The single most generous benefactor of good causes in Ireland over the last decade has been Charles (Chuck) Feeney, the reclusive Irish-American millionaire who co-founded the Duty Free Shoppers Group chain of airport stores.
But his foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies, has always avoided publicity, as has Mr Feeney himself, even to the extent of barring photographers when he meets beneficiaries.
Now the fund has for the first time opened its books to reveal that it has given a total of $548 million to the Republic of Ireland and $154 million to Northern Ireland in the last decade.
Mr Feeney (70) has also persuaded his Bermuda-based foundation to exhaust its $4 billion endowment over the next 15 years or so, on the basis that the prospect of winding up its activities would focus its attention on aggressive problem-solving rather than on self-perpetuation.
It now anticipates giving away $400 million a year, concentrating on the ageing population, disadvantaged youth and global public health.
Atlantic Philanthropies consists of the Atlantic Foundation and the Atlantic Trust and several smaller philanthropies, principally in the United States and Britain. It does not accept unsolicited applications for funding.
In a personal capacity, Mr Feeney was one of the biggest American financial backers of Sinn Féin, underwriting the Sinn Féin office in Washington during the early 1990s.
The foundation has now set out its new strategy on its website, atlanticphilanthropies.org
"Until recently, all grants were made anonymously," it said.
"That is no longer the case. Understanding that a policy of public access to our grant-making work would extend significant benefits to our grantees, we are no longer pursuing a policy of anonymity.
"However, we remain committed to keeping a low profile and not seeking publicity for our organisation."
Mr Feeney's foundation originally made grants in the US only, but expanded from 1990 to include the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and subsequently other parts of the world, such as Vietnam and South Africa.
It originally focused on education, but now includes the non-profit sector, ageing, health and human rights.
Since its founding in 1982, the fund has awarded approximately 2,900 grants totaling US$2.5 billion. Most of this - $1.4 billion - went to causes in the United States.
Last year, almost one-third of the total of $333 million paid out went to the island of Ireland, with $85 million going to the Republic and $25.6 million to Northern Ireland. In the Republic, most of the money went to universities, but in Northern Ireland half went to bodies involved in peace and reconciliation, community development and equality, rights and justice.
Last year, Cork University Foundation was the main Irish beneficiary, receiving a total of €28.5 million, mainly to support a nanoscience project and a new library.
Trinity College Foundation received €21 million, more than half of which is earmarked for neuroscience research.
The University of Limerick Foundation received €15.1 million; the Royal College of Surgeons €6.54 million; Galway University Foundation €3.76 million and Dublin City University €1.65 million.
Among other beneficiaries were the Ark Cultural Trust for Children (€533,000), Glenstal Abbey (€800,000) and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (€190,500).
For full list of grants see: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/special/2002/feeney/index.htm