The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher
The Denis P and Carol A Kelleher Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Staten Island, New York. The foundation was established by Denis P. Kelleher and his wife Carol to support philanthropic causes aligned with their values and interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$383K
+150.1% YoY
Grant Count
28
+55.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+60.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher reported a distributable amount of $276K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three primary areas:
- Education — with particular emphasis on Catholic education and youth development
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to Catholic and Irish causes, as well as support for New York City community initiatives.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $5,521,847
- Total Annual Giving: $382,845
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,521,847 | $5,501,535 | $5,837,857 |
| Revenue | $479,195 | $-105,044 | $449,429 |
| Expenses | $458,881 | $231,284 | $399,276 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $384,407 | $154,514 | $303,371 |
| Net Investment Income | $404,471 | $33,596 | $353,274 |
| Distributable Amount | $276,293 | $275,880 | $289,122 |
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
125 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Archdiocese of Ny ($75,000), New World Preparatory Charter School ($75,000), Inner City Scholarship Fund ($53,100).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALFRED E SMITH MEMORIAL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF NY NEW YORK, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| BREAD OF LIFE WYANDANCH, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BRIDGEHAMPTON FIRE DEPT BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $250 |
| CALDER CLASSICS SCHOLARSHIP FUND BEVERLY, MA | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| CARON NY NEW YORK, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC FAITH NETWORK UNIONDALE, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $250 |
| CONNOR HUNT MEMORIAL FOUNDATION NAPERVILLE, IL | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $4,220 |
| COVENANT HOUSE NEW YORK, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $250 |
| DR THEODORE A ATLAS FOUNDATION STATEN ISLAND, NY | AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Denis P. Kelleher (1939–2019) founded the foundation with his wife Carol. Born in County Kerry, Ireland, Kelleher immigrated to the United States in 1958 with minimal resources. He began his financial services career as a messenger at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith while attending St. John's University. He went on to found Ruane Cunniff & Co., an investment firm, and later established Wall Street Access, a money management and stock brokerage firm that became a member of the New York Stock Exchange.
Kelleher served as Chair of the Board of Trustees at St. John's University and was Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2005. He also served on the boards of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Staten Island Foundation.
Carol A. Kelleher continues as co-founder of the foundation alongside Denis's legacy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL A KELLEHER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DENIS P KELLEHER JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SEAN M KELLEHER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| COLLEEN P SORRENTINO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three primary areas: • **Education** — with particular emphasis on Catholic education and youth development • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** The foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to Catholic and Irish causes, as well as support for New York City community initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $200 to $75,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $382,845 in grants according to its most recent filing. **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily awards grants in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with a particular concentration in New York City and Long Island. **Notable Grantees:** Past recipients have included: • St. Patrick's Cathedral (seven-figure gift) • American Ireland Fund • American Irish Historical Society • Cath…
What size grants does The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher award?
In 2024, The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher awarded 28 grants totaling $383K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher reported a distributable amount of $276K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher's EIN?
The Denis P and Carol a Kelleher's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4149751. 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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