The Global Brain Health Institute came to life because of Chuck’s vision of a world in which we can better understand and treat dementia. He recognized that brain health is driven by the same social determinants that influence all health outcomes, and he identified the need for emerging leaders to tackle these global inequities.

The true impact of his vision will be felt for years to come as our international leaders in brain health revolutionize the ways in which dementia is addressed. We are forever inspired and grateful for his grand vision and generosity.

Many Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health shared tributes to Chuck's impact:

"He did so much for so many people. He always knew what were the real priorities in life and his vision and legacy will always be remembered."

"I'm so humbled by how he lived and led others with his vision."

"His legacy will continue forever. (His) life is an inspiration for us to accomplish great things despite challenges."
"Great man with a vision and a mission we must follow. Descanse en paz!"

"We are his breath and we will continue to ensure his heart beats in every corner of our world."

"This inspires me to continue to unite our efforts in his memory and to ensure we carry his vision and grow what he brought into life through our actions. As he said, "It's all about the people." I'm honored to carry the light he shared with us forward alongside each of you."

"We will all continue to shine the light that Chuck ignited across the world."

UCSF has renamed Campus Way on UCSF’s Mission Bay campus “The Feeney Way” in honor of Chuck Feeney, who had an extraordinary impact not only at UCSF but also on the practice of philanthropic giving worldwide.

For more than two decades, Mr. Feeney was a visionary champion of UCSF’s Mission Bay campus. He saw the potential in the neighborhood’s vacant lots and empty railyards that preceded Mission Bay and became the catalyst, convincing others to join him in transforming urban blight into a thriving center of next-generation science. As one of UCSF’s most generous donors, he donated land and funds to support the construction of UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay and other buildings on the campus, created the Global Brain Health Institute, and provided funding for student scholarships and faculty recruitment. Mr. Feeney received the UCSF Medal in 2012 and the UC Presidential Medal in 2015.

During the next year, street signs, pavement markers, pole banners, and a monument will reflect this new name.

I am honored to celebrate Mr. Feeney and his unparalleled humanitarian spirit.

Of all Chuck’s attributes, he was renowned for humility and, in particular, his empathy and kindness. Although he did not like the spotlight, his impact on the world has been immense. The growing Atlantic community now has 899 Atlantic Fellows (741 Global Atlantic Fellows who have completed one of the seven programs and 158 current Fellows), who are active in 80 countries. Over the next two decades, that number will increase to 2,700. Additionally, there are 125 staff from the programs and the Atlantic Institute working in a myriad of ways to support the Fellows.

The Fellows and the communities they serve worldwide will forever be grateful to Chuck for his investment in them. Atlantic Fellows have to date received over 300 grants worth in excess of£1,600,000 from the Atlantic Institute to improve the lives and conditions of people in communities experiencing significant health and social inequalities. The money has also allowed vital health, COVID-19 and equity-focused information that reached millions of people.

Atlantic Fellows projects, funded and supported by the Institute, have also brought benefits to more than23,000 people living in remote or vulnerable communities and have garnered recognition worldwide.

Kritaya Sreesunpagit, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in Southeast Asia, said: “When I think about Chuck Feeney, I really appreciate his humility and his respect for the people. The fact that when he gave, he gave generously and then he stepped back and let the experts do their own thing in their own way.”

Cristiano Schaffer Aguzzoli, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, said: “Chuck Feeney enabled connections between people who care about neurodegenerative disorders and dementia, but who otherwise wouldn't be able to connect. And I think this connection is paramount to improving the brain health inequalities around the world. From my own work perspective, I think the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health open the vast spectrum of possibilities and opportunities that will help me to reduce the impact of dementia not only in my hometown community but also around the world.”

Shehnaz Munshi, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in South Africa, said: “I've been connected to this incredible community of people who come from spaces and places where historic injustices have occurred in a unique way where we can bring our full selves. Through the fellowship and through the investment of this money dreamed into existence a new body of knowledge around decoloniality and health from the African continent.”

Nō reira e te rangatira, moemai, moe mai, moe mai ra.

Rest in love and peace, Chuck. Your work on this earth is done but your legacy will continue for many years to come.

Full tribute>

Charles Feeney's generosity enriched the lives of millions who will never know his name, or how he helped. His life was truly rich.

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Cornell’s leaders often refer to Feeney as the university’s “third founder,” behind only Ezra Cornell and the university’s first president, Andrew Dickson White, in the magnitude of his influence and impact. He died in October 2023 at the age of 92.

In 2021, East Avenue on the Ithaca campus was renamed “Feeney Way” in honor of Feeney’s 90th birthday. Cornell Tech is now home to Cornell’s second Feeney Way, recognizing Feeney’s transformative impact on the university as well as his role in supporting the creation of Cornell Tech’s campus.

