← Back to US Funders Directory

Donald And Marilyn Keough Foundation

Annual Giving
$19.2M
Grant Range
$9200K - $19.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $19,200,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $99,343,443 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Typically $9,200,000 - $19,200,000 per award
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Georgia, with support for select national institutions

Contact Details

Address: 200 Galleria Pkwy SE Ste 970, Atlanta, GA 30339-5945
Phone: 770-852-5005
Website: None
Email: None

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or email as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Donald and Marilyn Keough Foundation was established in 1986 as a Georgia private foundation by Donald R. Keough (1926-2015), former president and chief operating officer of The Coca-Cola Company, and his wife Marilyn "Mickie" Keough (died 2016). With assets of approximately $99 million and annual giving of $19.2 million in 2023, the foundation represents the family's commitment to supporting education and Catholic institutions. The foundation operates through trustee designation, making very large grants to a select number of preselected charitable organizations. The Keough family's six children continue to be involved in philanthropic leadership, with several serving on advisory councils at institutions the family supports. The foundation's mission statement reflects their values: "By giving back to the community and organizations that have been helpful to the community, we make our world a better place for our neighbors and family. We start by helping within the communities we live and work."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes very large, strategic grants rather than numerous smaller awards. Recent data shows 1 grant of $9.2 million in 2023, suggesting the foundation makes substantial multi-million dollar commitments to select institutions.

Priority Areas

  • Higher Education: Primary focus on Catholic universities and colleges
  • Catholic Education and Mission: Support for Catholic scholars and institutions
  • Irish Studies: Significant support for Irish cultural and academic programs
  • Local Education: Focus on educational initiatives in communities where the family lives and works
  • Philanthropy and Grantmaking: Support for charitable infrastructure

Known Grant Recipients

The foundation has supported:

  • University of Notre Dame: Major multi-million dollar gifts for the Keough School of Global Affairs, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, Keough-Hesburgh Professorships, campus buildings, and fellowships
  • Emory University: Scholarships and awards at Goizueta Business School

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation focused on trustee-selected organizations, they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their preselected network
  • Unsolicited applications from new organizations
  • Organizations without established relationships with the Keough family

Governance and Leadership

Foundation Leadership

The foundation is governed by family members who serve as trustees, with Michael Keough identified in foundation leadership. The foundation operates through "Giving through Trustee Designation," meaning trustees select grant recipients based on their knowledge, interests, and connections to various communities.

The Keough Family

Don and Mickie Keough had six children, several of whom remain active in philanthropic leadership:

  • Kathleen Keough Soto
  • Shayla Keough Rumely (Notre Dame '76) - Member of Notre Dame's Board of Fellows and Trustee
  • Michael Keough (Notre Dame '78) - Serves on Notre Dame advisory councils
  • Patrick Keough (Notre Dame '79) - Serves on Notre Dame advisory councils
  • Eileen Keough Millard (Notre Dame '84) - Serves on Notre Dame advisory councils
  • Clarke Keough (Notre Dame '85) - Serves on Notre Dame advisory councils

Donald R. Keough's Legacy

Donald Keough served as chairman of Notre Dame's Board of Trustees from 1986-1992 and was named a Life Trustee in 1997. He was president, COO, and director of The Coca-Cola Company from 1981-1993 and received honorary Irish citizenship from President Mary McAleese in 2007. He received honorary doctorates from Creighton University, University of Notre Dame, Emory University, Trinity College Dublin, and Clark University.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant decisions are made through trustee designation, with board members selecting organizations based on their relationships, knowledge, and community connections.

The foundation's approach reflects a private family foundation model where grants flow to institutions with which the Keough family has established long-term relationships, particularly those aligned with their Catholic faith and educational priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking is relationship-driven and focused on institutions where the Keough family has deep, long-standing connections. Based on research findings:

  • University Connections: The family has particularly strong ties to University of Notre Dame, where Donald Keough served as Board Chairman and several children are alumni and advisory council members. They also support Emory University's Goizueta Business School, where Donald Keough had professional connections through his Coca-Cola leadership.

  • Family Involvement: Organizations where Keough family members serve in leadership roles (board members, trustees, advisory councils) appear most likely to receive consideration. Multiple family members serve on advisory councils at Notre Dame.

  • Catholic Mission Alignment: The foundation prioritizes institutions demonstrating commitment to Catholic education and values, as evidenced by their support for Keough-Hesburgh Professorships for "world-class scholars who demonstrate a commitment to Notre Dame's Catholic mission."

  • Geographic Presence: While they support national institutions, the foundation's mission emphasizes "helping within the communities we live and work," suggesting Atlanta-area organizations with strong educational missions might be considered if they develop relationships with family members.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate on a published timeline or decision cycle. Grants are made at the discretion of trustees.

Success Rates

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

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from organizations outside their preselected network.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates exclusively through trustee designation and preselected relationships, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's giving patterns reveal their priorities:

Mission-Driven Grantmaking: The foundation's stated philosophy emphasizes "giving back to the community and organizations that have been helpful to the community" and "helping within the communities we live and work." This suggests they support organizations that have demonstrated positive community impact.

Catholic Education Focus: The foundation shows strong alignment with Catholic educational institutions, particularly those fostering "world-class Catholic scholars in all fields." Their support extends beyond general Catholic education to include specific programs like Irish Studies, reflecting Donald Keough's Irish heritage.

Long-Term Partnership Model: Rather than making many small grants, the foundation makes very large grants ($9-19 million) to a select few organizations, suggesting they prefer deep, sustained partnerships with institutions rather than broad distribution of smaller awards.

Family Legacy Emphasis: The Keough family's extensive personal involvement - including serving on boards, advisory councils, and as trustees at recipient institutions - indicates that grantmaking is intertwined with personal philanthropic engagement and family values.

Higher Education Priority: Available data consistently points to higher education as the primary funding priority, with particular emphasis on institutions that combine academic excellence with Catholic mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a prospect for unsolicited applications - The foundation exclusively supports preselected organizations and does not accept applications from new organizations or unsolicited funding requests
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking - The foundation supports institutions where Keough family members have personal involvement through board service, alumni connections, or long-standing relationships
  • Very large, strategic grants - When they give, they give substantially (typically $9-19 million), suggesting major institutional partnerships rather than programmatic grants
  • Catholic education alignment essential - Priority goes to Catholic universities and programs that advance Catholic scholarship and mission
  • Multi-generational family engagement - The foundation continues after the founders' deaths, with children actively involved in philanthropic leadership
  • No contact information for inquiries - The absence of website, email, or application process underscores their private, invitation-only approach
  • Geographic focus on Georgia with national reach - While based in Atlanta, major gifts have gone to national institutions, particularly Notre Dame

References

← Back to US Funders Directory