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Atlantic Philanthropies

Atlantic Philanthropies - NOT A GRANT-MAKING ORGANIZATION

Status: CONCLUDED OPERATIONS

Atlantic Philanthropies is no longer accepting applications or making grants. The foundation officially closed on September 14, 2020.

Historical Overview

The Atlantic Philanthropies was one of the largest and most influential private foundations in modern history, created in 1982 by Irish-American businessman Chuck Feeney (April 23, 1931 – October 9, 2023), co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers Group.

Key Historical Facts:

  • Founded: 1982
  • Total Giving: $8 billion (1982-2020)
  • Final Grant Commitments: 2016
  • Operations Concluded: September 14, 2020
  • Geographic Focus: Australia, Bermuda, Ireland, South Africa, United States, and Vietnam
  • EIN: 23-7093211

Foundation Philosophy: "Giving While Living"

Atlantic Philanthropies pioneered the "limited-life foundation" model, with founder Chuck Feeney promoting an approach to philanthropy he called "giving while living"—making large, concentrated donations with a hard deadline. The foundation committed to spending down its entire endowment and closing operations, making it the largest foundation to date to fully commit its endowment in a limited time frame.

Feeney's charitable giving remained anonymous until 1997, when a business dispute forced disclosure of Atlantic's funding. In 1984, Feeney secretly transferred his entire 38.75% stake in DFS, then worth about $500 million, to the foundation.

Historical Focus Areas

Atlantic Philanthropies focused its giving on:

  • Health (particularly aging and dementia research)
  • Children and youth
  • Human rights and social justice
  • Politically progressive public policy causes

The foundation was among the largest foreign charitable donors in each of the countries where it operated, and was the single largest funder of programs that encouraged civic engagement of older people and comprehensive immigration reform in the United States.

Legacy

While Atlantic Philanthropies no longer makes grants, its legacy continues through:

Atlantic Fellows Programs

Atlantic's final major investment was more than $740 million to establish the Atlantic Fellows programs—a global community of current and next generations of leaders dedicated to accelerating fairer, healthier, and more inclusive societies. These programs continue beyond the foundation's existence.

Impact on Over 2,500 Grantees

The foundation supported more than 2,500 organizations worldwide, creating ripples of continuing influence and impact.

Archives

The foundation's paper and digital records, including an oral history project, are preserved at the Atlantic Philanthropies Archives at Cornell University's Rare and Manuscript Collections.

For Grant Seekers

Atlantic Philanthropies is not accepting applications and cannot be approached for funding.

Organizations seeking support in similar areas should research:

  • Current active foundations with similar missions in aging, health, children and youth, and human rights
  • The Atlantic Fellows programs (which are separate entities that continue the foundation's legacy work)
  • Former Atlantic Philanthropies grantees that may have become funders themselves

References

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