Wherever you stand on any of Cornell’s campuses – at Cornell Tech, at Weill Cornell Medicine or in Ithaca – you are surrounded by a living memorial to the quiet greatness of Chuck Feeney. His philanthropy aligned with his selfless nature. It wasn’t about what he wanted, it was about what was needed: how to do the greatest good.

Feeney Way is a pathway that leads through the heart of the Cornell Tech campus, beginning just south of the 59th Street Bridge and extending a quarter-mile through campus buildings and the central plaza.

We are so grateful that Chuck had the vision for what this campus could mean for Cornell’s and New York City’s future, and for the opportunities he has created for all of us who have the benefit of being a part of the Cornell Tech community.

Just days shy of what would have been Chuck’s 93rd birthday, we were honored to open Feeney Way – the walkways that lead to every path and every building on our campus. We know this will be an inspiration to current and future generations of Cornell Tech students and alumni encouraging them to give back, in whatever way they’re able, to their communities.

Chuck was one of my personal heroes and one of the greatest philanthropists of all time.He had four important traits that made him so special.

First, he was totally dedicated to giving away everything he had. In the 1980s, at the height of his entrepreneurial success, he gave his entire stake in his company to his foundation and then spent the next 32 years awarding all of that money to nonprofits around the world. He and his foundation helped build more than 1,000 buildings across five continents, and yet Chuck decided he didn’t even need to own a home. After giving away his $8 billion fortune, he and his wife lived in a rented apartment.

Second, Chuck started humble and stayed humble. He was born during the Depression and had a very modest upbringing in New Jersey. He went to college on the G.I. Bill after serving as an Army radio operator during the Korean War. Once his wealth enabled him to start giving away huge sums of money, he insisted on doing so without any publicity; his giving was strictly anonymous until his identity was revealed in 1997. Chuck wanted to give away his entire $8 billion fortune without anyone outside his immediate circle knowing.

Third, he was passionate about philanthropy. I’m sure he felt pride at what he created in his business life, including not only Duty Free Shoppers but also the investment firm General Atlantic Partners. But I know he got a lot of personal satisfaction helping solve big social problems around the world. He loved meeting people, learning about issues, and thinking about the best ways to help out with his time, knowledge, and money.

Fourth, as a result of all of the above, he was a very effective philanthropist. He had a major hand in bringing about the Irish Republican Army ceasefire in 1994 and the historic peace agreement in Northern Ireland. His “big bets” helped rebuild Vietnam’s primary health care system for the benefit of millions of rural families. In education and health care, he helped his grantees build strong institutions that will produce meaningful, measurable change for many years.

I had the honor of meeting Chuck at the time Melinda, Warren, and I were starting to think about launching the Giving Pledge. We were blown away by how approachable he was. And we could tell immediately that Chuck really enjoyed giving. As he later put it when he joined the Giving Pledge, “I cannot think of a more personally rewarding and appropriate use of wealth than to give while one is living—to personally devote oneself to meaningful efforts to improve the human condition.”

Despite his soft-spoken nature and desire for anonymity, he was always glad to talk about what he was learning in the hope of helping others find the same joy and impact that he did. As a result, he had a very positive influence on many other givers. He inspired others to think about the merits of spending down a foundation’s assets, or as he put it, “giving while living.” He helped donors see how rewarding it was to get deeply and personally involved. His bold stand on HIV encouraged others to support advocacy.

I’m grateful to have known and learned from Chuck. His remarkable legacy will live on for generations to come, through all of the organizations he strengthened and all the ways he influenced others to give of their fortunes and of themselves.

Bill Gates's Note and Video>

What made Chuck remarkable isn’t what he said he’d do—it’s how thoroughly and thoughtfully he did it. He gave away virtually all his wealth while he was alive. And he gave it to a vast array of causes around the world: public health system strengthening in Vietnam, HIV clinics in South Africa, and grassroots campaigns to expand health care coverage to people with low incomes, to name a few.

Feeney’s humble but powerful philanthropy inspired so many people, including Warren Buffett and our foundation’s co-chairs, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. He showed us all how the actions of one generous person can set the wheels in motion for generations of progress.

Inspiring bigger impact>

I am saddened to share the news that our firm’s founder, Chuck Feeney, has passed away at the age of 92. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Chuck reshaped the landscape for entrepreneurs and reimagined philanthropy around his personal credo of “Giving While Living.” He is survived by his wife Helga and five children, and by the profound impact that he had on so many people and institutions around the world, including our firm.

Chuck was a self-starter, born into a working-class family during the Great Depression. He became the first member of his family to go to college and started Duty Free Shoppers with little capital and lots of determination. He had a growth mindset and was eager to scale his business to capitalize on the growth in global travel.

