philanthropies [fi-lan-thruh-pee]

Atlantic Philanthropies

Atlantic Philanthropies (AP) is a philanthropical organization that seeks "to bring about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people." It was founded and funded by former billionaire Chuck Feeney.

History

Charles F. Feeney (also known as Chuck Feeney), founder of Duty Free Shoppers Group, founded AP in 1982.

In 2002, AP decided to spend down their entire endowment over the following ten to fifteen years.

By late 2007, AP had given away around 4 billion USD, and had a similar amount still to give away.

Goals

AP today concentrates its donations in four main programs: Ageing, Disadvantaged Children & Youth, Health of Populations in Developing Countries, and Reconciliation & Human Rights.

Anonymity

For most of its history, AP operated deliberately incognito. Staff were not allowed to tell their families where they worked, and beneficiaries, few of whose staff would know the origin of their gifts, were required to sign agreements acknowledging that funding would be stopped if its source were revealed. Feeney has said that aside from his own wish for anonymity, this was in part to leave "space" for other philanthropists who would want naming rights in return for their gifts, something which notably arose with both USA and Irish universities. AP and Feeney still do not accept naming rights, plaques or formal "thank-you" events.

Operations

The foundation has always vetted potential beneficiaries thoroughly. Its anonymity long preserved it from mass applications.

AP has offices in several locations, including Bermuda, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States of America, and Vietnam.

Donees and projects

USA

Cornell University, Feeney's G.I. Bill alma mater, has received over $588 million, considering both personal and AP giftsthe vast majority given anonymously.

He also donated $60 million for a Stanford biomedical center and $125 million for a University of California San Francisco cardiovascular studies institution.

Ireland

AP has funded projects in both parts of Ireland, and cross-border projects.

Republic of Ireland

AP was one of the biggest funders of Irish third-level education for over a decade, supporting capital projects in various institutions including Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick.

Among smaller projects supported by AP was the Centre for Public Enquiry, an independent non-governmental group investigating matters of public interest. After contact was made with Chuck Feeney by one or more Irish government ministers objecting to the Centre's activities, the funding was discontinued, and the Centre closed.