We are a grant-making foundation established by Leopold Bachmann in 1997. We finance our work from the net property income from real estate that he donated 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
Dietschi Martin
Senior Programme Manager
Dr. Molnar Darcy
Programme Manager
Lichtenegger Martin
Programme Manager
Schenk Marlène
Office Assistant
Wunderlich Jasmin
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 and proFonds.
- 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
Bachmann Thomas
Member of the Board
Schulz Carsten
Member of the Board
Weber Andrea
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, Olten, and Biel 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
Our core
2
Our vision
The Leopold Bachmann Foundation works toward a world where people from all walks of life can learn, contribute, and flourish within their communities.
3
Our mission
Together with our global network of partners, the Leopold Bachmann Foundation nurtures learning, sparks innovation, and promotes endeavors that contribute to society.
4
Our values
Lifelong learning
We continuously strive to expand our knowledge, gain new insights, and develop our abilities.
At the Leopold Bachmann Foundation, we believe learning is a lifelong journey. By embracing curiosity and recognizing every encounter as an opportunity to grow, we are able to adapt, improve, and act with awareness in a changing world.
Proactivity
We use our abilities to care for our communities and surroundings.
Every action, big or small, has the potential to shape the world. Our goal is to use this power for good, by applying what we learn and using our skills to innovate, encourage, and contribute.
Dedication
We are diligent and committed.
Everything we do, we strive to do well. With a focus on combining efficiency with quality, we work reliably regardless of challenges.
Integrity
We are honest and hold true to our principles.
Integrity encompasses more than just the words we say. It requires that we live our values every day, acting with sound judgement, transparency, and accountability to build and nurture trust.
Longevity
We develop projects with lasting impact.
Our vision extends beyond immediate outcomes. With an eye toward the wellbeing of both current and future generations, we support endeavours that offer enduring value to our partners, communities, and the wider world. Whether that be a single encounter that sparks a lifetime of discovery, or a multi-year program benefiting thousands of people, long-term impact is at the core of our approach.