Chuck’s early success with Duty Free Shoppers left him in a position to retire young and live a life of comfort. Instead, he embraced an almost ascetic devotion to helping other entrepreneurs and giving away his fortune to help others, with no desire for personal attention or plaudits. Forbes famously called him “The James Bond of Philanthropy.” Warren Buffet and Bill Gates called him their hero. To us at General Atlantic, he was “Chuck” – our founder who was himself an entrepreneur and embedded philanthropy into our culture.

It strikes me, in this moment of reflection on his life, just how fortunate we were that Chuck founded General Atlantic in 1980. Fortunate that he pulled together an all-star team that started with Steve Denning and, soon after, Dave Hodgson, who would both become critical leaders for our firm over the next four decades. Fortunate that he gave us the license and latitude to grow and invest in novel ways, based on our expertise and intuition, as opposed to what other investors were doing at the time. And fortunate that he embodied the very type of leader that to this day we seek to identify and support.

Steve Denning tells the story of a first meeting where Chuck boldly stated that he wanted to put up $50 million to start an investment firm “to help entrepreneurs build great companies.” Chuck was always guided by this entrepreneurial spirit and said that he could not have succeeded without the help of others. Chuck firmly believed that the purpose of wealth is “to improve the human condition.” He saw the bigger picture: by creating an investment platform to support growing companies, he could magnify the wealth he had – and give it all back over his lifetime.

Following this conversation, and two years after General Atlantic was founded, Chuck informed us that he had given away 99 percent of his wealth to a foundation that he had created: The Atlantic Philanthropies. The foundation would address the world’s most pressing issues, and General Atlantic would serve as the direct investment arm to grow its capital base. Chuck entrusted the General Atlantic leadership team with running the firm but often met with our entrepreneurs; he said it was the part of the business that gave him the most joy.

For three decades, General Atlantic delivered returns to The Atlantic Philanthropies that were used to support and launch hundreds of organizations dedicated to education, global health, human rights, and more. Three years ago, The Atlantic Philanthropies officially closed its doors, having given away roughly $9 billion, essentially Chuck’s entire net worth.
Chuck also inspired our firm’s commitment to philanthropy. The General Atlantic Foundation supports the communities in which we operate and the causes that are important to our people. The majority of our employees donate personal funds and time to nonprofit organizations, and I know many of you chose to work at General Atlantic because of the example Chuck set – another incredible legacy.

Please join me in remembering and honoring Chuck and his incredible life of purpose. Chuck’s inspiration to the firm and future generations will surely live on.

We were very sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Chuck Feeney, Founding Chairman of The Atlantic Philanthropies, who had great contributions to the development of Hue Central Hospital. This is a big loss for you and all near and dear to you and for us as well. We never forgot his great sentiments and what he had done for the Hue Central Hospital. We were deeply impressed by his power, generosity and kindness. Now, he passed away, but as always, his image is in our mind. We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to all members of Mr. Chuck Feeney's family and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

May I, as President of Ireland, join with all those who have paid tribute to the passing of a great friend of Ireland and its people, the late Chuck Feeney.

So much of what has been achieved in Irish third level education owes so much to his generous gifts to so many institutions. Through his selfless commitment to so many important causes, Chuck Feeney’s work was founded on the core principles of inclusivity, participation and fairness. He has left a deep and lasting effect on the lives of so many people in our country, providing opportunities for participation and improving conditions within our society.

Through the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation, his donations to education in Ireland in particular helped empower children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, thus playing an innovative role in the shaping of the more equal and just Ireland of today.

It is important too that we recognise the contribution made by Chuck Feeney in the long journey towards peace and reconciliation on our island. The Irish people will remain deeply appreciative of his quiet and generous work in moving the process forward, while also providing funding for important reconciliation and regeneration projects.

I had the honour of presenting Chuck Feeney, who remained proud of his Fermanagh roots, with the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2012, in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to the education sector and to the wider spheres of research and civil society throughout the island of Ireland.

I also fondly recall meeting with him during my official visit to the West Coast of the United States in October 2015, where we joined in paying tribute at the Martin Luther King Civic Centre to those Irish students who tragically lost their lives in the Berkeley tragedy.

May I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Helga, to his children and extended family, and to all his many friends and colleagues.

Saddened to hear of the death of Chuck Feeney.

Through Atlantic Philanthropies, he contributed to peace and reconciliation in Ireland, championed equality and improved third-level education dramatically. He also helped to change attitudes to the LGBT community.

An amazing privilege to have worked with someone so focused on changing the world for the better. Generous, selfless, strategic, trusting, innovative & always up for a risk. Thank you Chuck Feeney for all you did to change lives. I doubt we’ll see another quite like you.

