The Nerney Family Foundation
The Nerney Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It says its mission is to improve quality of life for underserved populations in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond, and that it supports nonprofit organizations and people working in education, human services, and social transformation.
The Nerney Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Nerney Family Foundation gave $1.3M across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $37K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,279,000
- +96.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,543
- +124.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $7,494,924
- +45.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (12 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Nerney Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1190 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 225-2288
Website: https://nerneyfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Nerney Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Growing the Game ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 192 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission emphasizes underserved populations in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond. In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 20% to recipients in Washington, DC. The remaining shares went to Colorado (3%), Rhode Island (1%), and New Jersey (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Nerney Family Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 35 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $70K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 49% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 473% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $651K (2024) to $1.7M (2020). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Growing the Game Washington, DC | Unrestricted Contribution | $250,000 |
| Cristo Rey Endowment Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted Contribution | $200,000 |
| St Joseph's - Kinney Center Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted Contribution | $150,000 |
| Ms Research - Penn Medicine Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted Contribution | $100,000 |
| Villanova University Villanova, PA | Unrestricted Contrib to Charity (Community) | $85,000 |
| Upenn Athletics Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted Contrib to Charity (Community) | $50,000 |
| St Katharine of Siena Wayne, PA | Unrestricted Contribution | $50,000 |
| Vincera Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted Contrib to Charity (Community) | $50,000 |
| Lasalle College High School Wyndmoor, PA | Unrestricted Contrib to Charity (Community) | $40,000 |
| Mount Saint Joseph's Academy Flourtown, PA | Unrestricted Contrib to Charity (Community) | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Nerney Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,494,924 | $4,792,942 | $1,424,216 | $1,279,000 | 35 | $1,316,361 | $1,511,762 | $278,150 |
| 2024 | $5,148,975 | $2,756,650 | $763,251 | $650,650 | 40 | $699,667 | $1,097,231 | $235,486 |
| 2023 | $2,117,719 | $1,677,995 | $1,151,014 | $987,008 | 47 | $987,008 | $61,557 | $184,251 |
| 2022 | $1,590,738 | $1,614,884 | $1,224,190 | $1,114,284 | 39 | $1,114,284 | $27,454 | $157,524 |
| 2021 | $1,200,044 | $1,671,078 | $1,442,643 | $1,414,883 | 31 | $1,414,883 | $71,105 | $132,660 |
| 2020 | $964,343 | $1,636,538 | $1,748,173 | $1,680,350 | 34 | — | $31,400 | $104,989 |
| 2019 | $1,073,914 | $1,628,474 | $1,583,304 | $1,504,450 | 36 | — | $28,397 | $114,284 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nerney Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $278K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its mission as “to invest creatively, to share wisely, and to commit itself passionately” to improving quality of life for underserved populations. Its stated fields of support are education, human services, and social transformation.
Its 2025 grants include support for schools and universities, health and research organizations, and youth and community organizations. For example, Philadelphia Youth Basketball describes its work as using basketball to help urban youth address issues facing underserved communities; the Vincera Foundation says it supports athletics, health, and fitness programs for Philadelphia’s underserved youth. The foundation’s website also describes initiatives in education, social transformation, and human services, including a scholarship program for students from underserved communities and a re-entry workforce program.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 35 grants totaling $1,279,000. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $250,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $250,000 to Growing the Game, $200,000 to Cristo Rey Endowment, $150,000 to St. Joseph’s–Kinney Center, and $100,000 to MS Research–Penn Medicine. These were listed as unrestricted contributions.
Other 2025 recipients included Villanova University ($85,000), UPenn Athletics ($50,000), St. Katharine of Siena ($50,000), and the Vincera Foundation ($50,000). The Agnes Irwin School and Philadelphia Youth Basketball each received $25,000. The foundation’s website also describes support for programs such as A Front Row Seat to Learning, which provides scholarships and transition support for students attending La Salle College High School and Mount St. Joseph Academy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Thomas P. Nerney was listed as president, treasurer, and director on the 2025 filing.
The Nerney Family Foundation is led by Thomas P. Nerney, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas P. Nerney
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Felicia Caviesel (2022–2023) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Nerney Family Foundation
How much does The Nerney Family Foundation give each year?
The Nerney Family Foundation gave $1.3M across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $651K across 40 grants.
What is The Nerney Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Nerney Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $36,543, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nerney Family Foundation that year got $70K on average.
Where does The Nerney Family Foundation give grants?
The Nerney Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (13 grants), Wayne, PA (2 grants), Aspen, CO (2 grants) and Devon, PA (2 grants).
Does The Nerney Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Nerney Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Nerney Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Nerney Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Growing the Game ($250,000), Cristo Rey Endowment ($200,000) and St Joseph's - Kinney Center ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Nerney Family Foundation?
The Nerney Family Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $278K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Nerney Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its mission as “to invest creatively, to share wisely, and to commit itself passionately” to improving quality of life for underserved populations. Its stated fields of support are education, human services, and social transformation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Nerney Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does The Nerney Family Foundation 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
Live grants for the work The Nerney Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Nerney Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Nerney Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-nerney-family-foundation-morg_f405beae714a4c5289927613b8bc81e4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204976135_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Nerney Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-nerney-family-foundation-morg_f405beae714a4c5289927613b8bc81e4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Nerney Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Nerney Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?