Our Story

The Rauch Foundation is a family foundation established in 1961, which until 2022 invested in ideas and organizations fostering systemic regional on Long Island. This work included the publishing of the Long Island Index, an annual compendium of data and analysis on key issues facing the region and informed by the convening of thought leaders from business, labor, community groups, and academia.

Since 2023, under the leadership of Eva Douzinas, the foundation continues to pursue projects with the potential to be transformative. The foundation has always used multiple strategies to promote its mission and bring people and organizations together to drive change. These include grant making and investments in research, network building, and communications campaigns.

Today, the Rauch Foundation's two main priorities are:

  • To promote a healthy planet through research into global food systems.
  • To promote the financial preparedness of rising generations of students by supporting schools in the delivery of financial literacy programs.
Our Story
Image Credit: Kevin Armstrong

Our Vision

A future where the health of our planet and opportunities for future generations are strengthened through long-term thinking and courageous action. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep commitment to giving back, the Rauch Foundation drives lasting, positive change through strategic investments in research, grantmaking, communications, and convening—turning bold ideas into tangible outcomes.

Our Values

Honor

Honor the founders' vision and family ethos by integrating innovation, pragmatism, and entrepreneurship into the Foundation’s work while upholding professionalism, honesty, and integrity.

Health

Lead by example in promoting holistic health for young people, families, communities, and the planet, supporting physical, mental, emotional, and environmental well-being.

Humility

Embrace lifelong learning with humility and humor, valuing insights from others, fostering generosity, empathy, and respect, and collaborating across sectors to share knowledge and best practices.

Helping others to help themselves

Empower individuals to become self-supporting and reach their potential; help strengthen families and communities through visionary, high-quality educational leadership.

A word from our President

A word from our President

“Our own observations are consistent with the research we are finding on the serious health crisis taking place in this country and around the world, pointing to a broken food system responsible for the collapse of biodiversity, and serious health issues like diabetes, obesity and still, malnutrition. To address this on a local scale, we seek to bring together community leaders and stakeholders to help us improve the health and life skills, including financial preparedness, of high school graduates. As in the past, the foundation is also interested in the root of the issues we fund and we will continue to surface research, information and objective data to decision-makers.”

Eva Douzinas, President, Rauch Foundation

Program Areas

Global Food Systems

Promoting a healthy planet

Financial Literacy

Promoting inclusive prospertity