I am sure I speak on behalf of the entire University of Limerick community past and present in expressing our sorrow at the loss of one of the most giving of men in Chuck Feeney. I was fortunate to meet him and his wife Helga as recently as March in San Francisco and it was a privilege to spend some time with him. I want to offer my sympathy on behalf of the institution to his family and to celebrate a truly extraordinary legacy that he leaves behind as an inspiration to all. Chuck Feeney’s giving while living philosophy is at its heart an exceptional story of giving – around €8 billion towards philanthropy, for education, youth, health, and human rights globally. As the son of Irish American parents, maybe it is no surprise that over €1 billion of philanthropic support went to Ireland, and UL has been one of the main beneficiaries. At its simplest, the University of Limerick campus, over 18,000 students and 2,000 staff would not have been possible were it not for Chuck Feeney’s generosity. We wanted to acknowledge Chuck with the Feeney Way dedication; for one, because we are hugely appreciative for what he has done for UL, this region and for Ireland and this was ultimately where his ‘Giving While Living’ started. I know we join with a huge community of colleagues in education, health, youth support and human rights organisations all over the world in humble thanks to an incredible man.

Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Chuck Feeney.

Through Atlantic Philanthropies, Chuck’s vision, generosity and selfless leadership transformed the lives of people on the island of Ireland, north and south, young and old, through investment in education and community. It was a great honour to work with him, transforming Ireland’s third level research capacity.

He was a pioneer in the world of philanthropy.

Ní bheidh do leithéad arís ann.

I am deeply saddened at the news of the death of my good friend Chuck Feeney. I want to extend my sincerest condolences and solidarity to Helga his wife and the Feeney family. Chuck was an extraordinary human being whose kindness and vision brought hope and joy to millions. Through Atlantic Philanthropies he gave away billions to those working in the field of civil liberties, health, community development and education. Along with the late Bill Flynn, Bruce Morrison, Joe Jamison, Chuck Feeney and Niall O’Dowd, he was part of the Connolly House group which played a pivotal role in creating the conditions for the peace process. In the decades since then Chuck has remained steadfast and committed to the Irish peace process ever since. [Chuck Feeney] was one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. [He was a] very private who always shunned the spotlight and who was totally committed to our efforts to build peace. Chuck’s philosophy was straightforward – if you give while living you get to see the results. It’s about making real and tangible change in peoples’ lives. Chuck’s efforts, his generosity and solidarity over many years, touched many millions and will continue to do so into the future. Tá sé ar slí na fírinne anois.

Chuck Feeney, in his life and in his lasting legacy, set an inspirational standard of what it means to be a Cornellian. His life’s mission of consequential philanthropy, the breathtaking impact of his giving to his alma mater, and the way his quiet example has motivated so many others, has been immeasurably transformative to Cornell and to Cornellians. I am heartened by the fact that Chuck – who famously never sought recognition for his generosity – had recently granted Cornell’s wish to express our appreciation for him and celebrate his impact and vision by naming main thoroughfares on our Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses in his honor.

At this time of great sadness, I wanted to extend deepest sympathies from the University of Galway community to Helga, Chuck’s family, and to you and your team at The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Chuck was a true visionary leader, inspiring, empowering and enabling generations of students and academics through generous, philanthropic investments. His legacy is evident right across our campus.
Our engagement with The Atlantic Philanthropies was extensive, over a long period of time, through Galway University Foundation from the 1990s.

Our University has changed over time, in large part due to the generous support of Atlantic Philanthropies. The impact of Chuck Feeney’s vision is therefore ever-present here. The impact that he made to and for our community is immeasurable and, in turn, that investment in people has made a difference here in Galway, on the island of Ireland and internationally. Our campus itself is living testament to Chuck Feeney’s strong belief that “Good buildings for good minds can make a big difference in the lives of a lot of people.”

He leaves a remarkable legacy and one that has provided, and will enable, educational and research opportunities for many years to come.

These acts and the determination to make a difference were recognised in September 2012 when our University, together with the universities of Ireland, North and South, conferred an honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) on Dr Feeney. It was symbolic of the respect and high esteem with which Dr Feeney is held in, for his incredible support for Irish universities and our young people over many long years.

The Irish saying is never more true; Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann, we shall not see his like again. We will keep you all in our thoughts over the coming weeks, months and, no doubt, years.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.

Chuck Feeney was a remarkable man leading the cause of giving while living. A remarkable humble individual and approachable when he resided in Brisbane his work will never be forgotten. The world has lost a true saint.

