COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL AT BEIRUT
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131929591 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q300 · International Affairs · Large ($10M-$50M) · acs.edu.lb
revenue
$18.3M
expenses
$19.9M
net assets
$15.8M
employees
32
volunteers
17
program ratio
61%
mission · from form 990

PROVIDES FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Community School at Beirut is a private Pre-K through 12 school established in 1905, serving a diverse student body of approximately 950 representing over 30 nationalities. Located in Beirut, Lebanon, the school combines Lebanese culture with American educational practices, emphasizing intellectual curiosity, student engagement, and community service. It offers academic, extracurricular, and sustainability programs within a supportive, human-centered learning environment.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Bus Service
Transportation service for students across multiple routes in and around Beirut, with structured terms, assigned seating, and behavior policies
Community Service
Student-led initiatives such as LEBMUN, Nour International, and TEDx that foster leadership and civic engagement
Green Campus Initiative
Sustainability program featuring solar energy installations, water and waste reduction goals, and student/staff Green Team and ECO Club
Harkness Learning
Seminar-style, discussion-based teaching method used in Middle and High School to promote critical thinking and student engagement
Innovation and Design Spaces
Facilities supporting hands-on learning, creativity, and problem-solving through design and technology
Week Without Walls
Experiential learning program that takes students beyond the classroom for community service, outdoor education, and cultural immersion
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Administer financial aid and scholarship programs
      Awards financial assistance to families unable to continue their children’s education at ACS and provides scholarships to qualified students from underserved communities, including Palestinian refugee youth, to support academic success and enhance diversity.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Build institutional capacity through alumni engagement and sustainability coordination
      Engages alumni as inspirational figures to advance the school’s mission of developing creative, ethical leaders. Established the Green Team in 2023—a cross-campus group of teachers, staff, and students—to lead sustainability efforts and promote eco-conscious practices school-wide.
  • Student and Camp Transportation Services 1 activity
    • Deliver transportation services for students across Greater Beirut
      Operates three designated bus routes (Lines A, B, and C) serving neighborhoods across Beirut and surrounding suburban and coastal areas, with fixed morning and afternoon schedules based on grade level. Collects service fees in two installments, one at registration and another by January 2027.
  • Student Club and Organization Support 1 activity
    • Foster student leadership and creative expression through extracurricular programming
      Supports student-initiated and student-run organizations such as LEBMUN, Nour International, and TEDx, and operates a drama studio to develop performance skills and personal expression. Recognizes graduating students annually with the Citizenship Award for exceptional contributions to the school and broader Lebanese community.
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiatives 1 activity
    • Implement sustainability initiatives and green infrastructure
      Installed a 318KW solar system at the Main Campus—the largest school-based solar installation in Lebanon at the time—and a 3KW system at Deir El Qamar Campus that meets 100% of its energy needs. Reduced energy, water, and waste usage by 20% by 2020, and implemented capital improvements such as automatic water faucets, energy storage systems, and composting machines.
  • Independent and Charter K-12 Schools 1 activity
    • Operate a Pre-K through 12 private school in Beirut, Lebanon
      Provides American-style education integrated with Lebanese cultural context across five divisions—Bright Beginnings Daycare, Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School—for 950 students from over 30 nationalities. Offers coeducational instruction using student-centered methods such as Harkness table discussions and small-class teaching.
  • Student Housing and Residential Services 1 activity
    • Provide facilities, administrative support, and infrastructure for educational operations
      Maintains and enhances educational, recreational, and administrative facilities at the Main Campus and Deir El Qamar Campus, including U.S. administrative office operations in New York City. Provides equipment and ongoing administrative support essential to school functioning.
