A Historic $20M Donation from the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation
An unprecedented philanthropic gift in support of entrepreneurship, innovative research and mental health
Today marks a defining moment in the history of HEC Montréal, as the institution receives its largest gift to date. Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation has made a visionary $20 million donation, which the HEC Montréal Foundation has welcomed with immense gratitude.
Through this landmark investment, the family, alongside entrepreneur and alumnus Giuseppe Racanelli (HEC Montréal 1968), are expressing a deep desire to give back to society and help shape the future of higher education. Their contribution will provide tangible support to the next generation of business leaders, strengthen the research and knowledge transfer ecosystem, and advance essential initiatives aimed at promoting the mental health and well-being of the student and entrepreneurial communities.
In recognition of this unprecedented contribution to the School, the Côte‑Sainte‑Catherine building is being renamed the Lise-et-Giuseppe-Racanelli Building.
“Although my life as an entrepreneur has come to an end, my mission has not. Throughout my career, I worked hard to build connections and to ensure that members of my organization were happy. Promoting well‑being among the next generation is essential. With this donation, my family and I wish, among other things, to support mental‑health initiatives as well as entrepreneurship as a whole.”
-Giuseppe Racanelli (HEC Montréal 1968), entrepreneur and philanthropist
“Our family firmly believes that supporting youth and higher education—particularly entrepreneurship and the mental health of communities—is an investment in the foundations of a better future. Combining ambition and compassion is essential to building a stronger and more humane society. We share these same values with HEC Montréal.”
- Véronique Racanelli, President of the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation.
Support for entrepreneurship, innovative research, and well‑being
Guided by values of gratitude and social engagement, the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation is dedicated to advancing human well‑being and autonomy. Through its strategic philanthropic support, it aspires to build a more resilient society in which every individual has the psychological tools and resources needed to take initiative and thrive fully.
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This major donation is structured around three main pillars:
- Boosting initiatives for the next generation of entrepreneurs, particularly those involved in programs of the Pôle entRepreneuriat HEC Montréal, related to business creation, acceleration, and succession.
- Supporting the priorities of the School’s research and knowledge‑transfer ecosystem, whether in entrepreneurship, sustainable digital technologies, or other fields, through entities such as Pôle D (Top Executives and Strategic Management Hub), the Pôle santé (Health Research Centre), and the IDEOS social impact hub, to strengthen innovation and the impact of projects led by the teaching community.
- Supporting HEC Montréal’s initiatives promoting the well‑being of its students and of entrepreneurs in training. Mental‑health support and accessibility—already present at the School—will be strengthened, and the student living environment improved, all with the goal of contributing to the academic success of all.
Stimulating philanthropy through planned giving
In addition to these pillars, the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation, aims to encourage planned giving among philanthropists from all backgrounds. To this end, the HEC Montréal Foundation will launch a campaign in which, for every planned gift confirmed by the end of 2027, a financial contribution drawn from part of the Racanelli family’s donation will provide immediate support to members of the HEC Montréal community, notably through the awarding of scholarships.
“This rare act of generosity will allow us to amplify our mission to train responsible leaders and support cutting‑edge research that contributes to the sustainable transformation of organizations and society. We are all deeply grateful to the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation, whose bold and caring vision resonates strongly with our values. This major donation also coincides with the 30th anniversary of our building on Côte‑Sainte‑Catherine Road, thereby inscribing the Racanelli family into the School’s history.”
-Federico Pasin, Director General of HEC Montréal
« C’est avec une immense gratitude que nous saluons la générosité exceptionnelle de la Fondation Lise et Giuseppe Racanelli, dont le don historique réaffirme sa place parmi les plus grands bâtisseurs philanthropiques de HEC Montréal. Une contribution de cette envergure donne des ailes à notre établissement, bien sûr, mais surtout à une relève de femmes et d’hommes entrepreneurs qui, à l’image de M. Racanelli, deviendront les visionnaires dont la société a besoin pour relever les défis de notre ère ».
-Michel Patry, président-directeur général de la Fondation HEC Montréal
ABOUT GIUSEPPE RACANELLI
A graduate of HEC Montréal in 1968, Giuseppe Racanelli is a major philanthropist and accomplished entrepreneur. Born in Italy and arriving in Montréal at a young age, he had the opportunity to receive a high‑quality education and carve out an enviable place in the business world. He founded and led three companies—Spiro Metal Tube inc., Industries Racan inc., and Ingénia Technologies inc.—specializing in the design and manufacturing of custom air‑handling units. All three companies became key players in the sector.
He recognizes that the diversity of backgrounds and cultures within his workforce was his greatest asset in challenging inertia and developing unique technologies in his industry. Forward‑thinking and passionate about finding customized solutions for his clients, he devoted his career to relentlessly perfecting automated processes, making his operations increasingly efficient, profitable, and high‑performing.