The W O'neil Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$38.0M
+0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-26.5% YoY
Grant Count
56
-9.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-18.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The W O'neil Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Human Services: Support for economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals
- Religious & Faith-Based Services: Emphasis on Christian and Catholic human services organizations
- Emergency Assistance: Basic and emergency aid programs
- Community Support: Free goods distribution and special population support
- International Development: International relations and development initiatives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$20,000
Average Grant
$40,300
Ready to take the next step with The W O'neil Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
Alabama, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Major urban areas including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago receive funding.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $37,995,262
- Total Revenue: $2,422,436
- Total Expenses: $2,378,030
- Net Income: $44,406
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition:
- Investment income and dividends: $1,153,142 (2024)
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total Assets: $40,000,000 (approximately)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,995,262 | $37,950,856 | $39,321,972 |
| Revenue | $2,422,436 | $1,645,390 | $1,294,961 |
| Expenses | $2,378,030 | $3,013,806 | $3,518,809 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,202,498 | $2,829,116 | $3,250,975 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,270,599 | $1,427,608 | $1,133,258 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,011,831 | $1,885,720 | $1,987,875 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Relief Services ($850,000), Catholic Charities Usa ($75,000), Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington ($65,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JESUITS INTERNATIONAL WASHINGTON, DC | TYPHOON YAGI RELIEF IN MYANMAR | $5,000 |
| AVSI-USA INC SILVER SPRING, MD | EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN QUITO, ECUADOR | $20,000 |
| BREAD FOR THE CITY WASHINGTON, DC | FOOD PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| CAPITAL AREA FOODBANK WASHINGTON, DC | FOOD PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, DC | ACT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM & EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDS | $65,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES NEW YORK, NY | IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS | $40,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WYOMING CHEYENNE, WY | IMMIGRATION & REFUGEES, LOW-INCOME AND NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA ALEXANDRIA, VA | EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDS AND HOUSING PROGRAMS | $75,000 |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BALTIMORE, MD | INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAMS | $850,000 |
| CATHOLIC STUDENT CENTER UMD COLLEGE PARK COLLEGE PARK, MD | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Helene O'Neil Shere: Chair, President, and Trustee (38 hours/week, $188,025 compensation)
- Jane O'Neil Wieder: Vice President, Treasurer, and Trustee (7 hours/week, no compensation)
- Molly Herrera: Vice President and Senior Program Officer (38 hours/week, $90,000 compensation)
- Ann O'Neil Gradowski: Vice Chair, Assistant Secretary, and Trustee (5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Mary Regan: Secretary and Trustee (5 hours/week, no compensation)
- John O'Neil: Trustee (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Ann Regan: Trustee (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Jane Regan: Trustee (1 hour/week, no compensation)
The foundation employs 2 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HELENE O'NEIL SHERE | CHAIR, PRESIDENT, TRUSTEE | 38 | $195,300 |
| JANE O'NEIL WIEDER | VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, TRUSTEE | 7 | — |
| MOLLY HERRERA | VICE PRESIDENT, SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER | 38 | $94,500 |
| ANN O'NEIL GRADOWSKI | VICE CHAIR, ASSIST. SECRETARY, TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| MARY REGAN | SECRETARY, TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JOHN O'NEIL | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| JANE REGAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The W O'neil Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • **Human Services**: Support for economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals • **Religious & Faith-Based Services**: Emphasis on Christian and Catholic human services organizations • **Emergency Assistance**: Basic and emergency aid programs • **Community Support**: Free goods distribution and special population support • **International Development**: International relations and development initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The W O'neil Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $1,837,750 • Number of grants (2023): 62 grants • Median grant size: $20,000 • Average grant size: $40,300 • Grant range: $4,000–$1,250,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Catholic Relief Services: $850,000 (International Emergency Relief Programs) • Catholic Charities USA: $75,000 (Emergency Assistance Funds and Housing Programs) • World Central Kitchen: $65,000 (International and Domestic Emergency Food & Water Programs)
Where does The W O'neil Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: Alabama, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Major urban areas including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago receive funding.
What size grants does The W O'neil Foundation award?
In 2024, The W O'neil Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The W O'neil Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The W O'neil Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The W O'neil Foundation's EIN?
The W O'neil Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6516969. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The W O'neil Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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