The Lotte Lehmann Foundation supports emerging singers and composers of vocal music by (1.) administering a bi-annual vocal performance competition, (2.) funding the bi-annual Lotte Lehmann Foundation-ASCAP Art Song Composition Competition, and (3.) producing master classes for singers.

The Lotte Lehmann Foundation was invented in 1997 by Gary Hickling who served as its first President for the first six years of its existence. In January of 2003, Hickling determined to move the Foundation from its birthplace in Hawaii to New York City. Hickling retired from active service in 2005. The first New York-based President, composer Daron Hagen, served from 2004-2007. The foundation's second president was mezzo soprano Linn Maxwell. Composer Larry Alan Smith served as President from 2010-2011. Daniel Gundlach is now serving as Acting President.

A vibrant Board of Directors consisting of professional singers, collaborative pianists, composers, arts management professionals, conductors, academics, music journalists, and executives with a passion for the arts has worked together to support, strengthen, extend, and expand the Foundation's mission. A large number of specialists in the field of classical song (composers, singers, pianists, and educators) have also been assembled to serve as Advisors whose input has been important in guiding the Foundation's programs.

The Foundation sponsors two music competitions: A Vocal Competition takes place in even-numbered years; the ASCAP / Lotte Lehmann Foundation Song Cycle Competition, a major national prize for composers of art song, is held in odd-numbered years.

In March of 2011 the Foundation will launch a yearly series of masterclasses for singers in New York City. On 20 April 2007 the LLF co-sponsored its first art song recital at the Yamaha Concert Hall in New York City with the New York Singing Teachers' Association, featuring winners of both organizations' singing competitions.

Other ongoing functions of the Foundation include the bestowal each year of the World of Song Award to a notable singer, collaborative pianist, or composer of artsong, and VoxNova Media, a project that in due course will make available vocal music on the Internet.

In July of 2006, the Foundation awarded a grant to the WFMT Radio Network to help underwrite the production and distribution by the WFMT Radio Network of a two hour radio documentary on the life and music of Lotte Lehmann, produced by Jon Tolansky, with Steve Robinson, executive producer.

World famous German soprano Lotte Lehmann (1888-1976) was one of the great musical artists of the 20th Century. Her influence in the world of music was enormous. Lehmann's glorious voice and expressive interpretive talent enthralled her audiences with material ranging from opera to Lieder (classical German song).