The Issa Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $70,000 (per 990-PF, FY 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $25,000 (based on 2024 grants)
• Geographic Focus: International focus with emphasis on Lebanese-American organisations and youth development
• Founded: 2024
• Assets: $24.8 million

Contact Details

Address: 1615 House Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (760) 727-6888
Website: https://theissafoundation.org/

Overview

The Issa Foundation is a newly established faith-driven private foundation founded in 2024 and based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. With total assets of $24.8 million and annual revenue of $24.9 million in its first year, the foundation is dedicated to fighting poverty and uplifting communities worldwide. The foundation supports charitable and performing arts activities while encouraging values such as hard work and selfless philanthropy. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, it funds its grantmaking primarily through investment income and contributions. Despite its significant assets, the foundation maintains a lean structure with no full-time employees and operates with minimal expenses ($96,871 in 2024).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programmes. Based on 2024 filings, identified grants include:

• American Task Force on Lebanon: $25,000 - Supporting Lebanese-American advocacy and community development
• Boy Scouts of America (San Diego-Imperial Council): $10,000 - Youth development and character-building programmes
• René Moawad Foundation: $10,000 - Supporting social, economic, and rural development in Lebanon

The foundation's 2024 990-PF records $70,000 in total charitable disbursements; three grants totalling $45,000 have been publicly identified.

Priority Areas

• International development and poverty alleviation
• Lebanese-American community support and advocacy
• Youth development and character education
• Performing arts activities
• Charitable activities promoting hard work and selfless philanthropy

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a newly established foundation, funding priorities may continue to evolve.

Governance and Leadership

According to the foundation's 2024 990-PF filing, the officers and directors are:

• Darrell Issa (Director)
• Rich Hirshberg (Secretary/Treasurer)
• Rebecca Glover (Director)

All three serve without compensation. The foundation operates with no full-time employees, suggesting governance is managed by directors and officers on a volunteer basis.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Issa Foundation operates as a private foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion. Grants appear to be awarded to preselected charitable organisations based on the trustees' strategic priorities and existing relationships.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, grant decisions are made internally without a standardised application review cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Note: Because this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following insights are based on observable grant patterns:

• Lebanese-American connection: The foundation shows clear interest in organisations supporting Lebanese-American communities and development in Lebanon (American Task Force on Lebanon, René Moawad Foundation)
• Youth development: Support for character-building organisations like Boy Scouts suggests interest in youth development programmes
• Faith and values alignment: The foundation describes itself as "faith-driven" and emphasises "hard work and selfless philanthropy"
• Established organisations: All identified grant recipients are well-established national or international organisations with track records

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation awards grants through trustee discretion to preselected organisations
• Newly established: Founded in 2024, the foundation is still developing its grantmaking patterns and priorities
• Significant assets, modest grantmaking: With $24.8 million in assets but only $70,000 in charitable disbursements in 2024 (per 990-PF filing), the foundation may be in a planning phase
• Lebanese-American focus: Multiple grants suggest strong interest in Lebanese-American causes and community development
• Faith-driven mission: Organisations aligned with faith-based values and character development may resonate with foundation priorities
• Relationship-based: Success likely depends on existing relationships with trustees or being on their radar through other connections
• Contact for exploration: Organisations with strong alignment to Lebanese-American causes or youth character development might consider reaching out via phone to explore potential fit

References

• Cause IQ Profile: The Issa Foundation (EIN 93-4881987). Accessed January 7, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/issa-foundation,934881987/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: The Issa Foundation (EIN 93-4881987). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/934881987
• The Issa Foundation Official Website. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://theissafoundation.org/
• American Task Force on Lebanon. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://atfl.org/
• René Moawad Foundation - Our Story. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://rmf.org.lb/our-story/
• Nonprofit databases accessed January 7, 2026 for organisational verification and grant information