LEAVE A LONG-LASTING, SUSTAINABLE,
HEALING IMPACT ON THE WORLD
The aspiration of the JAF Foundation is to conserve nature and empower people. We try to achieve this by promoting self-initiative and by encouraging people in our projects to adopt a mindset focused on the future and to communicate constructively. Our goal is to give people the opportunity to thrive physically and intellectually, to lead fulfilled lives as well as to understand and protect their environment. As little and limited as our efforts and resources may be, it is a wonderful, fulfilling experience to be able through our work to watch children, communities and landscapes improve and continue to improve.
OUR HOME BASE: SWITZERLAND AND THE US
The JAF Foundation consists of two branches. One is registered as a charitable trust in Switzerland and legally domiciled in Basel, with the office in Zurich. The other is located in the USA, where the JAF Foundation is registered as a Delaware non-profit corporation under section 501(c)(3). The JAF Foundation in Switzerland and the US are private foundations and do not source funds from third parties or the public.
The JAF Foundation US mainly supports US based and registered non-profit institutions, organizations and public foundations.
The JAF Foundation (Switzerland) acted as a sponsor foundation in the past. We now intend to evolve step by step into an operating foundation. We strongly look forward to establishing and running our own initiatives and projects in the near future.
Wherever possible, the donations we make are only sourced from the interest on the foundation’s capital. We firmly believe this method best guarantees the long-term future of the foundation and thus our work.
The founders: Jürgen Friedrich, President Switzerland and US, Anke Beck-Friedrich, Vice-President Switzerland and US
“SOME PEOPLE AND PROJECTS JUST FIT PERFECTLY. THEN THEY BECOME A SUCCESS.”
Talking to Jürgen and Anke Friedrich immediately gives you the feeling: This will work. Like most successful people, coming from all walks of life, the Friedrichs have an outstanding ability: Where others see impenetrable barriers, they see challenges to embrace and obstacles to overcome. They are confident, composed, and honest.
In 1975, Jürgen met Doug and Susie Tompkins for the first time in San Francisco. He was thrilled by the size and quality of the enterprise the couple had already established. And he was truly taken by Doug’s intoxicating, passionate personality.
He joined Esprit, was made responsible for Marketing and Sales, and set out to develop Esprit Europe. Sales in the 1980s and 1990s exploded under his leadership. Esprit was swiftly emerging as a global brand with a clear mindset: a focus on being social, peaceful, conscious, and ecological. After the end of their active careers in 2000, Jürgen and Anke looked for new challenges.
The couple lives in Switzerland and spends periods at the east coast of the US. In both countries they founded the JAF Foundation. With wisdom, enthusiasm and drive they support and manage various charity projects around the world.
Jürgen Friedrich
President Switzerland and USA
Anke Beck-Friedrich
Vice-President Switzerland and USA
Max Friedrich
Board Member Switzerland
Anita Ruzic-Dadic
Administration (JAF Office Zurich)
Marnin J. Michael
Board Member Switzerland
Peter Stocker
Board Member Switzerland
Marc Lauer
Board Member Switzerland
Thomas Oplinger
Board Member USA
Holger Hahn
CEO Switzerland and USA