The Donley Foundation appears to focus its philanthropic resources on higher education scholarship support, evidenced by a single large gift establishing or funding the Donley Scholars Program at Lawrence Technological University. The grant suggests an interest in supporting STEM/technical education and named scholarship endowments, and the foundation is willing to make sizable, targeted investments outside its home city.
Highly concentrated: a single very large, targeted grant to one university program (likely an endowed or multi-year scholarship commitment) rather than many small or diversified grants.
A defining feature of Donley Foundation-ud Dtd 12-8-86 is its large, named scholarship commitment at Lawrence Technological University: $2,043,100 in 2024 for the Ed Donley Scholars Program. That grant sits alongside other named funds and broad unrestricted support, showing a mix of tightly designated giving and flexible institutional support. The foundation’s recent record includes major gifts to community foundations in Chicago, New Hampshire, and York County, as well as support for scholarship, equality, literacy, and local community programs. It also funds individuals, which fits with the scholarship-heavy pattern visible in the grant list. The scale of the foundation’s annual giving is substantial, with $33,087,083 in grants reported for the latest filing year on record. Recent recipients range from higher education institutions to community foundations and service organizations, including The Chicago Community Foundation at $1,244,936 for The Donley Fund and New Hampshire Charitable Foundation at $1,168,100 for The RDL Equality Fund. The pattern suggests a funder comfortable making both large program-specific grants and repeated general-support awards. Across the grants shown, the foundation supports education, regional community work, and equality-related funding through named funds and unrestricted awards.
Higher education is a central theme. Lawrence Technological University received $2,043,100 for the Ed Donley Scholars Program, indicating direct support for a named scholarship structure tied to a technological university. Community foundation giving is also prominent. The Chicago Community Foundation received $1,244,936 for The Donley Fund, while York County Community Foundation received $1,168,100 for The Donley Skehan Foundation and another $1,168,100 for Gratitude Gives. These grants point to organized, fund-based philanthropy rather than only direct operating gifts. Equality and education access appear in the grant list as well. New Hampshire Charitable Foundation received $1,168,100 for The RDL Equality Fund, and National College Advising Corps received $259,108 as unrestricted support. The foundation also backs literacy and school-support groups, including York County Literacy Council, Literacy Works, Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania, and College Possible Chicago.
$29.7M
$0
$190K
$28.3M
Most grants fall between $15K and $87K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$87K
About 16% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Notable grantees: Lawrence Technological University
Typical grant size is modest relative to the largest awards: p25 is $15,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $86,836. The recent grants show a wide spread above that, with several seven-figure transfers to named funds and scholarship vehicles, followed by many unrestricted awards in the low-to-mid six figures. The pattern also suggests repeat support to some recipients across 2024, including York County Community Foundation and New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, both appearing more than once. Donley Foundation-ud Dtd 12-8-86 is a regular funder, funds individuals, and makes no program-related investments.
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the data provided, with 366 grants in the United States. By count, Illinois is the top giving state, and Chicago appears repeatedly among recipient cities. Pennsylvania is also a major destination, including York, Allentown, and Camp Hill, while New Hampshire, Vermont, and Michigan also appear in named grants. The foundation’s HQ is in York, PA, but the grant pattern extends well beyond that state, with 16% of grants going to recipients in Pennsylvania.
The grant list shows support for universities, community foundations, literacy and education nonprofits, and regional service organizations. Named examples include Lawrence Technological University, The Chicago Community Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, York County Community Foundation, and organizations such as Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania and Literacy Works.
Yes. Multiple recent recipients are listed with unrestricted support, including Vermont Children's Trust Foundation, Allentown Pennsylvania Public Library Association Inc, Montshire Museum of Science, United Way of York County, National College Advising Corps, and several Chicago-based organizations.
The typical recent grant is relatively modest: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $86,836. The distribution also includes much larger named grants in the seven-figure range.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, while Pennsylvania receives 16% of grants. Recipient cities in the recent list include Chicago, York, Allentown, Concord, Burlington, Southfield, and Cambridge, showing a broad national spread rather than a single-city focus.
