OVERVIEW: The Debs Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of higher education and arts organizations.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to recent tax records, the Debs Foundation is not open to receiving unsolicited grant applications. It only supports preselected organizations that the Debs family is already familiar with and with personal connections to family members. Richard Debs serves as the foundation’s president, while Barbara Debs is the foundation’s vice president. Elizabeth and Nicholas Debs are foundation directors. The Debs Foundation does not have any paid employees.
PROFILE: Founded in 1991, the Debs Foundation was established by Morgan Stanley veteran Richard and Barbara Debs, an art historian. Richard Debs was COO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and worked internationally with Morgan Stanley. He’s chair of the international council of the Bretton Woods Committee, a ” nonpartisan network of prominent global citizens.” Barbara, meanwhile, is a former president of the New York Historical Society and a trustee emerita of Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Grants for Arts and Culture and Higher Education
Education interests are broad and extend to early childhood education, K-12 education, higher education and arts education. Local education grantees include the Third Street Music School Settlement, Rockefeller University and Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn.
Tax filings suggest that the Debs Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of international policy and arts organizations. Debs is chairman emeritus of the American University of Beirut, which the family supports.
- Other higher education grantees include Institute of International Education (Debs is on the board), Vassar College, and Wheaton College.
- Grantees have also included Brooklyn Museum and Carnegie Hall (Debs once chaired the board).
Grants for Health
Health grants often go to hospitals in the broader Northeast region, including Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, and the Cape Cod Hospital in North Eastham, Massachusetts. Grantees also include New York Stem Cell Foundation.
Important Grant Details
Grants range from $100 to $145,000. $1,000 is the most common amount. In a recent tax year, the foundation gave away close to $550,000. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
The Debs Foundation
1 Beekman Pl., Apt. 7A
New York City, NY 10022
