The American Irleand Fund
Formation1976
TypeNon-governmental organisation
PurposePeace and reconciliation, community development, education, and arts and culture
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts
Chairman
Eugene M. McQuade
President and CEO
Caitriona Fottrell
Websiteirelandfunds.org/

The American Ireland Fund (DBA The Ireland Funds America), is a tax-exempt organization incorporated under the laws of the United States and has been determined by the IRS to be a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, tax ID # is 25-1306992. The organization raises funds for the support of peace and reconciliation, community development, education, and arts and culture in Ireland. Collectively with The Ireland Funds’ 12 worldwide chapters, it has raised more than $550 million (US), benefiting more than 3,000 Irish charities.[1][2]

History

The American Ireland Fund

In 1976, Tony O'Reilly, former CEO of H.J. Heinz Co., created The Ireland Funds with friend and fellow Pittsburgh businessman Dan Rooney,[3] who later served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland. With three goals, "Peace, Culture and Charity", The Ireland Funds appealed for support for Ireland and its people from all Americans, especially those of Irish descent. Rooney himself stated it was established to counter the prominent militant NORAID (Irish Northern Aid Committee), which was routinely accused of using donations to purchase weapons for the IRA. He stated it wasn't easy at first to persuade the American public already outraged at IRA atrocities to donate to the Funds: "[W]e often had to explain that we were not raising money for bombs."[4]

On St. Patrick's Day 1987, The Ireland Fund and the American Irish Foundation led by Arthur William Bourn Vincent[5] merged at a White House ceremony to form The American Ireland Fund.[6] In 1988, O' Reily declared to The New York Times that the Ireland Fund was raising $4 million per year.[7][8] By July 1993, the group was raising $6 million annually, holding 24 events in 12 American cities.[9] This amount was in stark contrast to NORAID's $3.6 million donations from 1970 to 1998 and equal to the IRA's annual $2-10 million derived from criminal and legitimate activities across Ireland in the 1970s-1990s.

Today, the global organization is known as The Ireland Funds. Operating in 12 countries with worldwide membership chapters, The Ireland Funds have raised more than $600 million (US) for over 3,200 organizations.[10] The Irish Times reported that the organization gave $15.7 million to such Irish organizations in 2012. The organization's net revenue amounted to more than $20 million in both 2011 and 2012.[11] According to the organisation's 2015 Form 990, total unrestricted revenues and support amounted to $29,893,941.[12]

The American Ireland Fund donated between $500,000 and $1 million to the Clinton Foundation.[13]

Headquarters

The headquarters of The Ireland Funds America is in Boston, Massachusetts.[2]

References

  1. ↑ The Ireland Funds, The Ireland Funds, Boston, MA, 2014, Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 American Ireland Fund, Charity Navigator, 2014, Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Our History". irelandfunds.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Sanders, Andrew (1 September 2022). The Long Peace Process: The United States of America and Northern Ireland, 1960-2008. Liverpool University Press. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-8020-7690-5.
  5. ↑ Arthur William Bourn Vincent
  6. ↑ Lindsay, Susan Getudis (2008), "American Ireland Fund", in Byrne, James Patrick, Coleman, Philip and King, Jason Francis (ed.), Ireland and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History : A Multidisciplinary Encyclopedia, vol. 2, ABC-CLIO, p. 53{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  7. ↑ Sanders, Andrew (1 September 2022). The Long Peace Process: The United States of America and Northern Ireland, 1960-2008. Liverpool University Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-1-8020-7690-5.
  8. ↑ Lindsay, Susan Getudis (2008), "American Ireland Fund", in Byrne, James Patrick, Coleman, Philip and King, Jason Francis (ed.), Ireland and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History : A Multidisciplinary Encyclopedia, vol. 2, ABC-CLIO, p. 53{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  9. ↑ Anne Stein (July 1993). "The Raising of the Green: Promoting peace keeps Boston lawyer's Irish eyes smiling". ABA Journal. American Bar Association: 100 – via Google Books.
  10. ↑ About Us, The Ireland Funds, Boston, MA, 2014, Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Hancock, Ciaran (27 December 2013). "American Ireland Fund chief Kieran McLoughlin paid $619,000 in 2012". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Financials". The Ireland Funds, Progress through Philanthropy. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Carswell, Simon (27 October 2016). "Clinton-linked firm touted ability to 'secure' funds from Irish charity". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
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