A. E. Finley Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so an organisation without an introduction should not send it a cold application.
- Work in education and life skills, job readiness, or human and community services matches its stated themes, and its free-market framing points to services that offer economic opportunity for all.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filing shows most grants in North Carolina and Virginia, so the filing is the best guide to where it has funded.
- About 8 in 10 grants fall between $2,500 and $69,500, with a median of $5,000, so a modest request near that level is typical, not a ceiling, although the largest grant was about $315,000.
- Because 91% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the earlier filings, a relationship with the foundation carries much weight, so seek an introduction and build contact first.
Overview
A. E. Finley Foundation is a US private foundation based in Raleigh, NC.
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 provides grants to worthy nonprofits working in educational and life skills training, job readiness and meaningful work, and human and community services. Its giving framework is that nonprofit services and programmes be offered within a free market that provides economic opportunity for all. Its mission also emphasises opportunities for individuals to recognise their self-worth and pursue their life goals, alongside relief, comfort and support for those in need. Recorded recipients include schools and universities, churches, health and community-service organisations, museums, animal-welfare organisations, and civic, cultural and recreational bodies.
Themes
- Education and life skills
- Job readiness and meaningful work
- Human and community services
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in North Carolina and Virginia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 91% 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 170 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation's giving framework is for nonprofit services and programmes to be offered within a free market that provides economic opportunity for all.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 24% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations A. E. Finley Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 70 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $4,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ravenscroft School · Facility maintenance and financial aid$316,6202024 tax year
- Ncsu Wolfpack Club · Facility maintenance$126,6202024 tax year
- Unc Finley Golf Course · Facility maintenance$126,6202024 tax year
- YMCA of the Triangle · Facility maintenance$126,6202024 tax year
- White Memorial Presbyterian Church Foundation · Operating support$88,6202024 tax year
- Hargrave Military Academy · Operating support$79,1202024 tax year
- Duke University · Facility maintenance$79,1202024 tax year
- William Peace University · Facility maintenance$63,3802024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jim Welch — Director
- Giny Wheeler — Director
- Ann Dillon — Secretary
- Vic Bell — Vice President
- Duke Finley — Chairman / President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,447,674 | $1,180,360 | $28,738,076 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,372,572 | $1,156,750 | $31,858,900 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,564,166 | $1,345,600 | $34,243,875 | 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
Applying to A. E. Finley Foundation?
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Applying to A. E. Finley Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required