will enhance student programming both at the “Commons” and elsewhere on campus, such as pop-up seasonal activities, campus carnivals, and potentially “Club Dot,” a new campus cafe.
At the heart of the gift is the Dorothy Richards Campus Commons, known as “The Dot,” a new hub adjacent to the new residence hall complex currently under construction.
Sachs said her mother’s admiration for Brandeis stemmed from the institution’s founding in the Jewish tradition and its commitment to inclusivity. She became chapter president of the Los Angeles area Brandeis National Committee, a volunteer organization supporting the university through fundraising, education, and community engagement. “[My mother] was painfully aware of quotas at universities and she liked the idea of a university founded by the Jewish community, but committed to the education of all who were ‘othered.’”
“The university came about in 1948 the year that Israel was born. She was in her 20s and it was her dream to go to Brandeis University, but it was financially unattainable for her,” said Sachs. “She was a special person without a lot of opportunities.”
“The values that were inculcated in me at Brandeis influenced me to be passionate about repairing the world — leaving it a better place,” Sachs said. “That was the most appealing part for me — the Brandeis commitment to that was aligned to who I wanted to be.”
That early influence would later shape her approach to philanthropy.
“My mother had a commitment to many things — intellectualism and community. That's why I thought about a community space, where there could be gatherings for speakers or performances or political activism and where people could learn how they can change the world for the better in an intellectual environment,” Sachs said.
Her approach to philanthropy was further honed by her early career experiences working with political and philanthropic organizations, where she saw collective action drive meaningful change. Those experiences reinforced her belief that individual acts of generosity can have a multiplying effect — an idea reflected in her hope that this gift will inspire others to support the university in ways that are meaningful to them.
The decision to reconnect with Brandeis and make the new gift was influenced by the attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“I had a moment of self-reflection and asked myself what I could do to impact antisemitism. I decided this was the time I needed to be involved in Brandeis,” Sachs said. “The institution's goals were aligned with mine.”
“This remarkable gift embodies the very best of Brandeis — its love of learning, its sense of community, and its enduring belief that education can change lives,” said Brandeis President Arthur Levine. “Dorothy ‘Dot’ Richards’ spirit lives on in this incredible act of generosity from her daughter, Karen, together with her husband David.”
The Sachs family previously established the Dorothy Richards Endowed Scholarship, supporting students who, like Richards, have the intellectual drive but not always the financial means to pursue higher education.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in politics from Brandeis, Sachs started her career as a caucus field organizer for the Walter Mondale presidential campaign before moving to broadcast journalism, where she won multiple awards as a reporter, anchor, and producer. She then worked in public affairs, first for television icon Norman Lear and later in a role setting up and overseeing a multimillion-dollar political and charitable giving program for Ted Field and The Interscope Group.
Mr. Sachs is Partner and Vice Chair of Los Angeles-based Ares Management. He serves as a Director and Chairman of the Board of Ares Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund, Inc., Trustee and Chair of CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund and Trustee of the Ares Private Markets Fund. He joined Ares as Partner with Ares Chairman Tony Ressler and John Kissick to co-found the firm in 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management science from Northwestern University, where he serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees.
Photos courtesy of Karen Richards Sachs and William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.