🌈Chuck, that exceptionally good man, has not ceased to exist; his good deeds, karma, take him further, into higher realms of existence, into divine worlds; dear Chuck will surely be reborn as a deity, in one of the many divine worlds💓

Chuck Feeney’s extraordinary and transformative contribution to DCU, to Irish higher education and to Ireland as a whole simply cannot be overstated. His unparalleled generosity transformed the landscape of our campuses and his legacy will continue to benefit our students and our academic community for decades to come. By choosing to donate his wealth during his lifetime, Mr Feeney not merely demonstrated the power of giving but set an example which he hoped others would copy. By living his values, he helped to create a brighter future and a better society for the people of Ireland, north and south. On behalf of the DCU community, I wish to express my sincerest condolences to his family, and our deepest gratitude for his immense generosity during his lifetime.”

I work for a non-profit organization and have for 32 years. We all can appreciate the kindness in the heart of any individual such as Mr. Feeney that shares their wealth with non-profit entities. I want to thank Mr. Feeney on behalf of those whom he did support. Your legacy of kindness will not be forgotten. You have touched the hearts of so many.

Chuck Feeney’s commitment to his extraordinary philanthropic mission was absolute – which I came to learn as one of his longtime assistants. For some three decades, Chuck continually engaged with The Atlantic Philanthropies and its grantmaking, while also working to maximise the organisation’s endowment through successful commercial ventures. All hard work at the forefront, even long after he might otherwise have opted for a more comfortable life. Early morning travel, business discussions over morning coffee, full days of meetings, multiple subject areas, different geographies – these were routine. Chuck’s keen intellect demanded this high level of activity and initiative: he also relished the mix. Chuck was highly disciplined, a master at making things happen, and above all, he loved engaging with people. He never seemed more satisfied than in seeing good work done that would benefit others, and he was deeply grateful to those who brought his philanthropic vision to life. It is clear that not only will the impact of Chuck’s chosen path live on in tangible life improvements for many, it will also forever serve as example and inspiration for all. So, for our final morning meeting, my report would be, simply: Chuck, Job done! Well done! And for me, it has been a privilege to participate in your journey. May you rest in peace.

I am fortunate to serve as Acting Director of the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), a research entity within The University of Queensland, Australia. I recognise that our University Vice Chancellor will separately write to you, but I felt important to do so on behalf of UQCCR

UQCCR was established thanks to the vision of Chuck and Helga Feeney and their kind motivation provided to The University of Queensland and the Queensland State Government to facilitate the building of UQCCR. Built in 2007 and opened in 2008 at a build cost of AUD$70m, this research centre has been responsible for the development of many high quality research careers as well as significant research and clinical impacts. Our current themes in particular continue to benefit from this vision meaning that Cancer, Brain Neurology and Mental Health, Fertility and Infectious Diseases are areas that have all benefitted from Chuck and Helga’s generosity.

On behalf of all those who have been provided opportunities that may not otherwise have been available through UQCCR, I thank Chuck and Helga.

In November we celebrated our 15-year anniversary and we look forward to continuing to recognise Chuck and Helga Feeney.

It was with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Chuck Feeney at the age of 92.
Chuck Feeney's extraordinary vision, courage, humility, and unwavering commitment to advancing humanity through research have left an indelible mark on the world, building educational and research capacity, and driving social change such as the peace process in Northern Ireland. His leadership transformed Australia into a center for groundbreaking research, leading to world-class discoveries. His first investment in Australia was the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at the University of Queensland.
Chuck's legacy will endure for generations to come. His positive, can-do attitude and ambitious dreams encouraged both state and federal governments to collaborate in pursuing a shared vision for a brighter future, not only for Australia but for the entire world. Importantly, his vision of “giving while living” inspired others to create change through philanthropy. Ever humble, Chuck never wanted his name associated with his philanthropy, and due to the secrecy of his giving he was often referred to as the James Bond of philanthropy.
I had the distinct honour of meeting with Chuck and Helga in San Francisco three weeks ago to celebrate their remarkable contributions to UQ. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to express our gratitude in person, and as an Irish person, to thank him for his contribution the peace process in Ireland. Through our work in IMB we are fortunate to carry on Chuck's legacy. I encourage everyone to take a moment and reflect on his inspirational actions, his profound impact, and the gifts he gave to all of us.

Chuck, Charles Frances, CFF or Mr Feeney – oh how you influenced our orbits and how sad we are. The rarity of worldliness that once you followed in the shadows, experienced humanity in community, from the bosom of the Burren to the Sands of the Gold Coast. The sophistication of his intellect was so intense that he could move forward in time to see opportunities that best served us all. We all know the glances that could convey layers of meaning or the tapestry of stories that told a tale - to deploy your best foot forward with minimal fussiness. He was the man that was more ‘Normal than Normal’, deep down this was the trait that was in many ways incomprehensible but was the law of attraction that drew you in. One of my kindest memories is when Seamus Heaney, came into the San Francisco office not long after winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, Chuck called me into the boardroom to sit with Seamus while he went off to check on something – I was in awe that I got to meet a Nobel Laureate and an Irish one at that. Seamus asked me why he was there, and I replied that we should let the meeting flow as at some point we may find a relevance. But really it was Chuck giving me the gift of that memory, as much as sometimes he privately regaled in having some Irishness around him.

