Leichtag Foundation
The Leichtag Foundation is a private foundation based in Encinitas, California. It supports work to ignite vibrant Jewish life, advance self-sufficiency, and stimulate social entrepreneurship in coastal North San Diego County and Jerusalem.
Leichtag Foundation at a glance
In short: Leichtag Foundation gave $12.6M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $631K), mostly in California. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,626,620
- +363.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -59.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $631,331
- +1036.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,000
- Total assets
- $71,011,127
- -14.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (3 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Leichtag Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Prospective grantees must be invited by Foundation staff; invited organizations work with staff to prepare grant materials for proposal development and Board review. The Foundation says it identifies potential applicants through due diligence and requests proposals from a limited number of organizations in its focus areas, including for its Expedited Grants Program and grants over $50,000. Its Builders Initiative also accepts applications by invitation only.
- Contact
Mailing address: 441 Saxony Road, Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (760) 929-1090
Website: https://leichtag.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leichtag Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Community Foundation ($10.8M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $12.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
496 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 425 grants of 496 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation identifies coastal North San Diego County and Jerusalem as its two locales. Its 2025 grant dollars were reported as 89% to California recipients, 8% to an unspecified state, 2% to Illinois, and 1% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Leichtag Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 18 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $840K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 202% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 352% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2024) to $12.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $12.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Foundation San Diego, CA | General Operating Support | $10,211,780 |
| Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives | General Operating Support | $970,000 |
| Jewish Community Foundation San Diego, CA | Donor Advised Funds for LF Grantmaking | $633,740 |
| Jgive Friends of Asor Fund USA Inc Jerusalem, IL | Donor Advised Funds for LF Grantmaking | $311,350 |
| Coastal Roots Farm 1 Encinitas, CA | For General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Impact Cubed Encinitas, CA | Donor Advised Funds for LF Grantmaking | $50,000 |
| Keren Shituf Tormin Donor-Advised Fundltd | Donor Advised Funds for LF Grantmaking | $38,100 |
| Moishe House Encinitas, CA | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Temech Inc New York, NY | Communa Program | $25,000 |
| Lawrence Family JCC of SD County La Jolla, CA | Celebration Gala | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Leichtag Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,011,127 | $10,589,234 | $19,118,854 | $12,626,620 | 20 | $14,306,568 | $7,383,052 | $4,060,333 |
| 2024 | $83,247,408 | $6,266,297 | $10,235,862 | $2,722,451 | 49 | $4,468,014 | $2,107,618 | $3,977,717 |
| 2023 | $81,527,220 | $4,419,092 | $11,118,438 | $4,029,142 | 83 | $5,859,660 | $732,076 | $4,084,389 |
| 2022 | $83,988,032 | $7,577,497 | $10,972,140 | $4,176,655 | 160 | $6,897,913 | $3,725,058 | $4,338,621 |
| 2021 | $103,882,210 | $14,096,757 | $11,067,992 | $5,224,355 | 184 | — | $10,936,229 | $5,015,245 |
| 2020 | $97,554,372 | $7,718,536 | $11,774,174 | $5,885,046 | 307 | — | $4,780,206 | $4,788,296 |
| 2019 | $100,414,202 | $10,993,311 | $12,010,215 | $5,540,132 | 308 | — | $8,431,041 | $4,987,200 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leichtag Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to honor Lee and Toni Leichtag’s legacy by igniting and inspiring vibrant Jewish life, advancing self-sufficiency, and stimulating social entrepreneurship. Its named strategic areas include North County Jewish Life, Jerusalem Renewal, and San Diego–Israel Connections. The Foundation says it seeks to deepen rather than simply broaden its impact.
Its self-sufficiency work focuses on helping people in North County’s coastal region break the cycle of poverty, with priority for programs serving single mothers, transitional-aged youth, military families, and veterans. The Foundation also describes strategic initiatives involving philanthropy, civil society, organizational capacity, and cross-sector partnerships.
