A E Finley Foundation Inc
The A.E. Finley Foundation is a private foundation based in Raleigh, North Carolina, established in 1957 to perpetuate the philanthropic legacy of Albert Earle Finley. The foundation operates with an all-volunteer board and no paid staff, maintaining low overhead while maximizing charitable impact. With total assets of approximately $29.7 million, the foundation distributes roughly $1.3 million annually to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.7M
-1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+16.3% YoY
Grant Count
70
+32.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-11.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, A E Finley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to continue the legacy of giving reflected in A.E. Finley's values by providing opportunities for individuals to recognize their self-worth and pursue their life goals, and to provide relief, comfort, and support to those in need.
The foundation provides grants in the following priority areas:
- Educational and life skills training
- Job readiness and meaningful work
- Human and community services
- Athletic and recreational programs
- Operating support for nonprofits
- Facility maintenance and capital improvements
- Financial aid and scholarships
The foundation's giving framework emphasizes that nonprofit services and programs be offered within a free market that provides economic opportunity for all.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides grants across four main categories:
Grant Range
$1,000 - $333,285
Average Grant
varies by category, ranging from approximately $10,607 for operating support to $294,405 for facility maintenance and financial aid combinations
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in North Carolina, with additional funding activity in Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $29.7 million
- Total Revenue: $1.23 million
- Investment Income and Dividends: $658,225
- Net Rental Income: $67,443
Expenses & Giving (2024):
- Total Expenses: $1.56 million
- Total Grants Awarded: $1.2 - $1.35 million
- Giving Rate: 3.9%
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since July 1959
- EIN: 56-6057379
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,717,102 | $30,047,739 | $30,364,540 |
| Revenue | $1,228,057 | $1,113,107 | $3,006,229 |
| Expenses | $1,564,166 | $1,372,572 | $1,447,674 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,361,207 | $1,168,324 | $1,195,645 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,041,349 | $921,634 | $2,791,555 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,393,814 | $1,248,303 | $1,256,676 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
240 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ravenscroft School ($316,620), Ncsu Wolfpack Club ($126,620), Duke University ($79,120).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASBURY CHURCH RALEIGH, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY RALEIGH, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| ATRIUM HEALTH FOUNDATION CHARLOTTE, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BAYLEAF BAPTIST CHURCH RALEIGH, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BLACK MOUNTAIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC | HURRICAN HELENE RELIEF | $2,500 |
| BOUNTY & SOUL BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC | HURRICAN HELENE RELIEF | $2,500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS RALEIGH, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| NO LIMITS FOUNDATION WALES, ME | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CASA RALEIGH, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CLI PRISON ALLIANCE RALEIGH, NC | OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation operates with an all-volunteer board:
- Duke Finley – Board Chairman/President
- Vic Bell – Vice President
- Kevin Anderson – Secretary
- Ann Dillon – Family Director
- Jim Welch – Director
- Joe Velk – Independent Director
- Giny Wheeler – Independent Director
- Mary Moss – Independent Director
All board members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUKE FINLEY | CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| VIC BELL | VICE PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| ANN DILLON | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| GINY WHEELER | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| JIM WELCH | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A E Finley Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to continue the legacy of giving reflected in A.E. Finley's values by providing opportunities for individuals to recognize their self-worth and pursue their life goals, and to provide relief, comfort, and support to those in need. The foundation provides grants in the following priority areas: • Educational and life skills training • Job readiness and meaningful work • Human and community services • Athletic and recreational programs • Operating support for nonprofits
How do I apply for a grant from A E Finley Foundation Inc?
The foundation provides grants across four main categories: **Grant Types:** • Operating Support: $2,000 - $100,000+ • Facility Maintenance: $5,000 - $272,000 • Financial Aid: $5,000 - $150,000+ • Combination Funding: Variable amounts (facility maintenance plus operating support or financial aid) **Recent Activity:** • 2024: 53 grants awarded totaling approximately $1.2 million • 2023: 86 grants awarded totaling $1.17 million • Grant range: $1,000 - $333,285 • Median grant amount: $53,874 • Ave…
Where does A E Finley Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in North Carolina, with additional funding activity in Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does A E Finley Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, A E Finley Foundation Inc awarded 70 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is A E Finley Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, A E Finley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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