O'Neill Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation works by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold approach will not be considered and you should not send one.
- Its stated focus covers whole-family programmes, birth justice, direct cash assistance, environmental justice, young men's leadership and rural communities, and applicants must have family-focused programming and serve communities where O'Neill family members are actively involved; individuals are not funded.
- In the filing, about 8 in 10 of its 688 grants to organisations fell between $750 and $60,000, the median was $10,000, and half were $10,000 or less, so a modest request in that range is a realistic size, though its largest grant was $290,000.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 84% of grant dollars to organisations going to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, so relationships and continuity matter more than a first approach.
- Its priority geography is the United States, Hawaii, Vermont, Charles City County and the Adirondack region.
Overview
O'Neill Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cleveland, OH.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports effective nonprofits that work in partnership with their communities towards a shared vision of health, safety and empowerment. Its 2Gen approach backs organisations designing programmes and services around whole families, recognising the intertwined futures of children and parents, and aims to break cycles of generational poverty. Its family-interest grantmaking includes birth justice, direct cash assistance for low-income people, environmental justice, and grassroots leadership, mentorship and fatherhood initiatives supporting young men. It also supports rural communities through hyperlocal, strength-based work that builds on their resilience, including in Hawaii, Vermont, Charles City County and the Adirondack region. The foundation emphasises family voice, dignity and decision-making in its deep-impact partnerships. Applicants must have family-focused programming, serve communities where O’Neill family members are actively involved, and meet the requirements of each programme area.
Themes
- Whole-family programmes
- Birth justice
- Direct cash assistance
- Environmental justice
- Young men’s leadership
- Rural communities
Geographic Focus
Priority: United States; Hawaii; Vermont; Charles City County; Adirondack region.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
How to apply
Organisations invited to apply receive an email with a link to access the grants management system.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 688 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For responsive grants, organisations must have family-focused programming, serve communities where O’Neill family members are actively involved, and meet the requirements and guidelines for each programme area.
- Deep-impact partners prioritise family voice, dignity and decision-making throughout the whole-family journey.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 17%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations O'Neill Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 13% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 185 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $7,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Stand Together Trust · Merit america$290,0002024 tax year
- Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland · Family partners initiative$200,0002024 tax year
- Mercy Center · Familia adelante / family forward$200,0002024 tax year
- United Way of Central Maryland · Evaluating a 2gen framework in north anne arundel county$200,0002024 tax year
- Woodson Center · Community affiliate network ($150,000) and the joseph fund ($40,000)$190,0002024 tax year
- GiveDirectly · Rwandan villages$162,6002024 tax year
- CHN Housing Partners · Louise c. stokes scholar house implementation$150,0002024 tax year
- Center for Urban Families · Launching a 2gen ecosystem in baltimore$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mary Walker — Trustee
- Robert Donahey — Chair
- Brian Sweeney — Trustee
- Timothy O'Neill — Trustee
- David Donahey — Treasurer
- Laura O'Neill Bower — Secretary
- Leslie Perkul — President / CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,786,152 | $6,888,845 | $121,354,230 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,374,412 | $5,294,010 | $136,309,021 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,759,002 | $5,323,758 | $148,393,559 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to O'Neill Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required