SOURCE OF WEALTH: Levine Leichtman Capital Partners
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture, Los Angeles Community
OVERVIEW: Lauren and Arthur Leichtman conduct their philanthropy through the Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation. Los Angeles is a significant site of philanthropy, and the foundation’s grantmaking supports the schools the couple attended. Another area of interest is human services.
According to available tax filings, the foundation awarded just under $1.5 million in grants in 2018. The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.
BACKGROUND: Lauren B. Leichtman graduated from Southwestern University School of Law and in 1982, received her LLM from Columbia University Law School. Arthur E. Levine is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Law and received his MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA. In 1984, the couple co-founded Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, an independent investment firm that invests in middle market companies located in the United States and Europe.
ISSUES:
EDUCATION & YOUTH: Leichtman and Arthur have supported Columbia University, UCLA, and Southwestern Law School, the couple’s alma maters. A few years ago, Levine and Lauren gave a $1 million pledge to Southwestern Law School to create the Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation Scholarship Endowment Fund. Leichtman is a trustee of her alma mater. Other grantees have included CSUN Foundation, Oliver Scholars Program, and Alliance for College Ready Public Schools. The couple’s schools as well as Alliance for College Ready Public Schools have been especially well funded by the family.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included Friendly House, a women’s recovery home, Aviva Family & Children’s Services, Maple Counseling Center, Friends & Helpers Foundation, whose goal is to “provide support, education and encouragement for domestic abuse victims who have fled to a shelter or group home for safety,” and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.
ARTS & CULTURE: The couple has supported places like Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, LA Opera, and Nevada Museum of Art.
LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY: The couple has given large sums to Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. They have also directed funds to the Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect Leichtman and Arthur to stick with their established interest areas, with a particular eye on Los Angeles.
CONTACT:
The Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation does not provide clear grant guidelines.
345 N. Maple Dr., 300
Beverly Hills, CA 90120
Telephone: 310-275-5335
LINK:
