Re-imagining Our
 Grantmaking

These are exciting times at the O’Neill Foundation as we unveil the four new grant programs you see below. We’re undergoing an important transition and re-imagining our grantmaking programs to align with our new mission (scroll down to read it), increase the impact of our giving, and enhance our family’s involvement.

Responsive: Moving families and communities forward by building partnerships to respond to needs.
 

Family-Directed: Supporting organizations that reflect O’Neill diverse interests.*
 

Youth: Preparing the next generation of O’Neill philanthropists.*
 

Special Initiative: Leveraging resources with service.*
 

*Invitation-only grant programs, initiated by the family.

  NEW MISSION FOR THE FOUNDATION 

At its August 22, 2011 meeting the O'Neill Trustees voted to accept a new vision and mission for the Foundation: 

Vision: Our vision is for strong communities where families thrive.

Mission:  To partner with nonprofits to improve the quality of life for families and communities, in places where O'Neill family members live.

Values:

• Respect and transparency. We respect and value the expertise of those with whom we collaborate in our shared work: our nonprofit partners, the individuals who lead them, each other as family members and staff.  We are transparent, among ourselves and with our partners, in how we accomplish our grant making and in our decision making.
• Inclusion and diversity. We value the diverse perspective of our partners, the people they serve and others who work in our areas of interest.  We invite and encourage broad participation of all interested family members.
• Effectiveness. We invest the Foundation's resources in effective nonprofits that change lives.  We evaluate all we do and make adjustments based on what we learn.
• Skill building and shared learning. We work in ways that emphasize learning, skill building and knowledge sharing--among our family and among our partners.
• Enthusiasm. We encourage and nurture philanthropy in our family and we share our enthusiasm.  We look for passion in our grantees.  We expect to enjoy the work that we share.

    These statements are the result of nearly a year of careful and thoughtful discernment by the William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation family members.  No changes to the actual grantmaking programs will be made until phase II of the planning is completed. We will keep you informed. 

 2012 Cycle 3 Grant Awards--Capacity Building Grants

The William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation is pleased to announce that 26 organizations were awarded grants during the final Capacity Building grant distribution during the third and final cycle of 2012. Grants were made to non-profit agencies serving Annapolis/Baltimore, MD, Washington, DC, New York, NY, Houston, TX, Cleveland, OH, Richmond, VA and Houston, TX.  In total, $530,377 was awarded in grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Some highlights from the grants made are the following projects:

• $20,000 to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to develop a smart phone application;
• $20,000 to the Care Alliance Health Center to conduct a strategic planning process;
• $10,000 to Bread for the City to install a new inventory software in their food pantry program;
• $25,000 to The Women’s Home to conduct a capital expansion feasibility project.

“This docket was truly a spectacular docket of impactful grants that will affect a large amount of individuals and families served by the many great non-profits that received them. The O’Neill Foundation thanks the many family members and non-profits who participated in the Capacity Building Grants Program over the years and now looks forward to implementing our new Responsive Grantmaking Program.”

The Foundation accepted 63 Letters of Inquiry received on December 3^rd and will conduct due diligence and review leading to the next Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 18^th.

The full list of Cycle 3 awards and all the grants made during 2012 can be found under the menu tab: Grants 2012.