  • School and School-Community Events 1 activity
    • Support community building and student integration
      Provides mentoring for new students and parents, organizes student bonding retreats, hosts family events such as Fright Night and Splash Fest, and holds faculty gatherings to strengthen school-wide community ties.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$18.29M
Contributions & grants$1.38M8%
Program service revenue$16.47M90%
Investment income$331K2%
Other revenue$107K
expenses
Total expenses$19.91M
Program expenses61%
Admin / overhead37%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$12.53M
Grants paid out$1.09M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$26.38M
Cash$4.22M
Investments$10.75M
Liabilities$10.61M
Net assets$15.77M
Liquid reserves9.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +24.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
THOMAS CANGIANO HEAD OF SCHOOL 65 $395K
SAWSAN YASEEN EARLY CHILDHOOD PRINCIPAL 65 $132K
JOSEPH CAMPANA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL 65 $131K
JOHNNY TANAS BUSINESS MANAGER 65 $128K
ZIAD EL HDARY FACILITIES/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR 65 $117K
JOELLE YACOUB DEPUTY HEAD OF SCHOOL 65 $117K
board members · 17
  • BLANCHE G MANSFIELD — SECRETARY
  • CAROLYN HUSSONG GRINSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • DANNY AOUN — BOARD MEMBER
  • ELIZABETH R HILPMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • FAWZI FARAH — BOARD MEMBER
  • FIDAA CHEHAYEB WAHAB — BOARD MEMBER
  • HAMILTON CLARK — BOARD MEMBER
  • KARAM M ATALLAH — TREASURER
  • KARIM FALLAHA — BOARD MEMBER
  • MELINDA HELD BRUNGER — BOARD MEMBER
  • NINA JOUKOWSKY KOPRULU — PRESIDENT
  • NIZAR DALLOUL — BOARD MEMBER
  • OMAR CHRISTIDIS — BOARD MEMBER
  • QUINN MCCLEAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • SALWA SANIORA BAASIRI — VICE PRESIDENT
  • WILLIAM CRAYS — BOARD MEMBER
  • YASSINE JABER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • ACS Beirut Alumni Network — Alumni are recognized as part of the school's ongoing community and are engaged to support current students and the school's mission.
  • Allo Transport S.A.L. Partner — Third-party transportation provider responsible for operating the school's bus service; payments are made directly to their bank account.
  • American University of Beirut Partner — Faculty from the American University of Beirut founded the school in 1905 for their children.
  • American University of Beirut Partner — Founded by faculty of the American University of Beirut in 1905.
  • ECO Club Partner — Student-run environmental group collaborating with the Green Team on sustainability initiatives.
  • Finalsite Partner — Uses Finalsite for website hosting and digital content management.
  • Google Classroom Partner — Integrated Google Classroom into the ACS Beirut mobile app for student and teacher access to learning materials.
  • Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram as a platform to share school life and engage with the community.
  • John Nohos Endowment Fund Partner — Endowment fund established to support high-achieving students who require financial assistance to attend ACS.
  • LEBMUN Partner — Student organization at ACS Beirut that engages students in Model United Nations activities
  • LEBMUN Partner — Student-led Model United Nations program supported by ACS Beirut.
  • Nour International Partner — Student-led humanitarian initiative supported by ACS Beirut.
  • Nour International Partner — Student-led organization at ACS Beirut focused on community outreach and service
  • Oussama El-Aref Endowed Fund Partner — Fund established in memory of Oussama El-Aref to honor his time at ACS and his inquisitive spirit.
  • Seesaw Partner — Integrated Seesaw platform into the ACS Beirut mobile app to support student engagement and learning.
  • TEDx Partner — Student-led TEDx program supported by ACS Beirut.
  • TEDx Partner — Student-run TEDx program at ACS Beirut that promotes idea-sharing and student engagement
  • Veracross Partner — Integrated Veracross platform into the ACS Beirut mobile app for seamless access to school systems.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Bicultural Education Model
    methodology: bicultural_education
    By integrating American pedagogical frameworks with Lebanese cultural and societal contexts, the school creates a globally grounded yet locally rooted education because dual-context learning enhances students’ intercultural competence and civic responsibility.
  • Compassion-Based Community Building
    methodology: compassion-based_community_building
    By linking compassion with action across school, city, and global levels, the school builds inclusive, resilient communities because practicing empathy through service strengthens relational bonds and motivates ethical leadership.
  • Curiosity-Driven Learning
    methodology: curiosity-driven_learning
    By centering learning on student curiosity, the school produces deeper academic engagement and intellectual development because intrinsic motivation drives students to explore more rigorously and retain knowledge meaningfully.
  • Experiential and Inquiry-Based Learning
    methodology: experiential_and_inquiry-based_learning
    By using Harkness discussions, design thinking spaces, outdoor education, and immersive programs like Week Without Walls, the school fosters student-centered learning because hands-on inquiry builds critical thinking, agency, and real-world problem-solving skills.
  • Student Empowerment and Agency Development
    methodology: student_empowerment
    By encouraging students to take initiative, lead projects, and assume responsibility within the school community, the school increases engagement and belief in personal efficacy because meaningful autonomy fosters ownership of learning and social impact.