← Back to US Funders Directory

Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation Trust

Annual Giving
$6.2M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.5M
00

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,179,590 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $500,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Boston/Massachusetts area

Contact Details

Phone: 617-439-2498

Address: Concord, MA (with filings showing Rye, NH address)

Note: This foundation does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited proposals.

Overview

The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation Trust was established in 2001 as the philanthropic vehicle of Boston area couple James F. Mooney III and Lisa Mooney. With assets of over $138 million and annual grantmaking exceeding $6 million, the foundation focuses primarily on Catholic education and other Catholic organizations in and around Boston, along with health, human services, and youth programs. James Mooney serves as President at The Baupost Group, a Boston-based investment firm, and is a trustee at Massachusetts General Hospital. The foundation operates as a private family foundation that makes grants exclusively to pre-selected organizations with which the trustees have personal connections.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs. All grants are made at trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations. Average grant size is approximately $100,000, with grants typically ranging from $25,000 to $500,000, though some grants have reached into the millions.

Priority Areas

Catholic Education: The foundation's primary focus, supporting:

  • Catholic Schools Foundation
  • Campaign for Catholic Schools
  • College of the Holy Cross (the Mooneys have endowed multiple scholarship funds)
  • Nativity Preparatory School
  • St. Sebastian's School
  • Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston

Healthcare: Major medical institutions including:

  • Massachusetts General Hospital (where Jim Mooney serves as trustee)
  • Boston Children's Hospital
  • Mt. Auburn Hospital
  • Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation
  • Broad Institute
  • Boston Medical Center Children's Healthwatch

Youth and Human Services:

  • Year Up
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston

Higher Education: Beyond Catholic education, the foundation has supported:

  • OHSU-PSU School of Public Health ($2 million gift)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from any organizations. They only make grants to organizations with which the trustees have established personal connections or involvement.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • James F. Mooney III
  • Lisa Mooney

James F. Mooney III graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1990 and received his MBA from Georgetown University. He serves as President at The Baupost Group, a Boston-based investment firm, with management oversight of the firm's investment teams and heads Baupost's public investments group. He has served as Partner and President since 2017. Mooney is also a trustee at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Lisa Mooney received her MBA from Boston University and is actively involved in the foundation's grantmaking decisions alongside her husband.

The couple's philanthropic focus reflects their personal values and connections, particularly their strong commitment to Catholic education and middle-income families who might not qualify for traditional financial aid but still struggle to afford quality Catholic education.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made at the trustees' discretion to organizations with which they have established personal connections.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a rolling basis at trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the primary success factor is having an established personal connection with the trustees, James and Lisa Mooney. Organizations that receive funding typically fall into one or more of these categories:

  1. Catholic educational institutions - particularly those serving middle-income families from the Archdiocese of Boston who might not qualify for traditional financial aid
  2. Organizations where the trustees serve in leadership roles - such as Massachusetts General Hospital, where Jim Mooney is a trustee
  3. Youth-serving organizations in the Boston area with strong track records
  4. Healthcare institutions in Massachusetts, particularly those affiliated with Boston's major medical centers

The foundation's giving pattern shows a preference for:

  • Organizations serving middle-income Catholic families
  • Institutions with which the Mooneys have alumni connections (e.g., College of the Holy Cross)
  • Well-established organizations with proven impact
  • Large, transformational gifts rather than small operational grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals under any circumstances
  • Personal connections are essential: All grantmaking flows through trustee relationships and personal connections
  • Catholic education is the primary focus: Organizations serving Catholic students, particularly from middle-income families in the Boston area, receive the majority of support
  • Large grants are typical: With an average grant of $100,000 and grants frequently exceeding this amount, the foundation makes substantial investments rather than smaller grants
  • Geographic focus: Strong preference for Boston-area organizations, particularly within the Archdiocese of Boston
  • Trustee involvement matters: Organizations where James or Lisa Mooney serve in leadership roles (like MGH) have clear advantage
  • Established institutions preferred: The foundation supports well-known, established organizations rather than emerging nonprofits

References

← Back to US Funders Directory