So in gratitude to Chuck – a poem for The Inspiration.

Charles Francis Feeney in Memory

¢The Man of Timeless Giving

L’homme au don Intemporel’

Granite Devotion in Polite Resolve

In Building the Curious Mind,

To Carve out Indefinite Good

The Serendipitous Humorous ‘Homme.

Pursuing Thrills of the Ordinary

With Tender Touch and Kindness,

His Gentle Voice of Reasoning

A Triumph of ‘Grande Âme.

Indelible Comprehension of Full Percent

In Symbols of Shrewd Sharpness,

Simply Trusting to the World

Subtly Seeking Peace L’homme Mystérieux.

The Confession

In Castletroy Limerick, Chuck found a comfortable pattern that saw him being able to relax. I’m always proud of the staff that allowed him to have that space, always on their toes but enjoying the step up in preparation for a visit. They were full of pride in knowing that he enjoyed his time there and he was their Boss! But alas I have a confession, Chuck wanted to host a ‘Last Hurrah’ before we sold the Hotel. We got to planning and organising a simple itinerary for the weekend, I was allowed to choose the Friday evening Buffet food and Chuck decided on the Saturday evening Dinner. In absolute true to form, Chuck poured over the cost details. The Chef Tom Flavin and I wanted to showcase Irish Food and cooking from the west coast of Ireland, as many were flying in from abroad. He saw Lobster Bisque on the Buffet menu and I got the cross ‘Look’! So I explained how we would only use a couple of Lobster shells as we needed non meat options, we coalesced and he gave us a little win. In my only moment of disobedience to him, we circuitously used more as we dressed the Buffet down but dressed the best of local food up. With Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin playing his infamous song Woodbrook, he gave me another look as I stood in the middle of the room with my back to a pillar, his smiling appreciative eyes - it’s one of my fondest memories of Chuck.

To Helga and all the Feeney Family, he will long live in his inspiration to us all. Rest in Peace Charles Francis, in Heaven's best seat.

Please accept this message on behalf of The University of Queensland. We are honoured to pay tribute to Chuck Feeney:

Transformative impact

Chuck Feeney's courage, humility and commitment to the advancement of humanity through research has been transformative at The University of Queensland (UQ). His leadership shaped the state of Queensland, Australia into a hub for research that has led to world-leading discoveries, and has facilitated the expansion of educational opportunity around the world – particularly in Vietnam.

Chuck’s legacy will continue for generations to come through the worthwhile causes he supported, and the countless others he inspired to make the world a better place through giving. His enthusiasm and ability to dream big encouraged governments to co-invest in a shared vision for a brighter future for Australia and the world.

At UQ, we have the great fortune of carrying on Chuck’s legacy. We will continue to strive to be worthy of his extraordinary generosity as we remember all he did for the world.

Chuck Feeney was a champion of giving. Throughout his lifetime, he donated at least $350 million to Queensland science institutes, including $20 million to establish the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) in 2003 at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. From an initial team of four groups, QBI is now home to 34 laboratories and 250 researchers, all working towards understanding brain function, and further, to treat and ultimately prevent, disorders of the brain. Our important advances in fundamental neuroscience over the past two decades are now being applied to the development of new therapeutic approaches for diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Motor Neurone Disease (MND), concussion, amongst others. Stage 1 human trials have started for MND, and testing a device designed at QBI for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

QBI owes its achievements in neuroscience to Chuck’s largesse. In this, our 20th anniversary year, we honour Chuck and Helga’s extraordinary philanthropic contributions in a golden era that transformed research and biological sciences in Queensland.

It was hard not to be enchanted by Chuck’s insatiable curiosity for world events, science,
and education, and, of course, his remarkable vision. A couple of times, I proposed an idea to
Chuck, and he looked at me and said, “go bigger, go bigger.”

As I got to know Chuck, I was inspired by his selfless dedication to improving the world and his
incredible personal humility. An engaging twinkle in his eye would appear when a topic came up
that interested him. His impact reached far beyond UCSF and San Francisco, including Vietnam,
South Africa, Ireland, Australia, and more.

Mission Bay was once an old rail yard abandoned by South Pacific. But the governor of
California had a bold vision, and Chuck recognized the potential for transformation, too. Over
the years, he made anonymous contributions to many of our buildings and along the way, he
supported countless students, scientists, and clinicians.

