The Lubetzky Family Foundation (LFF) is a private foundation that seeks to build a more empathetic, respectful, and just society that upholds freedom and liberty. LFF aims to empower citizens to participate actively in civic life and take responsibility for shaping their communities and the world around them through social entrepreneurship and action. ¹

Activities

Lubetzky Family Foundation’s efforts are based on the tenets of empathy and critical thinking, conflict resolution, democracy and democratic institutions, and Jewish values. LFF aims to use these ideals to create a shared sense of responsibility; advance the democratic values of free speech, rule of law, basic human rights, and a free press; promote the Jewish values of kindness, justice, respect, and human decency; and achieve security and peace for Israel with its neighbors. ¹

Projects of the Lubetzky Family Foundation include the OneVoice Movement, Builders, Starts With Us (Builders USA), and the Frontline Impact Project. ²

Builders Movement

Builders intends to equip individuals with the skills and tools needed to be more flexible thinkers and overcome the extremist thinking that exists in all groups, without using hatred and violence. ³

Builders claims that while the majority people do not cause problems, the small percentage of people with extremist views are the loudest and tend dominate the lives of others, adding to the idea that those with differing opinions are “the problem.” Builders further claims that the “us vs. them” polarization is reinforced by mainstream media, social media, and certain politicians using divisive narratives for their own gain. Builders uses media, networking, civic engagement, and practical tools to overcome extremist thinking, to create unity and solve problems together using critical thinking. ³

Builders publishes a weekly list of the top and bottom five politicians in each party, ranked by how much of a flexible thinker and creative problem solver they are. The Builders Power Rankings uses data from the Polarization Research Lab, a joint, nonpartisan initiative of Dartmouth, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania. Each politician’s Builders score is based on policy discussion, constructive debate, legislative efficacy, and personal attacks. ⁴

Starts With Us (Builders USA)

Starts With Us (SWU) is a movement founded on the idea that societal challenges can be solved through the innovative ideas that come from diversity of thought and cooperation. SWU intends to create a community of problem solvers who use daily behaviors that encourage trust and goodwill and promote productive and meaningful dialogue across a difference of opinions. ⁵

Starts With Us provides tools, programs, and resources for everyday people looking to overcome toxic polarization. This includes programs focused on individual actions, societal issues, education, the media, and connections with local Builders groups. ⁶

Starts With Us partner organizations include 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. ²

Funding

The Lubetzky Family Foundation is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. LFF was initially funded by its founder Daniel Lubetzky, who contributed $9.995 million worth of shares of KIND, Inc. in 2017 along with $500,000 from the Empathy Fund that same year. ⁷ In 2022, LFF received $3.5 million from the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program and $10 million in Lysol disinfecting wipes from RB USA Holdings. ⁸

People

Tom Fishman is the CEO of Starts With Us. Fishman formerly worked as a general manager of eko, a product strategist at Facebook, a senior vice president at MTV Digital, and an emerging media coordinator at Conde Nast. ⁹

Daniel Lubetzky is the founder and chair of the board of Lubetzky Family Foundation and the founder of KIND. Lubetzky is also the founder of Camino Partners (formerly Equilibra), Starts With Us, SOMOS Foods, the Frontline Impact Project, Empatico, Maiyet, the OneVoice Movement, the PeaceWorks Foundation, and PeaceWorks Foods. ¹⁰

Michelle Lubetzky is the vice chair of the board of LFF, the wife of Daniel Lubetzky, and an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. ¹¹

Michael Johnston is a senior advisor and former president of LFF. Johnston formerly worked as president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, CEO of the United Way of Western Connecticut, and a managing director at GE Capital. ¹²

Julianna Cohen is the secretary and treasurer of the board of LFF, where she works as chief of staff and director of network engagement. Cohen formerly worked as a special projects manager at KIND, where she currently sits on the board. Cohen also sits on the board of Columbia/Barnard Hillel. ¹³

Elle Lanning is the former president of Camino Partners (formerly Equilibra) and sits on the advisory board of KIND, where she formerly worked as chief of staff and executive vice president of corporate development. ¹⁴

Justin Mervis is the president of Camino Partners (formerly Equilibra). Mervis formerly worked as general counsel and executive vice president of KIND. ¹⁵

Jeffrey Solomon is senior advisor to Chasbro Investments, a co-chair of the Peaceworks Foundation, and a member of the advisory board at the Genesis Prize Foundation. Solomon is a former president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies and a former chair of Leading Edge. Solomon sits on the boards of the Leichtag Foundation, the Jim Joseph Foundation, and KIND. ¹⁶

1.  “Home.” Lubetzky Family Foundation. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.lubetzkyfamilyfoundation.org/.
2. “Partners.” Starts With Us. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://startswith.us/partners/.
3. “The Mission.” Builders Network. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://buildersmovement.org/mission/.
4. “Home.” Builders Power Rankings. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://rankings.buildersmovement.org/.
5. “The Movement.” Starts With Us. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://startswith.us/movement/.
6. “Tools & Programs.” Starts With Us. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://startswith.us/takeaction/.
7. Lubetzky Family Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Schedule B, Parts I & II.
8.  Lubetzky Family Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2022, Schedule B, Parts I & II.
9. “Tom Fishman.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfishman/.
10. “Daniel Lubetsky.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellubetzky/.
11. “Michelle Lubetzky, M.D.” Dell Medical School. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://dellmed.utexas.edu/directory/michelle-lubetzky-m-d.
12. “Michael Johnston.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnston/.
13. “Julianna (Storch) Cohen.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 12, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianna-storch-cohen-6b879114/.
14. “Elle Lanning.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elle-lanning-00a1545/.
15. “Justin Mervis.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mervis-aa307b10/.
16. “Jeffrey R. Solomon.” Genesis Prize Foundation. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.genesisprize.org/about/leadership/jeffrey-r-solomon.