Finneran Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Finneran Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health and human services.

IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.

PROFILE: The Finneran Family Foundation was established in 1986 by financier William B. Finneran, who worked at companies including CIBC Oppenheimer Corp. and Wachovia Securities, and went on to found EXOP Capital. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. According to tax filings, the Finneran Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health and human services.

Grants for Public Health and Access, Higher Education, and Community Development

William Finneran is a longtime supporter of his school, Villanova University. He was a member of the board of trustees for a decade. He gave a $22.6 million leadership gift to support renovations and programmatic initiatives for the Villanova Men’s Basketball program. He also endowed the men’s basketball head coaching position. Finneran is vice chairman of the Partnership for Inner-City Education of the Archdiocese of New York, which the family supports. Finneran’s granddaughter Annie was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a life-shortening, degenerative neuromuscular disorder. The family strongly supports the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). They’ve also funded the Friedreich’s Ataxia Center of Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania, a “translation research and clinical care center funded by a $7.4 million gift by the Hamilton/Finneran families and in partnership with the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA).”

Past grantees include New York Law School, Autism Speaks, Prostate Cancer Foundation, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and UJA Federation.

Important Grant Details

Grants range from $150 to $367,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $882,000. The Finneran Family Foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.  

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

Finneran Family Foundation
1375 Broadway
New York, NY 10018