His life’s work made innumerable dreams possible here and worldwide. He improved and
saved the lives of people he would never personally meet. His generosity positively transformed
our university, UCSF, and city, San Francisco. For that, we will forever be in his debt and his
legacy of Giving While Living will carry forward for generations to come.

Chuck’s been the model for us all. If you have the right heroes in life, you’re 90% of the way home. Chuck Feeney is a good hero to have.

On behalf of the Higher Education Authority, I wish to express our deepest and heart-felt condolences on the loss of Dr Chuck Feeney. As you are aware, Chuck was a great friend of Ireland and because of that friendship and his amazing generosity, Ireland has been transformed in terms of educational resources and research facilities. We in Ireland, owe Chuck and you his family, a huge debt of gratitude for his foresight and philanthropy. Working with a predecessor of mine as Chairman of the HEA – Dr Don Thornhill, Chuck challenged the Government of the day to begin a new era of scientific research in Ireland, by co-funding five cycles of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI). As a result of this investment the Irish universities have state-of-the-art buildings and equipment which has enabled them to compete for public research grants both in the EU and worldwide.

The Board also noted the many other areas supported by his Atlantic Philanthropies, between 1987-2016, which invested over $1.3b in the Republic of Ireland to advance higher education, human rights and services. The Board noted in particular the funding he provided to promote peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h'anam dílis. (May his kind soul be at the right hand of God)

One of the final investments Atlantic Philanthropies made in Northern Ireland was the purchase of a three-storey office building on the edge of Belfast city centre. This might not sound like the most riveting purchase in the world – but it would prove similarly life-changing for four local human rights organisations and the communities they support.

The building became known as ‘Community House’. It houses four Atlantic-funded human rights organisations with diverse but complementary approaches to creating change: Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR), Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), The Human Rights Consortium and ourselves in The PILS Project. This office block was quite literally a concrete contribution to our future, along with the long-term investment of the NI Human Rights Fund, set up in 2015.

All four of those organisations still exist today, combining our unique skills to tackle the major human rights issues of the day. All because Atlantic left us with a solid foundation – metaphorically and physically.

Over the past few days, the PILS team have been reflecting on his foresight, Atlantic’s bravery to support a fledging NGO like us, and the best way to honour this vision. Once again, we have found our answer in Chuck’s own approach to philanthropy. A glowing Forbes profile piece in 2012 summed up his motivation:

“He hunts for causes where he can have dramatic impact and goes all-in”.

That’s it. The best way to repay his faith in PILS is to continue to live out this mantra: find the seminal public interest challenges of our time and support them, by going ‘all in’.

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The Atlantic Philanthropies has supported the Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program from its founding in 2008.

With this support, the Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program has provided experience and skills in health and aging policy to 193 fellows, and counting, from multiple disciplines and settings. The training and experience have enabled alumni fellows to make contributions to the health and well-being of older people through policy-relevant research, policymaking at the state and federal levels of government, and health and social care delivery. These outcomes would not have happened without the care and commitment of Chuck Feeney and the Atlantic Philanthropies.

The Health and Aging Policy Fellows National Program Office, Alumni, and Fellows are immeasurably grateful for the support of The Atlantic Philanthropies, especially that of Chuck and of Chris Langston, former Program Officer with The Atlantic Philanthropies. The John A. Hartford Foundation and West Health have extended, and are continuing to extend, this legacy and the program’s reach into the future by extending the pipeline of policy experts committed to improving the lives of older Americans.

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Chuck’s particular interest in Ireland was spent developing education, civil society, and peace initiatives on the island. The Irish American Partnership benefited greatly from his altruism, when in 1986 a newspaper article caught his eye, about the formation in Dublin of a body called the Irish American Partnership, inspired by Paddy Harte, a member of the Dail. Paddy Harte sought to harness the tremendous goodwill toward Ireland among successful Irish Americans to stimulate business and philanthropy. Chuck Feeney provided seed funding of $250,000 which covered multi-year operating expenses for the Partnership.

We have long been inspired by Chuck’s example and largesse, focusing the might of our efforts investing in Ireland’s future through the educational institutions, scholarships, and schools that inspire our youth. He cared more about being effective at what he did so that he could improve the lives of others in meaningful ways. We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants.

Chuck Feeney’s support of the Partnership has been transformative in setting our organization up for success, and impacting the young people of Ireland. We are forever grateful to him, and to his visionary Atlantic Philanthropies.

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For Queensland scientists, the rustle of a plastic bag was what announced the arrival of "penniless" billionaire Chuck Feeney.

Mr Feeney was a believer in Queensland as a future hub of scientific innovation, even when it was considered an international underdog. He thought it was improbable that Queensland had the roots that it had, but it wanted to blaze a trail in science and medical research.