The 2025 grant list includes, among others, Coastal Roots Farm, which received $250,000 for general operating support; Moishe House, which received $25,000 for general operating support; and Temech Inc., which received $25,000 for a community program. In their own descriptions, Moishe House says it supports vibrant Jewish community, learning, and leadership for young adults, while Temech says it provides access to vocational training, employment assistance, and job placement resources. Impact Cubed, which received $50,000, describes its work as stimulating philanthropy and building social-sector capacity, including in Jewish communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 20 grants totaling $12,626,620. Grant amounts ranged from $550 to $10,211,780, with a median of $19,000.
The largest listed grant was $10,211,780 to Jewish Community Foundation for general operating support. Other large grants included $970,000 to Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives for general operating support; $633,740 to Jewish Community Foundation for donor-advised funds for Leichtag Foundation grantmaking; $311,350 to JGive Friends of ASOR Fund USA for donor-advised funds for Leichtag Foundation grantmaking; and $250,000 to Coastal Roots Farm for general operating support.
The Jewish Community Foundation’s own description says it seeks to foster a culture of legacy and meaningful giving in the Orange County Jewish community. Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives says its work advances civil society and philanthropy in Jerusalem.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Emily Einhorn, James Farley, Leo Spiegel, and Angelica Berrie as chairpersons; Charlene Seidle as secretary and executive vice president; Leilani Rasmussen as treasurer and vice president of finance and operations; Jenny Camhi and Jessica Kort as assistant secretaries; and Sharyn Goodson as secretary.
Leichtag Foundation is led by Angelica Berrie, Chairperson since 2025 (on filings since 2019); all 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Angelica Berrie
Chairperson
Director → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$2K (2019) → $4K (2025)
Emily Einhorn
Chairperson
Vice Chair → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$6K (2019) → $4K (2025)
James S. Farley
Chairperson
President & CEO → Chairperson, President & CEO, 2023
Chairperson, President & CEO → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$485K (2019) → $549K (2025)
Leo Spiegel
Chairperson
Director → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $4K (2025)
Charlene Seidle
Secretary & Executive Vice President
Executive Vice President & Executive Director → Secretary & Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$295K (2019) → $365K (2025)
Leilani Rasmussen
Treasurer, Vice President Finance & Operations
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$279K (2023) → $295K (2025)
Jenny Camhi
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$203K (2025)
Jessica Kort
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$152K (2025)
Sharyn Goodson
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$247K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Bernard Reiter (2019–2021) — Chairman
- Former: Jeffrey R. Solomon (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Robert Brunst MD PhD (2019–2021) — CFO & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $549K, to James Farley (Chairperson). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Leichtag Foundation
How much does Leichtag Foundation give each year?
Leichtag Foundation gave $12.6M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 49 grants.
What is Leichtag Foundation's typical grant size?
Leichtag Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $19,000, and its average grant was $631,331, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leichtag Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Leichtag Foundation give grants?
Leichtag Foundation gives mostly in California: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Encinitas, CA (5 grants), San Diego, CA (4 grants) and La Jolla, CA (2 grants).
Does Leichtag Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 20% of Leichtag Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Donor Advised Funds for LF Grantmaking" (4 grants).
Who are Leichtag Foundation's largest grantees?
Leichtag Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish Community Foundation ($10,845,520 across 2 grants), Jerusalem Philanthropic Initiatives ($970,000) and Jgive Friends of Asor Fund USA Inc ($311,350), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Leichtag Foundation?
Leichtag Foundation reported $71.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leichtag Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to honor Lee and Toni Leichtag’s legacy by igniting and inspiring vibrant Jewish life, advancing self-sufficiency, and stimulating social entrepreneurship. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leichtag Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Leichtag Foundation's EIN?
Leichtag Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0466189. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Leichtag Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leichtag Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Leichtag Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/leichtag-foundation-morg_ef9ea08fab564ecd91de440dd27f2e7f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330466189_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Leichtag Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/leichtag-foundation-morg_ef9ea08fab564ecd91de440dd27f2e7f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Leichtag Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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