Michael j. O’Neill

Founder and President, Beneficence

Michael J. O’Neill is the Founder and President of Beneficence, a philanthropic consulting firm that helps mission-driven institutions align vision, capacity, and growth. With over 30 years of executive leadership—and organizations he’s guided collectively raising more than $2.5 billion—Mike brings deep expertise in planning, feasibility, and advancement strategy. Through Beneficence, he partners with colleges and universities to strengthen fundraising capacity and with high-net-worth individuals and families to structure impactful, values-driven giving. Before launching Beneficence, Mike served as Senior Vice President for University Advancement at Villanova University, where he led campaigns totaling more than $1.2 billion and transformed the institution’s endowment. A first-generation college graduate, he earned his BA and MBA from Fordham University. Mike serves on the Board of Trustees of La Salle Academy, is active in the Irish American Business Chamber and Network and provides pro-bono counsel to nonprofit organizations. A dual citizen of the U.S. and Ireland, he believes in stewardship, creativity, and the power of philanthropy to shape a more compassionate world. As the father of four children, including a Division I student-athlete at Villanova, Mike brings both personal and professional insight into the unique pressures facing student-athletes. He joined OnBalance because he views it as a breakthrough solution to one of higher education’s most urgent and overlooked needs.