OVERVIEW: The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Boston area couple James and Lisa Mooney. The couple's giving through their foundation strongly focuses in on Catholic education and other Catholic organizations in and around Boston.
FUNDING AREAS: (Catholic) Education, Health, Human Services, Youth
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low profile, and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking is key here and Catholic education organizations may have a leg up.
PROFILE: James F. Mooney III graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and received his MBA degree from Georgetown University before going on to work for Baupost Group. His wife, Lisa, meanwhile, received her MBA from Boston University. This Boston area couple moves their philanthropy through the The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation, which gave away some $3.9 million recently. Grants tend to be fairly large at this foundation, with quite a few exceeding $100,000. Unfortunately for grantseekers, the foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals and has a minimal web presence.
The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation's grantmaking heavily features Boston outfits, and Catholic organizations, particularly Catholic schools, are a top priority. As James Mooney puts it, "“My Jesuit education has had a profound effect on every aspect of my life. The way I engage with the world – whether with my family, in my career or through philanthropy – is built on a Jesuit foundation.”
Several years ago, the Mooneys gave a $1 million gift to College of Holy Cross to endow the Jim '90 and Lisa Mooney Scholarships targeting middle-class students from Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. Not only did James attend the school but so did his father. James and his father also established The Joan Marie Mooney Scholarship Fund.
In a past year, the foundation reported over $85 million in assets and more than $3.9 million in total giving.
Apart from James' alma mater, James and Lisa Mooney, via their foundation, have supported places like Catholic Schools Foundation, Campaign for Catholic Schools, Nativity Preparatory School, and St. Sebastian's School. Other Boston area education grantees have included New England Conservatory of Music, and Newton Country Day School.
The Mooneys also support health in the Boston area. Grantees have included Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, Mt. Auburn Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The Mooneys have supported a Uganda hospital's pediatric malnutrition clinic and an emergency medical fund. MGH has built strong ties with this hospital and the couple's teenaged son has also traveled to the region with MGH.
The family has also supported youth organizations like Year Up and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Another important grantee is JESUITS USA Northeast Provence. Arts and culture does not seem to be a major component of this couple's work through their charity.
PEOPLE:
- Lisa Mooney, Trustee
- James F. Mooney III, Trustee
CONTACT:
The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the couple, but below is an address:
The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation
171 Edmunds Rd.
Wellesley, MA 02481