Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $15,747,714 (2023)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Varies widely by program
- Geographic Focus: United States and Israel, with emphasis on democracy and civil dialogue initiatives
- Application Policy: Pre-selected organizations only; does not accept unsolicited applications
Contact Details
Website: https://www.lubetzkyfamilyfoundation.org
Email: info@Lubetzky.org
Address: PO Box 1767, New York, NY 10156-1767
Tax ID (EIN): 82-1648087
Overview
Founded in 2017 by Daniel Lubetzky (founder and Executive Chairman of KIND Healthy Snacks), the Lubetzky Family Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to fostering empathy and critical thinking to build resilient democracies and safeguard humanity. With reported assets of $1.6 million (2023) and annual giving of approximately $15.7 million in 2023, the foundation focuses on finding creative solutions to society's greatest challenges, particularly in supporting the foundations of liberal democracy and cultivating civil dialogue. The foundation was initially funded with $9.995 million worth of shares of KIND, Inc. from its founder and has evolved to counter global trends toward authoritarianism, xenophobia, hate, and extremism through the advancement of democratic values, including free speech, the rule of law, and basic human rights.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation operates primarily through strategic initiatives and partnerships rather than traditional grant programs:
Starts With Us / Builders Movement: Launched in December 2021 by more than 100 influential leaders (rebranded as Builders), this initiative equips citizens to overcome toxic polarization and solve challenging problems. The platform is free to participants and focuses on bringing together problem-solvers across political divides. In 2024, the Builders Movement expanded globally.
Frontline Impact Project (FIP): A joint initiative with the KIND Foundation that provides a platform to mobilize companies to support frontline workers with unmet needs, matching corporate donors with those on the frontlines of healthcare, education, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises. During the 2020 election, FIP spearheaded the donation of more than 120,000 items to election workers. To date, more than 100 CPG companies have donated over 21 million products through the platform.
Empatico: The KIND Foundation's signature initiative that connects classrooms around the world through a free online tool, enabling millions of educators and students to tell their stories, explore similarities and differences, and practice empathy through meaningful virtual connections. Recognized by Fast Company as a "World Changing Idea" winner in 2018.
OneVoice Movement: A project of the Peaceworks Foundation that supports grassroots activists in Israel, Palestine, and internationally working toward a just and negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since 2015, the organization provided more than $15 million in funding to Israeli and Palestinian grassroots activists working toward a two-state solution. OneVoice disbanded in 2025 but continues to operate under PeaceWorks Foundation.
Ukrainian Scholarship Program: Announced in partnership with José Andrés, Garry Kasparov, and Alexander Vindman, this program grants $1 million to support displaced Ukrainian students with financial and wraparound support to study at US-based post-secondary institutions for one academic year, serving as global democracy ambassadors.
Priority Areas
- Democracy and Democratic Institutions: Raising awareness around democratic principles and institutions, countering authoritarianism
- Civil Dialogue and Polarization: Cultivating constructive dialogue, reducing toxic polarization across political divides
- Empathy and Critical Thinking: Fostering empathy-building and critical thinking skills through education and cross-cultural connections
- Combating Extremism: Addressing xenophobia, hate, and extremism; promoting mutual understanding between groups often seen as at odds
- Peacebuilding: Supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and conflict resolution
- Frontline Worker Support: Supporting healthcare, education, election workers, and humanitarian crisis responders
What They Don't Fund
The foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Governance and Leadership
Daniel Lubetzky - Chair/Director: Founder of KIND Healthy Snacks, Camino Partners (formerly Equilibra), Starts With Us/Builders Movement, SOMOS Foods, the Frontline Impact Project, Empatico, Maiyet, the OneVoice Movement, the PeaceWorks Foundation, and PeaceWorks Foods. Lubetzky is a recurring entrepreneur on ABC's "Shark Tank" and a prominent voice for civil dialogue and democracy.
Michelle Lubetzky - Vice Chair/Director: Associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.
Michael Johnston - Senior Advisor (former President): Formerly worked as president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, CEO of the United Way of Western Connecticut, and managing director at GE Capital.
Additional Board Members: Jeffrey Solomon (Director) and Julianna Cohen (Secretary and Treasurer).
