Carney Family Charitable Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2,247,960 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly specified
Grant Range: $468 - $200,000
Median Grant: $5,000
Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (Boston and New Bedford areas, with emphasis on Greater New Bedford and Southeastern MA)
Total Assets: $10 million (2023)
Number of Grants: 147 grants awarded in 2023

Contact Details

Address:
Two Lakeshore Center
Bridgewater, MA 02324

Alternate Address:
128 Union Street, Suite 501
New Bedford, MA 02740

Phone: (774) 202-5325

Key Contact:
Glenn Oliveira, Executive Director

EIN: 046614314

Overview

Founded in 1989 and formerly known as the Patrick Carney Foundation, the Carney Family Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation that serves as a catalyst and resource for organizations to expand and sustain their capacity to build equitable and vibrant communities, with a geographic focus on Greater New Bedford and Southeastern Massachusetts. With assets of approximately $10 million and annual distributions of $2.6 million, the foundation has demonstrated consistent and growing commitment to its mission. Over an eight-year period, the foundation has awarded 965 grants, with 147 grants distributed in 2023 alone. The foundation's approach emphasizes capacity building, system-level change, and supporting both established institutions and grassroots organizations working to strengthen their communities.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three main areas:

1. Catholic Education and Education Access
The foundation works to promote and increase access to quality education with special emphasis on Catholic education. Recent grants have supported:

Catholic Schools Foundation
Bishop Stang High School
Boston College
Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts

2. Community Wellness and Healthcare
The foundation aims to promote positive change in people's lives through community wellness initiatives, including:

Cancer research and treatment (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - $167,000 for Breast Cancer Immuno-Oncology)
Healthcare institutions and medical research
Community health programs

3. Capacity Building and System-Level Change
The foundation invests in organizations working to create lasting impact through strengthened organizational capacity and systems change:

Coastal Foodshed Inc ($100,000 for building capacity to strengthen the SouthCoast's local food system)
Youth development programs
Community centers
LGBTQ+ community programs
Programs serving diverse populations

Geographic Focus

The foundation concentrates grantmaking in:

Primary focus: Greater New Bedford and Southeastern Massachusetts (47 grants in New Bedford area in 2023)
Secondary focus: Boston region
Other areas: Fall River and surrounding communities

Grant Range

Minimum: $468
Maximum: $200,000
Median: $5,000
Average: $14,600-$15,300

The foundation makes a mix of small community grants (many in the $1,000-$10,000 range) and larger strategic investments (up to $200,000).

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's 990-PF notes "standard restrictions apply," which typically means:

Individuals
Political campaigns or lobbying activities
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
Programs outside their geographic focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Officers and Trustees:

Lillian Carney - President and Trustee
Patrick Carney - Trustee (founding family member)
Patrick Carney Jr. - Trustee
Edward H. Carney - Trustee
Colleen Carney Courtney - Trustee
Kathleen Larisa - Trustee

Professional Staff:

Glenn Oliveira - Executive Director (40 hours/week, $100,000 compensation)
Darlene Spencer - Program Director/Program Officer (32 hours/week, $75,000 compensation) - Manages portfolio of grants supporting nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Bedford area with focus on family strengthening and child wellbeing

The foundation maintains a mix of family governance with professional staff management, suggesting both personal commitment from the founding family and operational capacity through experienced grantmaking professionals.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation has a relatively simple application process:

Application Requirements:
"Applications should be written requests on letterhead and should provide information regarding qualified charitable status and intended use of grant."

Submission:
Send written proposals to:
Glenn Oliveira, Executive Director
Two Lakeshore Center
Bridgewater, MA 02324
Phone: (774) 202-5325

Important Note on Unsolicited Applications:
While some sources indicate the foundation "does not accept unsolicited requests," research indicates they may be open to introductory materials. The foundation's consistent growth in grantmaking (140 grants in 2022, 147 in 2023) and staff capacity suggest they actively review proposals. Organizations should submit well-prepared letters of inquiry on letterhead rather than full proposals initially.

