Raymond Debbane Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,799,750 (2023)
• Total Assets: $129,781,243 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 28 awards (2023)
• Average Grant Size: $242,848
• Geographic Focus: United States and International (particularly Lebanon)
• Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 750 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (c/o The Invus Group LLC)

EIN: 13-4053653

Note: The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The Raymond Debbane Family Foundation was established in March 2001 as a private family foundation to provide donations to charitable causes, particularly those supporting Raymond Debbane's native Lebanon. With total assets of $129.8 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $6.8 million in 2023, the foundation has grown substantially over the past two decades. The foundation is led by Raymond Debbane, President and CEO of The Invus Group, a global investment firm he co-founded in 1985. The foundation's mission centres on supporting education, arts and culture, human services, and international relations, with a particular emphasis on Lebanese causes and organisations. In 2017, Raymond Debbane received the TAKREEM Corporate Leadership Award, recognising his accomplishments in business and philanthropy. The foundation operates without paid staff, with all officers serving without compensation, allowing maximum resources to flow to grantees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Raymond Debbane Family Foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with public application processes. Instead, the foundation makes strategic grants to preselected organisations aligned with the family's philanthropic interests. In 2023, the foundation awarded 28 grants totalling $6,799,750, with an average grant size of $242,848.

Priority Areas

Education

• Higher education institutions, particularly alma maters (Stanford University, American University of Beirut, Lebanese American University)
• Catholic schools and education access (Catholic Schools Assistance Fund)
• Cultural education (French Institute - Alliance Française)
• Special education in Lebanon (Lebanese Center for Special Education/CLES)

Arts and Culture

• Museums and arts organisations
• History museums
• Cultural institutions promoting international understanding

Human Services

• Food security and hunger relief (Action Against Hunger USA)
• Healthcare and children's services (Ronald McDonald House Charities)
• Religious social services (Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, St. John Paul II Life Center)

International Relations and Policy

• Lebanese community organisations (Drug Free Lebanon, Lebanese Center for Special Education)
• International development (Center for Euro-Med Development/CEMEDE)
• Policy research organisations (Cato Institute, Mercatus Center)
• Cross-cultural understanding (Kuwait-America Foundation)

Geographic Focus: The foundation funds projects in numerous cities across the United States (including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco) and internationally, with significant focus on Brussels and Lebanon.

What They Don't Fund

Whilst not explicitly stated, the foundation's pattern of giving suggests they do not fund:

• Organisations outside their established networks and areas of interest
• Unsolicited proposals from organisations unknown to the family
• General operating support for organisations outside their priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Key Officers

Raymond Debbane, President (serves without compensation)

• President and CEO of The Invus Group, LLC, a global investment firm he co-founded in 1985
• Chairman of the Board of Action Against Hunger USA
• Member of the Board of Trustees of Lebanese American University
• Trustee Emeritus of Connecticut College
• Education: MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business; MS in Food Science and Technology from UC Davis; BS in Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Engineering from American University of Beirut
• Recent major gift: Announced the largest gift in LAU's history at the university's Centennial Gala in March 2025

Sacha Lainovic, Treasurer (serves without compensation)

Jessica Packer, Secretary (serves without compensation)

Carmen Chahine Debbane (Raymond's spouse)

• Founder of the Lebanese Center for Special Education (CLES)
• Active partner in the family's philanthropic initiatives

Foundation Philosophy

The Debbane family's philanthropy reflects Raymond Debbane's deep commitment to his native Lebanon, education, and humanitarian causes. His two-decade partnership with Action Against Hunger demonstrates a focus on promoting innovation and sparking new ideas in the nonprofit sector. The foundation's support for policy research organisations like the Cato Institute and Mercatus Center suggests an interest in free-market economics and libertarian policy perspectives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Raymond Debbane Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's leadership based on the family's established relationships and philanthropic interests. Organisations are selected proactively by the foundation rather than through a competitive application process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally based on the family's strategic philanthropic priorities and relationships.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's giving patterns can provide insights:

Connection to Raymond Debbane's Personal Network

• Organisations where Debbane serves in leadership roles (Action Against Hunger USA, Lebanese American University)
• His alma maters (Stanford, American University of Beirut, UC Davis)
• Organisations connected to his business network through The Invus Group

Alignment with Core Interests

• Lebanese community development and social services
• Educational access and excellence, particularly international education
• Food security and hunger relief
• Free-market policy research and economic development
• Cultural exchange and international understanding

Strong Track Records

• Established, reputable organisations with proven impact
• Organisations that can demonstrate effective use of significant grants (average grant is nearly $250,000)
• National and international scope rather than purely local organisations

Lebanese Connection

• Organisations serving the Lebanese community in Lebanon or diaspora
• Projects promoting Lebanese cultural heritage or development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications - they select grantees proactively
• High-Value Partnerships: With average grants near $250,000 and only 28 awards annually, this foundation makes significant commitments to a limited number of organisations
• Personal Connection Required: Grantees are preselected based on existing relationships with the Debbane family or organisations where they have board involvement
• Lebanese Focus: Strong preference for organisations serving Lebanese communities or founded by Lebanese Americans
• Education Priority: Consistent support for educational institutions, particularly those with personal connection to Raymond Debbane
• Leadership Engagement: Raymond Debbane's board chairmanship of Action Against Hunger USA demonstrates that the most significant support goes to organisations where he is personally engaged
• Long-Term Relationships: The foundation appears to support organisations consistently over time rather than making one-time grants
• Quality Over Quantity: With only 28 grants from a $6.8 million annual budget, the foundation focuses on substantial grants to carefully selected organisations

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Raymond Debbane Family Foundation (EIN: 13-4053653), accessed January 4, 2026, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134053653

2. Cause IQ - Raymond Debbane Family Foundation Profile, accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/raymond-debbane-family-foundation,134053653/

3. Inside Philanthropy - "Raymond and Carmen Debbane," accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/wall-street-donors/raymond-and-carmen-debbane

4. Grantmakers.io - Raymond Debbane Family Foundation Profile, accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/134053653-raymond-debbane-family-foundation/

5. Takreem Foundation - "Raymond Debbane," accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.takreem.org/raymond-debbane-lebanon/

6. Invus Group - "Raymond Debbane," accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.invus.com/team/raymond-debbane/

7. Lebanese American University Board of Trustees, accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.lau.edu.lb/about/governance/bot.php

8. National News Agency Lebanon - "LAU holds its centennial gala in New York," accessed January 4, 2026, https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/education/766594/

9. Form 990-PF tax filings (2023-2024), IRS records via ProPublica and GuideStar

10. Foundation Directory Online (Candid) - The Raymond Debbane Family Foundation profile, accessed January 4, 2026