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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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