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The Lubetzky Family Foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Grants are awarded based on the foundation's strategic priorities and initiatives, primarily through:
- Organizations directly connected to the foundation's signature programs (Starts With Us/Builders, Frontline Impact Project, Empatico, OneVoice Movement)
- Strategic partnerships identified by foundation leadership
- Board and trustee discretion based on alignment with mission priorities
Getting on Their Radar
The foundation operates through strategic partnerships and initiatives led by founder Daniel Lubetzky. Organizations working in democracy, civil dialogue, empathy-building, or peacebuilding that align with the foundation's specific program areas may benefit from:
Starts With Us/Builders Partner Network: The foundation works with partner organizations including the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, BridgeUSA, the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, the Common Ground Committee, the Constructive Dialogue Institute, Convergence, Einhorn Collaborative, Empatico, Essential Partners, the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley, More in Common, NORC at the University of Chicago, OneVoice Movement, the Witness Institute, and Project Pericles. Organizations already working in the bridgebuilding and civil dialogue space may connect through these existing networks.
Council on Foundations: Daniel Lubetzky is affiliated with the Council on Foundations, where peer foundation leaders connect.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly disclosed. Given the pre-selected nature of grantmaking, traditional application-to-decision timelines do not apply.
Success Rates
Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking approach. The foundation made 12 grants totaling $15,747,714 in 2023.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Application Success Factors
Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, alignment with the foundation's mission and existing initiatives is essential:
Strategic Alignment: Organizations that advance democratic values, foster civil dialogue, build empathy, or combat extremism are most likely to align with the foundation's priorities. The foundation's focus is on "fostering empathy and critical thinking to build resilient democracies and safeguard humanity."
Existing Program Connections: The foundation operates through signature programs and partner networks. Organizations already working with Starts With Us/Builders partners, participating in the bridgebuilding movement, or aligned with Empatico's education-focused empathy work may be positioned for consideration.
Innovation and Scale: The foundation has supported initiatives recognized for innovation (e.g., Empatico as a "World Changing Idea") and those capable of operating at scale (e.g., Frontline Impact Project mobilizing 100+ companies and 21 million+ products).
Cross-Partisan Appeal: Given the focus on overcoming political polarization, organizations that work across political divides and appeal to diverse constituencies align with the foundation's values.
Democracy and Human Rights Focus: The foundation explicitly seeks to "counter global trends towards authoritarianism, xenophobia, hate and extremism through the advancement of democratic values, including free speech, the rule of law and basic human rights."
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No Public Application Process: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; all grants are to pre-selected organizations based on strategic priorities and board discretion
- Mission-Driven Programs: Grantmaking centers on specific initiatives (Builders/Starts With Us, Frontline Impact Project, Empatico, peacebuilding) rather than traditional open grant cycles
- Founder-Led Strategy: Daniel Lubetzky's vision and entrepreneurial approach drive the foundation's strategic direction and partnerships
- Democracy and Civil Dialogue Priority: The foundation's core focus is strengthening democratic institutions and reducing polarization through empathy and critical thinking
- Partner Network Model: The foundation operates through networks of partner organizations in the bridgebuilding and civil dialogue space
- Scale and Innovation: Supported initiatives demonstrate both innovative approaches and capacity for significant scale and impact
- Cross-Sector Collaboration: The foundation facilitates corporate engagement (e.g., Frontline Impact Project) and cross-industry partnerships rather than solely traditional nonprofit grants
References
- Lubetzky Family Foundation official website: https://www.lubetzkyfamilyfoundation.org (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- Candid Foundation Directory profile: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=6657527 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Lubetzky Family Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/821648087 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- Cause IQ - Lubetzky Family Foundation profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/lubetzky-family-foundation,821648087/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- InfluenceWatch - Lubetzky Family Foundation (LFF): https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/lubetzky-family-foundation-lff/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- Daniel Lubetzky profile - Council on Foundations: https://cof.org/person/daniel-lubetzky (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- PR Newswire: "Companies Nationwide Step Up To Support Poll Workers & Ballot Counters Through Frontline Impact Project" (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- PR Newswire: "José Andrés, Garry Kasparov, Daniel Lubetzky and Alexander Vindman Team Up to Launch Ukrainian Scholarship Program" (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- PR Newswire: "Starts With Us Challenges Divided Americans to Co-Sign a Pledge to Disagree Better" (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- Builders Movement website: https://buildersmovement.org (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- InfluenceWatch - OneVoice Movement: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/onevoice-movement/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
- Stanford Daily: "KIND CEO and human rights activist Daniel Lubetzky works for a two-state solution" (December 6, 2023)