Application Type: Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines specified

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. With two professional staff members (Executive Director and Program Director) managing 147 grants annually, applicants can expect thorough review processes, though exact timeframes are not specified.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, with 147 grants awarded in 2023 from available resources, the foundation demonstrates active grantmaking across a range of organization types and grant sizes.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. The foundation has shown willingness to provide repeat funding to organizations (multiple grants to Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts in 2023), suggesting successful grantees can reapply.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of recent grantmaking patterns and organizational priorities:

1. Geographic Alignment is Critical
Nearly one-third of 2023 grants went to the New Bedford area specifically. Organizations based in or serving Greater New Bedford, Southeastern Massachusetts, Boston, and Fall River have the strongest alignment. The foundation's mission explicitly mentions "focus on Greater New Bedford."

2. Capacity Building Projects Resonate
The foundation's mission emphasizes serving as "a catalyst and resource for organizations to expand and sustain their capacity." Projects like Coastal Foodshed's $100,000 capacity-building grant demonstrate this priority. Applications should clearly articulate how funding will strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability.

3. System-Level Change Matters
The foundation states it "invests in system level change." Applications should explain how proposed work addresses root causes and creates lasting structural improvements, not just provides services.

4. Range of Grant Sizes Suggests Varied Strategies
With grants ranging from under $500 to $200,000 and a median of $5,000, the foundation appears to fund both:

Small community organizations and grassroots initiatives
Larger strategic investments in established institutions
Organizations should request amounts appropriate to their size and project scope

5. Catholic Affiliation May Be Advantageous But Not Required
Significant funding goes to Catholic institutions, education, and causes (Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, Catholic Schools Foundation, Bishop Stang High School), reflecting the family's values. However, the foundation also funds secular organizations, LGBTQ+ programs, and diverse community initiatives, showing broad philanthropic interests.

6. Clear Charitable Purpose and Tax Status Required
Application instructions specifically request "information regarding qualified charitable status and intended use of grant." Include IRS determination letter and be explicit about how funds will be used.

7. Professional Staff Bring Program Expertise
Program Director Darlene Spencer has specific expertise in "family strengthening & child wellbeing" and "passion for EDI" (equity, diversity, inclusion). Applications in these areas may receive particularly informed review.

8. Evidence of Community Impact
Given the focus on "equitable and vibrant communities," applications should demonstrate clear community benefit and engagement, particularly for underserved populations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic focus matters most: If you're not serving Greater New Bedford, Southeastern Massachusetts, or Boston area, this foundation likely isn't a good fit
Emphasize capacity building: Frame requests around how funding will strengthen your organization's ability to sustain and expand impact
Think systems change: Connect your work to broader structural improvements, not just immediate service delivery
Start with a letter of inquiry: Keep initial approach simple - a well-crafted letter on letterhead describing your organization, charitable status, and intended use of funds
Right-size your request: With median grants around $5,000 and largest at $200,000, be realistic about your organizational capacity and relationship stage
Professional staff review applications: Applications are reviewed by experienced grantmaking professionals, so ensure proposals are well-organized and demonstrate impact
Don't be deterred by "no unsolicited" language: The foundation appears open to introductory materials despite this notation in some databases

References

Grantmakers.io Profile - Carney Family Charitable Foundation. Available at: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/046614314-carney-family-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)
The Carney Family Charitable Foundation, Bridgewater, MA - Cause IQ. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-carney-family-charitable-foundation,046614314/ (Accessed December 2025)
Carney Family Charitable Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/46614314 (Accessed December 2025)
Carney Family Charitable Foundation, Foundation Directory, Candid. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=CARN022 (Accessed December 2025)
Carney Family Charitable Foundation, 990 Report, Instrumentl. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/carney-family-charitable-foundation-co-claremont-mgmt-co (Accessed December 2025)
The Carney Family Charitable Foundation C/o Claremont Mgmt Co, GrantExec. Available at: https://grantexec.com/foundations/46614314 (Accessed December 2025)
Carney Family Charitable Foundation - GuideStar Profile. Available at: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/04-6614314 (Accessed December 2025)
Carney Family Charitable Foundation, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carney-family-charitable-foundation (Accessed December 2025)
Darlene A Spencer - Program Officer at The Carney Family Charitable Foundation, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-a-spencer-aa864520/ (Accessed December 2025)
Coastal Foodshed - Our Mission. Available at: https://coastalfoodshed.org/our-mission/ (Accessed December 2025)