Yes. Scholarship support is visible in the largest recent grant, $2,043,100 to Lawrence Technological University for the Ed Donley Scholars Program. The existing data also describes scholarship and endowment support as a recurring theme in the foundation's giving.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $2,043,100 | 2024 | ED DONLEY SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,244,936 | 2024 | THE DONLEY FUND |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | CONCORD, NH | $1,168,100 | 2024 | THE RDL EQUALITY FUND |
| YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | YORK, PA | $1,168,100 | 2024 | THE DONLEY SKEHAN FOUNDATION |
| CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WATERBURY, CT | $1,168,100 | 2024 | ROBB FAMILY FOUNDATION |
| THE CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,168,100 | 2024 | THE IMPACT FUND |
| US CHARITABLE GIFT TRUST | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,168,100 | 2024 | SEEDS OF SUCCESS FUND |
| YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | YORK, PA | $1,168,100 | 2024 | GRATITUDE GIVES |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | ORLANDO, FL | $1,168,100 | 2024 | CHRISTOPHER T. ROBB CHARITABLE FUND |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | CONCORD, NH | $1,164,318 | 2024 | THE DONLEY LEGACY FUND |
| YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | YORK, PA | $1,164,318 | 2024 | THE TOM AND CINDY DONLEY FAMILY FUND |
| VERMONT CHILDREN'S TRUST FOUNDATION | BURLINGTON, VT | $575,641 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ALLENTOWN PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INC | ALLENTOWN, PA | $280,008 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MONTSHIRE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE | NORWICH, VT | $259,108 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NATIONAL COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $259,108 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF PENNSYLVANIA | CAMP HILL, PA | $259,108 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY OF YORK COUNTY | YORK, PA | $259,108 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| READING IN MOTION | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ONWARD NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LITERACY WORKS | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LET'S GROW KIDS | BURLINGTON, VT | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF VERMONT | BRATTLEBORO, VT | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN INC | ALLENTOWN, PA | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE ACADEMY FOR URBAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP (AUSL) | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHICAGO HEIGHTENING OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIAL FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS (HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GAP COMMUNITY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WOMEN EMPLOYED | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YORK COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL | YORK, PA | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DUSABLE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | CHICAGO, IL | $215,690 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAREERS CLIC | HANOVER, NH | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AUTOMOTIVE MENTORING GROUP INC | BEDFORD PARK, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GADS HILL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHANGING WORLDS | CHICAGO, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| VERMONT INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCE | QUECHEE, VT | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TURNING THE PAGE | WASHINGTON, DC | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN | CHICAGO, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NH JAG | CONCORD, NH | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GIRLS WHO CODE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CIVIC NEWS COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FOR CHILDREN (CHILD CARE CONSULTANTS INC) | YORK, PA | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | YORK, PA | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OPEN BOOKS LTD | CHICAGO, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE CHILDREN'S TRUST INC | CONCORD, NH | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS | CHICAGO, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES | WILLISTON, VT | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YORK DAY NURSERY INC | YORK, PA | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF OAK PARK | OAK PARK, IL | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BRADFORD TEEN CENTER INC | BRADFORD, VT | $172,272 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$1,244,936THE DONLEY FUND
SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND
$1,168,100CHRISTOPHER T. ROBB CHARITABLE FUND
VERMONT CHILDREN'S TRUST FOUNDATION
$575,641UNRESTRICTED
ALLENTOWN PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INC
$280,008UNRESTRICTED
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF PENNSYLVANIA
$259,108UNRESTRICTED
LITERACY WORKS
$215,690UNRESTRICTED
LET'S GROW KIDS
$215,690UNRESTRICTED
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF VERMONT
$215,690UNRESTRICTED
THE ACADEMY FOR URBAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP (AUSL)
$215,690UNRESTRICTED
CHICAGO HEIGHTENING OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIAL FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS (HOPE
$215,690UNRESTRICTED
CAREERS CLIC
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
TURNING THE PAGE
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
NH JAG
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
CIVIC NEWS COMPANY
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FOR CHILDREN (CHILD CARE CONSULTANTS INC)
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
THE SALVATION ARMY
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
YORK DAY NURSERY INC
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF OAK PARK
$172,272UNRESTRICTED
BRADFORD TEEN CENTER INC
$172,272UNRESTRICTED