Irish billionaire increases donations by €2 million
Howard Lake | 23 May 2016 | News
Businessman Denis O’Brien’s charitable foundation in Ireland increased its donations last year by nearly €2 million, according to the charity’s latest accounts.
The Iris O’Brien Foundation distributed €4.5 million in 2015, against €2.6 million in 2014. Total donations to the Foundation, thought to be solely from Mr O’Brien, were €4.4 million last year and €2.7 million in 2014.
O’Brien established the Iris O’Brien Foundation in 2000 to identify and assist projects in Ireland and internationally which aim to alleviate disadvantaged communities. According to the most recent Sunday Times Rich List, Mr O’Brien is worth £3.7 billion (€4.7 billion).
Last year’s Foundation giving was split between domestic and overseas giving, with each activity receiving €2.4 million and €2 million respectively. In 2014 Mr O’Brien gave Philanthropy Ireland a gift of €250,000 which is listed as Bellane DOB in Philanthropy Ireland’s accounts.
The accounts note that around €2 million is being expended to provide ongoing support to a number of projects. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has been supported by the Foundation since its inception.
The Foundation, which is based at Mr O’Brien’s Communicorp Group headquarters in Dublin, spent €3,700 on management and administration in 2015.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.