Foundation President & CEO Marvin Schotland Receives Honorary Doctorate from American Jewish University
Thursday, May 23, 2019
LOS ANGELES—Marvin I. Schotland, president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation), was conferred a doctor of humane letters honoris causa degree by American Jewish University during its 2019 commencement earlier this week.
Schotland’s honorary doctorate coincides with his 30th anniversary leading The Foundation, which manages charitable assets for more than 1,300 families. Under his leadership, The Foundation’s total charitable assets have grown from about $90 million to more than $1 billion. And, in a span of the last 15 years, The Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants – including $115 million in 2018 alone – to Jewish and general community causes in greater Los Angeles, nationally and throughout the world.
In remarks prior to presenting Schotland his degree, AJU President Jeffrey Herbst stated: “You have led a remarkable increase in resources that are devoted to Jewish philanthropy. You have led continual reinventions of The Foundation to reflect the changing nature of problems in our society and the evolving role for the Jewish community. And you have [written and] spoken out about and devoted resources to issues that extend beyond the Jewish community and affect us all.”
“I am honored and humbled by this unexpected recognition from American Jewish University,” Schotland said. “Whatever my accomplishments, they would not have been possible without the tireless contributions and support of the Foundation lay leaders and staff with whom I’ve been privileged to work these past three decades, my loving family, and our community of donors blessed with both compassionate hearts and the resources to act.”
Since joining The Foundation in 1989, Schotland has driven innovation, while simultaneously burnishing the institution’s reputation as a trusted steward of its donors’ charitable legacies with stability as its hallmark. Several major achievements, among others, during his tenure include: Creation of The Foundation’s Center for Designed Philanthropy, which focuses on legacy planning, intergenerational giving strategies and identifying charitable fields of interest; and development of Cutting Edge Grants and Next Stage Grants programs that have provided millions of dollars of support for initiatives that strengthen, reimagine and sustain Jewish Los Angeles.
Prior to leading The Foundation, Schotland was executive director at several Jewish community foundations across the country. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Schotland earned his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Cincinnati.
About The Foundation
Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles manages charitable assets of more than $1 billion entrusted to it by over 1,300 families and ranks among the 10 largest Los Angeles foundations. It partners with donors to shape meaningful philanthropic strategies, magnify the impact of their giving, and build enduring charitable legacies. In 2018, The Foundation and its donors distributed more than $115 million in grants to 2,700 nonprofits with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving. Over the past 15 years, it has distributed more than $1 billion to thousands of nonprofits across a diverse spectrum. www.jewishfoundationla.org