The Nerney Family Foundation
The Nerney Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2006 and based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.1M
+143.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$651K
-34.1% YoY
Grant Count
40
-14.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-22.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nerney Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $235K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to invest creatively, share wisely, and commit itself passionately to improving the quality of life for underserved populations in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond.
The foundation pledges itself to discover, encourage, and fund visionary initiatives, especially those in their early stages of development, which demonstrate the highest potential for success and system change. It supports nonprofit organizations and individuals committed to the fields of:
- Education
- Human Services
- Social Transformation
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to support education and human services projects. Recent grant activity includes awards to organizations such as Episcopal Academy ($100,000), Villanova University ($50,000), and Cabrini Legacy Corporation ($45,000).
Grant Range
s typically range from $250 to $350,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives primarily in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond, with grantmaking activity documented in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. Grant recipients have been located in various cities across the United States, including Philadelphia, Chicago, and Dallas, as well as in states such as California, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $5.15 million
- Total Revenue: $2.76 million
- Total Expenses: $763,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $2,117,719
- Total Revenue: $1,677,995
- Total Expenses: $1,151,014
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Total grants and contributions: $1,604,234
- Investment income and dividends: $49,053
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $24,493
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,148,975 | $2,117,719 | $1,590,738 |
| Revenue | $2,756,650 | $1,677,995 | $1,614,884 |
| Expenses | $763,251 | $1,151,014 | $1,224,190 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $699,667 | $987,008 | $1,114,284 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,097,231 | $61,557 | $27,454 |
| Distributable Amount | $235,486 | $184,251 | $157,524 |
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
191 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Episcopal Academy ($100,000), University of Pennsylvania ($100,000), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ($51,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $250 |
| BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL FOUNDATION BRYN MAWR, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $51,000 |
| ELWYN FOUNDATION ELWYN, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $10,000 |
| EPISCOPAL ACADEMY NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| ESF DREAM CAMP FOUNDATION BRYN MAWR, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| HELEN L DILLER VACATION HOME FOR BLIND AVALON, NJ | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $5,000 |
| LA SALLE ACADEMY PROVIDENCE, RI | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $15,000 |
| LASALLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL WYNDMOOR, PA | UNRESTRICTED CONTRIB TO CHARITY (COMMUNITY) | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Thomas P. Nerney — President, Treasurer, and Director (works 10 hours per week without compensation)
- Felicia Caviesel — Executive Director (full-time, annual compensation of $84,615)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS P NERNEY | PRESIDENT/TREASURER/DIRECT | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported initiatives including "A Front Row Seat to Learning," which works with LaSalle College High School and Mount St. Joseph Academy to provide scholarships for high-performing students from underserved communities to attend private high school, as well as financial support for the transition from middle school to high school.
Donor Spotlight: USLI and Thomas Nerney support STEM and students at CristoThe foundation has also supported the Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation at Chestnut Hill College, which promotes a cultural shift toward trust, forgiveness, and reconciliation through education, skill development, and community service.
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan Awards Over $119,000 in NewSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Nerney Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to invest creatively, share wisely, and commit itself passionately to improving the quality of life for underserved populations in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond. The foundation pledges itself to discover, encourage, and fund visionary initiatives, especially those in their early stages of development, which demonstrate the highest potential for success and system change. It supports nonprofit organizations and individuals committed to the fields of: • **Ed…
How do I apply for a grant from The Nerney Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to support education and human services projects. Recent grant activity includes awards to organizations such as Episcopal Academy ($100,000), Villanova University ($50,000), and Cabrini Legacy Corporation ($45,000). The foundation made 34 grants in 2023, with total giving of $987,008 that year. Grant sizes typically range from $250 to $350,000. The foundation appears open to new applicants.
Where does The Nerney Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives primarily in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond, with grantmaking activity documented in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. Grant recipients have been located in various cities across the United States, including Philadelphia, Chicago, and Dallas, as well as in states such as California, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas.
What size grants does The Nerney Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Nerney Family Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $651K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Nerney Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Nerney Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $235K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Nerney Family Foundation's EIN?
The Nerney Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4976135. 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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