Press Release | Media Resources | About Jay Kahn
Gift is the largest-ever unrestricted gift to a San Diego nonprofit
February 2, 2023 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation announced today that it has received a historic, transformative unrestricted $100 million cash gift from the estate of local entrepreneur Jay Kahn, the largest-ever gift of its kind to a San Diego nonprofit.
“Jay Kahn was a compassionate man who loved San Diego and wished for his legacy and estate to be used for the good of San Diego,” said Mark Stuart, President & CEO of San Diego Foundation. “We had no existing relationship with Jay until we learned that he believed San Diego Foundation would achieve his goal and honor his wishes. We are humbled by this incredible generosity and we will honor Jay by continuing to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in the San Diego region.”
The first grants from Kahn’s gift, which is the third-largest gift of its kind to a U.S. community foundation, include $150,000 unrestricted grants to 10 San Diego-based music education nonprofits to advance their work with under-resourced children. The intent of the grants is to grow music appreciation in San Diego in memory of Kahn, a classical musician who played clarinet in symphonies at University of California San Diego and University of San Diego. The $1.5 million in total grants were awarded at the SDF Board of Governors retreat on February 2, 2023. Grantees included:
Aside from a portion of Kahn’s gift that will support housing and other strategic plan initiatives, more than $86 million will establish the Jay Kahn Endowment Fund at San Diego Foundation so that Kahn’s legacy and impact continues to grow and transform San Diego County in perpetuity.
Kahn, who passed away at 90 years old, lived in San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood from 1972 until his death in 2022. He worked in the clothing industry in the San Diego-Tijuana region, and amassed his fortune as an entrepreneur, eventually retiring early to manage his personal investment portfolio that included early investments in Price Club, the San Diego-based predecessor to Costco, and Apple.
Kahn’s gift is one of several unsolicited gifts in recent years for San Diego Foundation, including an $8 million gift from American novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2020 to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund.
Photo 1: Jay Kahn
Photo 2: Jay Kahn with Clarinet
Jay Kahn: Biography
Jay Kahn: Press Release
B-roll and photos from the announcement available upon request.
San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. For more than 47 years, SDF and its donors have granted more than $1.4 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
Lorena Nava Ruggero, San Diego Foundation, lruggero@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1365
Theresa Nakata, San Diego Foundation, theresan@sdfoundation.org, 619-890-1378
Bailey Hahn, Mixte, bailey@gomixte.com, 619-732-0789 x 224
San Diego Foundation donor and establisher of legacy endowment fund
Jay Kahn was born on February 23, 1932, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to a recently immigrated German father and his second-generation wife. His father, Gene, was a livestock dealer and the family farm shared a property line with an adjacent small airfield.
When Jay was 14, after just a couple of flying lessons, he figured out that the pilots typically left the ignition keys in their small single engine planes. Early in the morning Jay would sneak into the airfield and help himself to the planes stored there. In this way he learned to fly and was an avid pilot for the rest of his life. He eventually earned his license to fly larger, two-engine aircraft and flew all over the U.S.
He left Benton Harbor just out of high school after he was awarded a full scholarship to study clarinet at the University of Texas, Denton. Though he didn’t finish the program, classical music, specifically chamber music for winds, remained a lifelong passion of Jay’s and he played in several ensembles around San Diego, including orchestras at both UC San Diego and the University of San Diego.
Jay worked as a salesperson for many years in the clothing industry, spending much of his time between San Diego and Mexico. This drew him to San Diego and permanently to Ocean Beach. In 1972, Jay bought a home on the cliffs in Ocean Beach that is as eclectic and unique as the community itself, and he almost never left. He loved Ocean Beach and was enamored of the Pacific.
Jay built his wealth through prudent investments. He befriended Sol Price and was an original investor in Price Club. His initial $25,000 investment became several million. When that happened, Jay retired. A later investment and purchase of $250,000 of Apple stock turned into $80 million. Jay hosted a weekly music rehearsal at his Ocean Beach home for years where he and friends would gather to play chamber music, followed by drinks and dinner. Jay was an avid, accomplished cook with a gourmet kitchen.
For many years, Jay played tennis several times a week. He entered and won a number of tournaments and met some of his best friends on the court, people he remained close to even after he stopped playing.
Jay was a risk taker who chose to be low profile in the San Diego community. He had regular dinners with friends and enjoyed discussing politics. He was a thinker who was progressive, open-minded and compassionate, though reclusive.
Jay wanted his estate and legacy to be managed and used for the good of San Diego, and believed that San Diego Foundation would achieve that goal and honor his wishes.
On August 9, 2022, we awarded $838,704 in Opening the Outdoors grants to 24 nonprofit organizations that offer equitable access to outdoor spaces in San Diego County.
“San Diego Foundation is proud to once again support its partners committed to increasing community-driven efforts to enhance accessible outdoor space, encourage youth to learn more through hands-on education and create the next generation of environmental stewards in the San Diego region,” said Christiana DeBenedict, SDF Director of Environment Initiatives.
This year’s grantees will help address these inequities and enhance access to the outdoors throughout San Diego County.
"*" indicates required fields
The Advisor monthly e-newsletter provides philanthropy news and trends and financial planning strategies for advisors and their clients.
"*" indicates required fields
"*" indicates required fields
Receive quarterly email updates about our Children and Families programs and initiatives and opportunities for you to support stronger families in our region.
"*" indicates required fields
Receive quarterly email updates about our Education programs and initiatives and opportunities for you to support enhanced learning experiences and increased access to college for San Diego students.
"*" indicates required fields
Receive quarterly email updates about our Environment and Climate programs and initiatives and opportunities for you to support equitable outdoor access and climate change resiliency.
"*" indicates required fields
Receive quarterly email updates about our Racial and Social Justice programs and initiatives and opportunities for you to learn about creating equitable opportunities for all and how to support our multicultural region and its diverse population.
"*" indicates required fields
This helpful resource provides you with information about corporate philanthropy and custom corporate giving solutions for your business.
"*" indicates required fields
This helpful resource will show you how you can leave a legacy to your family, your charity or your community that complements your will and trust(s).
"*" indicates required fields