Linda M Kahn, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, is the founder and head of the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation. Her education at the University of Florida consisted of double majors in Mathematics and the College of Education. After graduation, she worked as a high school mathematics teacher. Continuing her education, Linda received a Masters degree from the University of Michigan in Mathematics, with an emphasis in actuarial application.

While working as an actuary in Manhattan, she met and married Paul Markham Kahn. They eventually moved to Los Angeles, where they lived for many years. In 1976 they purchased a magnificent 1919 Italianate home in San Francisco, which they promptly filled with their library and collections. Linda has said that in her wildest dreams, she never imagined that she would end up moving to California.

Upon the death of Paul in 1997, Linda created the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation which continues the philanthropic and cultural ideals they both shared throughout their lifetimes.