Mission
The A. E. Finley Foundation, Inc., is a Private Foundation incorporated in the State of North Carolina. The Foundation operates no programs of its own, but makes grants to other appropriate tax-exempt organizations. The Foundation was established in 1957 by Albert Earle Finley and his wife, Marian Nottingham Finley. The Foundation received substantially all assets from them. Mr. Finley’s vision, initiative and exceptional talent for conscientious work propelled him from a Virginia farm boy into one of North Carolina’s most successful business entrepreneurs. After moving to Raleigh, Mr. Finley founded numerous equipment companies that soon became the largest distribution network of construction machinery in the United States. Mr. Finley was also instrumental in the founding and success of many other business ventures during his life. Mr. Finley never intended to retain all of the the wealth generated by these highly successful enterprises. Early in his career Mr. Finley began sharing the bountiful fruits of his labor with innumerable worthy causes, a practice which led him to be regarded as one of North Carolina’s great philanthropists. He gave generously to educational, charitable causes endearing him to recipient institutions and communities.
In carrying out the philanthropic wishes of Mr. Finley, the Foundation continues to support the activities of several organizations which were beneficiaries of Mr. Finley’s generosity during his lifetime. The Foundation receives a large number of grant requests annually and, regrettably, is unable to respond favorably to all meritorious organizations. Such a response does not reflect in any way on the organization or its programs and services. Every effort is made to give careful consideration to all requests. Upon receipt, applications for grants are reviewed to determine the extent of Foundation interest and a limited number of grants are made annually in support of various programs. The guidelines, as formulated over the years by its benefactor, A. E. Finley and other members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, govern our decisions. The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) and a private foundation as defined in Section 509 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.