SOURCE OF WEALTH: Conlon & Co; real estate investor
FUNDING AREAS: Environment & Animals, Chicago Community
OVERVIEW: Sean Conlon and family established the S.J. Conlon Animal Foundation in 2007 to focus on wildlife conservation and animals. The current status of the charity is unclear, however. Conlon is also involved in civic life in his hometown of Chicago.
BACKGROUND: Born in Ireland, Sean Conlon attended Dublin Institute of Technology's College of Marketing and Design. He immigrated to the United States in 1990 and thrived in real estate in Chicago. He established Conlon & Co., a real estate merchant bank, in 2000. He also launched the real estate news venture, Sussex & Reilly, and CONLON, which deals with international and commercial real estate. Conlon co-hosts The Deed, an unscripted television series focused on real estate investing on CNBC.
ISSUES:
ENVIRONMENT & ANIMALS: Conlon and his family grew up in a household filled with a range of domestic and native animals, sparking a lifelong interest. Conlon and his siblings Fiona and Kieran established the S.J.Conlon Animal Foundation in 2007, focusing on raising funds and empowering direct volunteers to aid "existing independently functioning organizations that depend almost entirely on public donations of funds and time." Over the years, the foundation has supported projects worldwide including EHRA, Elephant Family, Animal Rescue Kerala, Hacienda Santa Martha, AHAR, Kildare Animal Foundation, Dog Trust, the Atlantic Salmon Trust and COTERC, in addition to many others in the United States. The current status of the charity is unclear, however, and tax records from recent years are unavailable.
CHICAGO COMMUNITY: Conlon is on the board of Lincoln Park Zoological Society and has been involved with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Economic Club of Chicago.
LOOKING FORWARD: Still in his early 50s, it is possible that Conlon will ramp up his philanthropy in the coming years. Look for expanded giving for animals and the environment.
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