We are a grant-making foundation founded by Leopold Bachmann in 1997. Our foundation’s income is based on the net yield of the properties contributed to the foundation. Our founder’s wish to provide prospects for the future and opportunities for as many people as possible forms the basis of our work.
About us
Office
The LBF office is lean and is organised with a flat hierarchy. We value efficient processes, short decision-making pathways and individual initiative.
Our Team
Managing Director
Scherrer Judith
Senior Programme Manager
Dr. Molnar Darcy
Programme Manager
Lichtenegger Martin
Programme Manager
Schenk Marlène
Communication Specialist
Abe Grit
Foundation Board and Governance
The LBF's foundation board consists of family members and external experts.
The Leopold Bachmann Foundation…
- is a member of Swiss Foundations.
- acts in compliance with the principles and recommendations of the Swiss Foundation Code.
- conducts a detailed risk management to guarantee checks and balances.
- is subject to oversight by the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (FSAF).
Interim President of the Board
Bachmann Sigmund
Vice-Chair
Zimmermann Mathis
Member of the Board
Bachmann Florian
Member of the Board
Bachmann Stefan
Member of the Board
Mathis Maria
Member of the Board
Schulz Carsten
Founder
Leopold Bachmann
22 February 1933 – 26 December 2021
Leopold Bachmann was born in Austria. He moved to Switzerland at an early age. After a few years of employment as an engineer, his path led him to become a self-employed building developer.
Efficient processes and standardised construction methods positioned his residential buildings in and around Zurich as offering a favourable quality/price ratio.
In 1997, Leopold Bachmann contributed some of his properties to the Leopold Bachmann Foundation. Inspired by his own life story, Leopold Bachmann had the desire to open up opportunities for young people around the world to gain an education and thus to create a good future for themselves and their communities.
The net income of the properties finances the Foundation's funding activities.
LBF in brief
1
Who we are
2
What we want
Every person we support should be given the opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop their skills – so they can take their own initiatives to build a life based on self-determination and make a valuable contribution to their environment and their community.
3
What we do
We invest our resources in people and organisations that add social, economic and ecological value. We do this through our global network of partner organisations. In this work, we focus on education, entrepreneurship and agroecology. By doing so, we empower people and activate their potential, so they take the initiative to create prospects and environments that offer a future for themselves and their community.
4
How we live
- We collaborate openly and transparently with our partners.
- We work on the basis of mutual trust and on equal terms.
- Together with our partners, we use our resources as efficiently and effectively as possible.
- We keep our word, and we expect our partners to contribute their own efforts.