A E Finley Foundation Inc
A E Finley Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Established in 1957, it continues A.E. Finley’s philanthropic legacy by supporting nonprofits working in education and life-skills training, job readiness and meaningful work, and human and community services.
Key facts about A E Finley Foundation Inc
In short: A E Finley Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), mostly in North Carolina. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 56-6057379
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,475,450
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- Average grant
- $21,078
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (24 of 67, 2025)
- Total assets
- $30,094,877
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.1M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
70
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+9.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, A E Finley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is A E Finley Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 67 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation identifies educational and life-skills training, job readiness and meaningful work, and human and community services as areas of its grantmaking. Its 2025 grants included facility maintenance, operating support, scholarships, and financial aid.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Ravenscroft School describes its work as operating a nonprofit preschool-through-grade-twelve school. Alliance Medical Ministry says it provides medical services to uninsured, low-income people. Saving Grace Animals for Adoption describes its work as promoting adoption and placing dogs in homes. Yates Mill Associates says it restores and preserves a historic gristmill through education and tours.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $1,475,450. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $347,175, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $347,175 to Ravenscroft School for facility maintenance and financial aid; $138,840 each to NCSU Wolfpack Club, UNC Finley Golf Course, and YMCA of the Triangle for facility maintenance; and $89,255 to White Memorial Presbyterian Church Foundation for operating support.
Other reported 2025 grants included $86,755 to Duke University for facility maintenance and $86,755 to Hargrave Military Academy for operating support; $69,495 each to UNC Health Foundation for operating support and William Peace University for facility maintenance; and $35,000 to Wake Forest University for scholarships.
The foundation reported 70 grants totaling $1,345,600 in 2024 and 53 grants totaling $1,156,750 in 2023.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Ready to take the next step with A E Finley Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 6% to recipients in Virginia. The filing also reports shares rounded to 0% for Pennsylvania and Texas. The foundation’s website describes its grantmaking as serving nonprofits in its stated program areas; the 2025 grants show a strong concentration in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ravenscroft School ($347K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
292 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 247 grants of 292 (85%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ravenscroft School Raleigh, NC | Facility Maintenance and Financial Aid | $347,175 |
| NCSU Wolfpack Club Raleigh, NC | Facility Maintenance | $138,840 |
| UNC Finley Golf Course Chapel Hill, NC | Facility Maintenance | $138,840 |
| YMCA of the Triangle Raleigh, NC | Facility Maintenance | $138,840 |
| White Memorial Presbyterian Church Foundation Raleigh, NC | Operating Support | $89,255 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Facility Maintenance | $86,755 |
| Hargrave Military Academy Chatham, VA | Operating Support | $86,755 |
| UNC Health Foundation Chapel Hill, NC | Operating Support | $69,495 |
| William Peace University Raleigh, NC | Facility Maintenance | $69,495 |
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | Scholarships | $35,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,094,877 | $2,041,360 | $1,732,387 | $1,475,450 |
| 2024 | $29,717,102 | $1,228,057 | $1,564,166 | $1,345,600 |
| 2023 | $30,047,739 | $1,113,107 | $1,372,572 | $1,156,750 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,094,877 | $29,717,102 | $30,047,739 |
| Revenue | $2,041,360 | $1,228,057 | $1,113,107 |
| Expenses | $1,732,387 | $1,564,166 | $1,372,572 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,495,463 | $1,361,207 | $1,168,324 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,830,092 | $1,041,349 | $921,634 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,481,379 | $1,393,814 | $1,248,303 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Duke Finley as chairman/president, Vic Bell as vice president, Ann Dillon as secretary, and Giny Wheeler and Joe Velk as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Ann Dillon as a family director; Duke Finley as board chairman; and Mary Moss, Joe Velk, and Giny Wheeler as independent directors.
A E Finley Foundation Inc is led by Duke Finley, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Duke Finley
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Giny Wheeler
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Velk
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Dillon
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vic Bell
Vice President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jim Welch (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Kevin Anderson (2020–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 98266, Raleigh, NC 27624
Phone: (919) 782-0565
Website: https://aefinleyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about A E Finley Foundation Inc
How much does A E Finley Foundation Inc give each year?
A E Finley Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 70 grants.
What is A E Finley Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
A E Finley Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $21,078, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from A E Finley Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does A E Finley Foundation Inc give grants?
A E Finley Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (35 grants), Durham, NC (5 grants), Chapel Hill, NC (4 grants) and Boone, NC (3 grants).
Does A E Finley Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 84% of A E Finley Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (59 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Facility Maintenance" (5 grants).
Who are A E Finley Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
A E Finley Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ravenscroft School ($347,175), YMCA of the Triangle ($144,340 across 2 grants) and NCSU Wolfpack Club ($138,840), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is A E Finley Foundation Inc?
A E Finley Foundation Inc reported $30.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does A E Finley Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation identifies educational and life-skills training, job readiness and meaningful work, and human and community services as areas of its grantmaking. Its 2025 grants included facility maintenance, operating support, scholarships, and financial aid. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from A E Finley Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is A E Finley Foundation Inc's EIN?
A E Finley Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6057379. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does A E Finley Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching A E Finley Foundation Inc by hand.
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