Mr Feeney had a knack for getting rival institutions to stop bickering and cooperate. He got everyone together and he wasn't tolerant of groups that he worked with and supported blabbing against other groups.

He wanted everyone to play as a team and I think that was one of the great strengths of his contribution, which was a stunning contribution.

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Chuck Feeney was a unique man. He was warm, generous with a gentle, playful sense of humour. Proud of his Irish roots, he recognised that health care, services and research in ageing were lacking in Ireland and the sector was struggling for recognition and investment.

He was persuaded, by Profs Davis Coakley (deceased) and Bernard Walsh, to invest in physical and manpower infrastructure at St James- the first steps towards an Academic Health Sciences Centre. His vision was for a state of the art clinical-research facility that would take a national lead in health innovation. On visits to St James, he was convinced by the then poor quality of hospital accommodation for older patients.

Through Atlantic Philanthropies, the corporate entity which managed his philanthropy, he supported a new institute (Mercers Institute for Successful Ageing, MISA), a chair and senior lecturer post in medical gerontology (Profs Rose Anne Kenny & Joe Harbison), and additional research and clinical personnel.

At the time, there was little reliable data available to inform policy on ageing in Ireland or to enable high-quality research. Atlantic Philantropies were approached by Prof Kenny in 2006 to support TILDA- Irelands largest adult research study, now in its 17th year and continuing to grow with support from government and other research funding bodies. The investments changed the ageing experience in Ireland.

Chuck’s dear wife, Helga, was always working by his side. We will endeavour to continue his inspirational vision and remember his humility- it was always about others and never about himself.

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For many years now, I have acknowledged how grateful we are for what Chuck has done for humanity, and for inspiring us with his philosophy. In 2016 Archana and I had the first opportunity to meet with Helga and Chuck. They chose a café for rehabilitated convicts that he supported. Post our meet, we walked back to their rental apartment close by and got to see firsthand their spartan lifestyle. A year later I went back to speak at a rare ceremony to honour him in San Francisco, given he generally shunned awards. Each time, the man’s simplicity amazed me and I was struck by the fact that I was in the company of a man most extraordinary—one who had not only made a business we all knew of, but had given away a staggering $8 billion (or equivalent of Rs 64,000 crore in today’s currency) quietly, impacting tens of millions of lives.

Chuck famously said—“I have one idea that never changed in my mind. That you should use your wealth to help people.” Even though I met him when he was left with little, I know no other man who will ever be richer than him with goodwill and blessings when he died. In a lesson to those of us with privilege he said, “I strongly believe in giving while living,” and added, “I see little reason to delay it when worthwhile causes can be supported today.” In a world which so desperately needs hope, Chuck showed us the way with what is possible. That those of us who are blessed with wealth and power have the capacity to change the world. He showed that change is possible during our lifetime but that it requires more to live their lives just like he did—with purpose, simplicity and with urgency. Thank you, Chuck, for everything!

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Chuck Feeney’s extraordinary vision to support Echoing Green in its infancy had a massive multiplier effect around the world. If it weren’t for Chuck Feeney, there perhaps may not have been hundreds of organizations like Last Mile Health, Teach for America, City Year, One Acre Fund, Shining Hope for Communities, and the organization I founded, Global Fund for Children. He, along with his colleagues at General Atlantic, were at the forefront of solving the world’s most intractable problems by backing highly innovative social entrepreneurs. The Echoing Green Fellows community will be forever grateful for Mr. Feeney’s catalytic investment.

Feeney’s legacy will continue to impact lives for generations to come. He once said: “Philanthropy is not about money. It’s about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.”

As we remember him, let’s not only celebrate his incredible generosity, but also heed his call to use the resources available to us — our time, skills, funds, and more — to make the world a better place.

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While many have reflected on the modest man who flew coach and wore a $10 wrist watch, I will remember the stories from hundreds of people whose lives were changed under the canopy of buildings, campuses, and infrastructure made possible by his generosity.

Architecture is often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity, particularly in the resource-constrained non-profit sector. At MASS (Model of Architecture Serving Society) Design Group, we have spent more than a decade advocating that everyone deserves good design. We documented the profound impact of buildings—proving that the design of a building has measurable impacts on people and communities, while creating ripple effects that influence systemic change.

The Atlantic Philanthropies invested in building projects, recognizing that the design and functionality of spaces profoundly influence human behavior and social outcomes. By 2015, one-third of their grantmaking, amounting to almost $7 billion, was channeled towards non-profit capital endeavors. From primary health care facilities in rural Vietnam, prestigious educational institutions in Ireland, to heritage sites in South Africa, Feeney intuitively understood that buildings could drive positive change, promote peace, and uphold dignity.

The Architect’s Philanthropist>