← Back to US Funders Directory

Flatley Foundation

Annual Giving
$36.6M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M

Flatley Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $36.6 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $658.9 million
  • Number of Grants: 147 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000 (most common: $100,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Boston, Massachusetts; some support to New Hampshire and New York
  • Application Process: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

  • Address: 45 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 300, Braintree, MA 02184-8754
  • Phone: 781-849-5100
  • Website: None (the foundation maintains a deliberately low public profile)

Overview

The Flatley Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1982 by the late Thomas J. Flatley (1931-2008), an Irish immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1950 with just $32 and built a commercial real estate empire worth over $1 billion. The foundation was created with $200 million from his real estate fortune, which included malls, shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, nursing homes, and apartment complexes throughout the Northeast.

Today, the foundation is one of the largest family foundations in the Boston area, with assets of approximately $659 million. It distributes over $36 million annually to approximately 147 organizations. The foundation is governed by Thomas Flatley's children: John J. Flatley, Daniel T. Flatley, and Mary Margaret Flatley Darling. True to its founder's modest character—he attended mass daily, lived in a modest home, and flew coach—the foundation maintains a low profile with no website and limited public engagement.

The foundation allocates approximately 30-40% of its giving toward Catholic education, with the remainder supporting healthcare, human services, and other Catholic organizations primarily in the Greater Boston area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides support across several key areas, typically awarding general operating support rather than restricted project grants:

Education Grants

  • K-12 Catholic Schools: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Higher Education (particularly Catholic institutions): $50,000 - $500,000+
  • Scholarship and internship programs: $100,000

Healthcare Grants

  • Medical research and patient care: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Mental health initiatives
  • Programs serving vulnerable populations

Catholic Organizations

  • Diocesan support
  • Catholic charities and ministries
  • International Catholic organizations

Human Services

  • Programs serving homeless populations
  • Children's services
  • Community-based organizations

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds:

  • Catholic Education: K-12 Catholic schools and Catholic institutions of higher education, particularly those maintaining strong academic standards and mission fidelity
  • Healthcare: Medical centers, research initiatives, and programs serving vulnerable populations including homeless pregnant women
  • Catholic Organizations: The Archdiocese of Boston, the Papal Foundation, and international Catholic missions
  • Human Services: Programs addressing poverty, homelessness, and children's welfare
  • Cystic Fibrosis Research: Through the Flatley Discovery Lab, an in-house research initiative seeking a cure for CF

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Unsolicited applications (the foundation only funds pre-selected organizations)
  • Organizations without established relationships with the foundation
  • Secular institutions that have robust donor bases ("They have their donors; what do we need to get in there for?" - Daniel Flatley)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all serving without compensation):

  • John J. Flatley - Oversees the foundation's operations; son of founder Thomas Flatley
  • Daniel T. Flatley - Trustee with particular focus on Catholic education; serves on the board of trustees at Saint Anselm College; awarded membership in the Order of Saint Albert by Thomas Aquinas College in 2023
  • Mary Margaret Flatley Darling - Trustee

Key Quotes from Leadership:

Daniel T. Flatley on the foundation's mission:

"We're doing the best we can. We keep our lights on out there, shining on Catholic schools and institutions in our endeavors to improve things and bring them back to where they should be."

Daniel T. Flatley on what they look for in grantees:

"You live by your values... and you turn out some pretty good human assets."

Daniel T. Flatley on supporting Catholic education at Regis College:

"We are happy to support Regis' internship program to bolster the great Catholic education the university provides."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Flatley Foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The foundation maintains no website, no online application portal, and provides no formal application guidelines. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and vetted.

General inquiries can be directed to the foundation's phone number: 781-849-5100

Getting on Their Radar

The Flatley Foundation's deliberately low profile means traditional application strategies will not work. Based on research into their giving patterns:

Connection Points:

  • Boston College: The foundation has deep ties to Boston College, where Thomas Flatley was a trustee. Organizations connected to BC or its graduates may have networking opportunities
  • Saint Anselm College: Daniel Flatley has served on the board of trustees since 2002, making this another potential connection point
  • Thomas Aquinas College: The foundation actively supports TAC, and Daniel Flatley has been recognized by the college
  • Catholic diocesan networks: The foundation's strong support of the Archdiocese of Boston suggests diocesan connections may facilitate introductions
  • Catholic school networks: Given the priority on Catholic education, relationships with Catholic school superintendents and administrators may provide entry points

Strategic Considerations:

  • The foundation values mission fidelity and institutional integrity
  • Organizations that produce "quality people" and maintain strong values are prioritized
  • General operating support is frequently awarded, suggesting they prefer to support organizational sustainability over individual projects
  • Healthcare organizations serving the Boston area, particularly those connected to Catholic networks, have received support

Decision Timeline

No public information is available about decision timelines. Given the foundation's private nature and trustee-driven grant selection, timing likely varies based on trustee schedules and priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

What This Funder Values (Based on Documented Giving Patterns):

  1. Catholic Identity and Mission Fidelity: Organizations must demonstrate authentic commitment to Catholic values. Daniel Flatley specifically values institutions that "live by your values" without compromising core purposes.

  2. Quality Outcomes: The foundation looks for organizations that "turn out some pretty good human assets"—measurable impact on people served matters.

  3. Boston Area Focus: The vast majority of grants go to Greater Boston organizations, though select national and international Catholic causes also receive support.

  4. Established Track Records: Given the invitation-only nature of grants, the foundation clearly prefers organizations with demonstrated effectiveness and stability.

  5. Connection to Catholic Networks: Organizations connected to Catholic schools, dioceses, hospitals, or other Catholic institutions have the strongest alignment.

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Regis College: $100,000 for the Flatley Scholars Program (internship stipends)
  • NPH USA: Multi-million dollar gift and matching grant for children's programs in Latin America
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital: Support for Bridges to Moms program (homeless pregnant women)
  • Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases: Research support
  • Lawrence Catholic Academy, Cathedral High School, Chesterton Academy, Bishop Fenwick High School, Cardinal Spellman High School: K-12 Catholic education support
  • Boston College: Urban Catholic Teachers Corps and endowed chair in Catholic theology
  • Archdiocese of Boston: Multi-million dollar support including the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
  • Papal Foundation Mother Teresa Fund: At least $50 million (2008-2013)

The Flatley Discovery Lab: A unique branch of the foundation conducting in-house research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, a disease that has affected the Flatley family. The lab has nominated clinical candidates for treatment and partnered with institutions including Northeastern University and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Do not submit unsolicited applications—they will not be considered. This is strictly an invitation-only funder that selects its own grantees.

  2. Catholic alignment is essential—approximately 30-40% of giving goes directly to Catholic education, and Catholic-affiliated organizations across all priority areas have the strongest success.

  3. Build relationships through Catholic networks—connections to Boston College, Saint Anselm College, Thomas Aquinas College, or the Archdiocese of Boston may provide the best pathways to visibility.

  4. Boston-area organizations are prioritized—while the foundation makes some national and international grants, the geographic focus remains Greater Boston.

  5. Mission fidelity matters—the foundation explicitly avoids organizations that compromise their core values and seeks grantees that produce meaningful outcomes in people's lives.

  6. General operating support is common—unlike many funders, Flatley frequently provides unrestricted support, suggesting they invest in organizations rather than projects.

  7. Be patient and persistent with networking—given the foundation's low profile and lack of formal processes, building authentic relationships over time is the only pathway to funding.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory