William J and Dorothy K O'Neill
The William J and Dorothy K O'Neill Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. It supports effective nonprofits working in partnership with their communities toward a shared vision of health, safety, and empowerment.
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill at a glance
In short: William J and Dorothy K O'Neill gave $5.3M across 185 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), top state New York. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,323,758
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 185
- -19.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $28,777
- +24.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $103,646,759
- +5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (40 of 160, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (18% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to William J and Dorothy K O'Neill
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The current Family Interest Grantmaking program is invitation-only and does not accept unsolicited requests. The Foundation’s earlier Responsive Grantmaking Program offered competitive cycles for nonprofits with family-centered programming; its application information described eligibility requirements including 501(c)(3) status or an eligible fiscal sponsor, serving families, and meeting program and target-community requirements. The Foundation’s current website directs applicants to its grants management system if invited.
- Contact
Application contact: O'Neill Fdn Attn Leslie Perkul
Mailing address: 425 Literary Road Suite 100, Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 831-4134
Email: info@oneill-foundation.org
Website: https://www.oneill-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William J and Dorothy K O'Neill funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Givedirectly ($369K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,196 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,026 grants of 1,196 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its geographic focus is determined by where O’Neill family members live and their availability to engage in its work. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (18%), Ohio (17%), Maryland (14%), Washington, DC (14%), and Virginia (9%). The 2024 grants also included recipients in Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 185 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is William J and Dorothy K O'Neill open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 40 of 160 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2023) to $6.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 185 grants totaling $5.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Seminar Network Inc Aka Stand Together Trust Arlington, VA | Merit America | $290,000 |
| Mercy Center Inc Bronx, NY | Familia Adelante / Family Forward | $200,000 |
| Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Family Partners Initiative | $200,000 |
| United Way of Central Maryland Baltimore, MD | Evaluating a 2gen framework in north anne Arundel county | $200,000 |
| Woodson Center Washington, DC | Community affiliate network ($150,000) and the joseph fund ($40,000) | $190,000 |
| Givedirectly New York, NY | Rwandan Villages | $162,600 |
| Center for Urban Families Baltimore, MD | Launching a 2GEN Ecosystem in Baltimore | $150,000 |
| CHN Housing Partners Cleveland, OH | Louise C. Stokes Scholar House Implementation | $150,000 |
| Community of Hope Washington, DC | Community of hope's 2gen approach to maternal and child health services | $150,000 |
| Mamatoto Village Washington, DC | Mothers Rising Home Visitation (MRHV) Program | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with William J and Dorothy K O'Neill?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $103,646,759 | $13,000,572 | $7,759,002 | $5,323,758 | 185 | $6,488,130 | $11,925,723 | $7,013,726 |
| 2023 | $98,038,049 | $7,875,523 | $8,374,412 | $5,294,010 | 229 | $6,260,529 | $6,870,894 | $6,230,735 |
| 2022 | $98,552,010 | $6,502,560 | $8,786,152 | $6,888,845 | 275 | $7,776,891 | $4,404,529 | $6,547,850 |
| 2021 | $100,988,244 | $19,106,242 | $11,298,728 | $6,725,065 | 290 | $7,467,442 | $17,846,026 | $7,412,866 |
| 2020 | $90,741,538 | $12,566,411 | $7,700,347 | $5,402,400 | 217 | — | $10,805,123 | $5,645,194 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William J and Dorothy K O'Neill reported a distributable amount of $7.0M for 2024 — 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’s mission is to support effective nonprofits that work in partnership with their communities toward a shared vision of health, safety, and empowerment. Its stated vision is of strong communities where families live with hope, purpose, and peace.
Family Interest Grantmaking issue areas described by the Foundation include birth justice; direct cash assistance and dignity in choice; environmental justice; and empowering young men through leadership, mentorship, and fatherhood. The Foundation says family members champion issue areas that reflect their personal interests and a desire to support underfunded communities.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work. Mercy Center describes its work as providing education and family, civic, social, and economic programs for South Bronx residents, especially immigrants. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland says it focuses on families and children living in poverty, homelessness, and health and educational disparities. Woodson Center describes its work as empowering community-based leaders to reduce crime and violence, restore families, and revitalize underserved communities. GiveDirectly says it reduces poverty by providing financial assistance directly to people in need. Mamatoto Village describes its work as serving Black women through maternal-health career pathways and perinatal support. Center for Urban Families says it works to strengthen urban communities by helping fathers and families achieve stability and economic success. The Child Center of NY describes its work as strengthening children and families, and Community of Hope says it works to improve health, end homelessness, and partner with communities in Washington, DC.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 185 grants totaling $5,323,758. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $290,000, with a median of $7,500.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $290,000 to The Seminar Network Inc. aka Stand Together Trust for Merit America; $200,000 each to Mercy Center Inc. for Familia Adelante / Family Forward, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland for the Family Partners Initiative, and United Way of Central Maryland for evaluating a 2Gen framework in an individual recipient County; and $190,000 to Woodson Center for its Community Affiliate Network and The Joseph Fund. Other notable awards included $162,600 to GiveDirectly for Rwandan villages and $150,000 each to Center for Urban Families, CHN Housing Partners, Community of Hope, Mamatoto Village, Rutland County Parent-Child Center, and The Child Center of NY for the initiatives listed in the filing.
The Foundation ended its Responsive Grantmaking Program at the end of 2022. Its current Family Interest Grantmaking proposal process is by invitation only; organizations may apply through that program only if invited by the Foundation. The Foundation says invited applicants receive an email with access to its grants management system.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leslie Perkul as president/CEO; Laura O’Neill Bower as secretary; David Donahey as treasurer; Robert Donahey as chair; and Timothy O’Neill, Brian Sweeney, and Mary Walker as trustees.
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill is led by Leslie Perkul, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leslie Perkul
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$183K (2020) → $230K (2024)
Robert Donahey
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Sweeney
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Walker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy O'Neill
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Donahey
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura O'Neill Bower
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Linda Clifford (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $230K, to Leslie Perkul (President/CEO).
Frequently asked questions about William J and Dorothy K O'Neill
How much does William J and Dorothy K O'Neill give each year?
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill gave $5.3M across 185 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 229 grants.
What is William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's typical grant size?
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $28,777, across 185 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William J and Dorothy K O'Neill that year got $19K on average.
Where does William J and Dorothy K O'Neill give grants?
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's top state is New York, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (17%) and Maryland (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Annapolis, MD (17 grants), New York, NY (12 grants), Washington, DC (10 grants) and Baltimore, MD (10 grants).
Does William J and Dorothy K O'Neill give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (120 of 185) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's largest grantees?
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's largest 2024 grantees include Givedirectly ($369,100 across 4 grants), The Seminar Network Inc Aka Stand Together Trust ($340,000 across 2 grants) and United Way of Central Maryland ($210,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William J and Dorothy K O'Neill?
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill reported $103.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does William J and Dorothy K O'Neill fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support effective nonprofits that work in partnership with their communities toward a shared vision of health, safety, and empowerment. Its stated vision is of strong communities where families live with hope, purpose, and peace. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William J and Dorothy K O'Neill?
The current Family Interest Grantmaking program is invitation-only and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's EIN?
William J and Dorothy K O'Neill's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1560893. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does William J and Dorothy K O'Neill 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William J and Dorothy K O'Neill funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-j-and-dorothy-k-o-neill-morg_c154b491e1484bd6ac17619fb858d6e8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_341560893_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William J and Dorothy K O'Neill funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-j-and-dorothy-k-o-neill-morg_c154b491e1484bd6ac17619fb858d6e8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 William J and Dorothy K O'Neill'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.
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