The Leichtag Foundation honors the legacy of Lee and Toni Leichtag through igniting and inspiring vibrant Jewish life, advancing self-sufficiency and stimulating social entrepreneurship in coastal North San Diego County and Jerusalem.
Since its inception in 1991, the Leichtag Foundation has granted over $111 million to 391 different organizations. Of this amount, over $96 million has been granted since becoming independent in late 2007. About 23% has stayed in Encinitas. [Updated August 2016]
Max “Lee” Leichtag and his wife, Andre “Toni” Leichtag co-founded the Leichtag Family Foundation in 1991. Their daughter, Joli Ann Leichtag, was actively involved in the Foundation’s activities until her death. In sustaining their deep respect for and honor of the Leichtags’ charitable intent, in 2011 the Foundation sought to deepen its understanding of the Leichtags’ most closely-held values through personal interviews with family and close friends, including many members of the Leichtag Foundation Board. These interviews were woven together to produce The Leichtag Legacy, a movie describing the Leichtags’ journey to becoming philanthropists whose generosity continues to profoundly bless their community. They invite you to view their story to learn more about this extraordinary family.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
In January of 2011, the Board of Directors of the Leichtag Foundation adopted a Strategic Framework to set forth the Foundation’s priorities for the next four to five years. They chose the word “Framework” purposefully, acknowledging that they had much to learn and a great deal of flexibility would be needed. Since then, they have attempted to honor this guiding principle and avoid rigidity while still providing clear focus and transparency for the community.
As they write this update to their Strategic Framework at the end of 2013, and look back at the last three years, they reflect on all that has been learned and accomplished and seek to build on their learnings. The introduction to the last iteration of their Framework adopted in 2011 describes the board’s decision in October of 2009 to pursue a modified spend-down. At that time, they felt that the Foundation would have the most impact by spending the greater portion of its assets over a finite period of time. Their board members agreed that the needs and challenges of today are profound, and that a limited lifespan will create the urgency to motivate bolder, more inspired thought, granting and disciplined leadership. They have not wavered from this belief and seek to pursue our goals with intensive urgency and zeal in the spirit of their founders Lee and Toni Leichtag and their daughter Joli Ann.
In the last iteration of their Framework, they anticipated a termination year of 2025, 18 years after the death of their founder Lee Leichtag. While they continue to look at their work from the lens of a limited-life foundation, the acquisition of the Commons in Encinitas has caused them to re-examine the viability of the termination year they set. They must consider what will be needed in terms of talent development, program incubation, income generation and the advancement of their strategies to prepare for ceasing operations. Over the next two to four years, as they develop the master plan for the Commons, their board will consider the short and long term needs for the property and develop an approach to maintain a spend-down ethos for our grantmaking function while ensuring a vibrant and secure future for the Commons. During this time period, they plan to continue robust granting at similar levels to their prior years. Ultimately, they will articulate a plan for their future as a grantmaking foundation and for the Commons.
The ideas set forth in this Framework were both inspired by and built upon the diverse priorities and interests of their founders as reflected by a careful analysis of the Foundation’s history of granting. Each of the board members who developed the Framework enjoyed a close personal relationship with the Leichtag family. Central to this understanding is a respect for the Leichtags’ commitment to their Jewish heritage.
Additionally, they were informed by a series of discussions over almost a year in 2010 during which the board studied specific community needs, evaluated the marketplace of services, and determined where they could find their highest priorities and best philanthropic opportunities. They followed this by community focus groups in North County San Diego and interviews with community leaders across the region, as well as a number of grantee convenings for each of their strategic areas.
Their strongest commitment is to building the next generation of leaders and philanthropists who will be well-equipped to address the unique needs and challenges of their generations. They honor the Leichtag legacy by nurturing and supporting those who will ultimately be our successors, ensuring an indestructible and adaptive link from generation to generation.
