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The Neag Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.7M
Grant Range
$19K - $7.0M

The Neag Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,717,546 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $92,220,237 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies (from $19,000 to multi-million dollar gifts)
  • Geographic Focus: Pennsylvania and Connecticut only

Contact Details

Website: theneagfoundation.org

Location: Wyomissing, PA

Phone & Email: Contact via website form

Overview

The Neag Foundation was established as a legacy project honoring Raymond and Carole Neag, visionary philanthropists and the most generous benefactors in the history of the University of Connecticut. Ray Neag (1931-2018) co-founded Arrow International Inc. (now Teleflex Medical) in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1975, where he served as Executive Vice Chairman until his retirement in 1999. Carole Neag (1942-2023) worked for thirty years as a maternity and emergency room nurse. Although the Neags lived in Pennsylvania for many years, both were natives of Torrington, Connecticut, and maintained close ties to both states throughout their lives. The Foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation with $92.2 million in assets and distributed $4.7 million in grants in 2024. The Foundation focuses on three strategic priority areas—education, healthcare, and humanities & the arts—with an emphasis on making a positive difference in the lives of families and children through organizations providing direct services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Neag Foundation accepts applications through a competitive online process twice annually:

  • Spring Funding Window: December 1 – February 28
  • Fall Funding Window: June 1 – August 31

Grant Types: Project funding, general operating support, capacity building, or combinations thereof. Multi-year grants are considered only on a very limited basis.

Priority Areas

Education: The Foundation supports research and creative, new programs at colleges and universities, as well as programs preparing children, youth, and adults for success in schools and communities.

Healthcare: Grants advance medical research, healthcare intervention programs, educational outreach, and innovative solutions to meet varied demands in medical professions. Carole's nursing background has led to particular support for nursing education initiatives.

Humanities & the Arts: The Foundation supports programs that enhance understanding of the human experience and cultural initiatives that benefit communities.

Geographic Restriction: Only organizations in Pennsylvania and Connecticut are eligible, reflecting the states where Ray and Carole Neag lived and worked.

Preference Given To: Projects receiving broad-based community support.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Political, fraternal, and/or civic organizations
  • Capital projects
  • General fundraising or annual appeals
  • Special event sponsorships
  • Political candidates, parties, or political action committees
  • Debt reduction
  • Unsolicited letters of solicitation

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair: Sally Reis Renzulli (Ray Neag's niece; Letitia Neag Morgan Chair for Educational Psychology and UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor)

Trustees: Beth Lamoin and Sara Renzulli

The Foundation is governed by a board that conducts competitive review of all applications and makes grant decisions. The board may conduct site visits to observe programs and meet beneficiaries before making funding decisions.

Founder's Philosophy: Ray and Carole Neag believed that "philanthropy can and should make a positive difference in the world," with particular emphasis on inspiring others to follow their philanthropic example.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Online only via the brief online form at theneagfoundation.org/grant/apply. Hard copies are not accepted.

Application Windows:

  • Spring Funding: December 1 – February 28
  • Fall Funding: June 1 – August 31

Required Documentation:

  • Organization details (legal name, address, website)
  • IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter or equivalent nonprofit status verification
  • Most recent IRS Form 990
  • Most recent financial statement
  • Budget detailing program/project fund allocation
  • Project information including program name, requested amount, fund usage breakdown, timeline, and expected impact
  • Contact information for primary contact

Pre-Application Guidance: The Foundation encourages organizations to carefully review their criteria for funding to become acquainted with their grant-making goals and strategies before applying. The brief online form is designed to give the Foundation enough information to decide whether the program fits within their mission before organizations invest time writing a more in-depth proposal.

Decision Timeline

The Foundation has not publicly disclosed specific timelines for notification of decisions.

Success Rates

The Foundation acknowledges that "we must decline many excellent proposals every year because they do not fit the parameters of our work." However, specific acceptance rates or success statistics are not publicly disclosed. Historical data shows 15 awards in 2013 and 14 awards in 2012.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation has not publicly disclosed a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's own guidance and recent grants awarded:

Alignment with Mission is Critical: The Foundation explicitly states they must decline many excellent proposals because they don't fit their parameters. Organizations should only apply if they can demonstrate clear alignment with education, healthcare, or humanities/arts priorities.

Geographic Restriction is Absolute: Only Pennsylvania and Connecticut organizations are eligible. This reflects the Neags' personal connection to these two states.

Community Support Matters: The Foundation gives preference to projects that receive broad-based community support, suggesting applications should demonstrate partnerships, collaborations, or community backing.

Direct Service Focus: The Foundation aims to positively impact families and children through organizations providing direct services, not indirect or advocacy work.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Center for Humanistic Change: $19,140 (April 2024) for prevention programming; $20,968 (July 2025) for mentoring and prevention programming
  • Reading Area Community College: Seven-figure gift (May 2024) to establish the Carole Neag Nursing Center with state-of-the-art equipment; $300,000 (2023) for nursing student scholarships
  • University of Connecticut School of Medicine: $7 million for the Carole and Ray Neag Innovation Professorship and Innovative Research Awards supporting high-risk, high-reward research
  • University of Connecticut (25th anniversary): $250,000 for the Carole and Ray Special Education Scholarship

Recent Grant Recipients Include: Berks Encore, Caron Treatment Centers, Connecticut Foodshare, GoggleWorks, Helping Harvest, Opportunity House, Penn State University – Berks Campus, South Mountain YMCA, Reading Public Museum, United Way of Berks County, and University of Connecticut

Grant Management Requirements: Grant recipients must allow Foundation approval of any public use of the Foundation's name. The Foundation may conduct site visits to observe programs.

Application Simplicity: The Foundation uses a "brief online form" rather than requiring extensive initial proposals, suggesting they value clarity and conciseness.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable: Only apply if your organization operates in Pennsylvania or Connecticut
  • Mission fit is paramount: The Foundation explicitly states they decline excellent proposals that don't fit their parameters—ensure clear alignment with education, healthcare, or humanities/arts before applying
  • Demonstrate community support: Projects with broad-based community backing are preferred
  • Focus on direct service: Emphasize how your program directly serves families and children rather than indirect benefits
  • Avoid excluded categories: The Foundation will not consider capital projects, annual appeals, special events, or the other listed exclusions
  • Start with the brief form: The Foundation intentionally uses a simple initial application to avoid organizations wasting time on detailed proposals for programs that don't fit their mission
  • Consider the Neag legacy: Applications honoring nursing (Carole's profession), innovative medical research, or Connecticut/Pennsylvania community impact may resonate with the Foundation's history

References

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