At its recent meeting in May 2010, the Board of Directors of the Onassis Foundation decided on the discontinuance of the Foundation's Grants Programme in Greece and abroad.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation has proceeded with the redistribution of the Foundation's funds – as described in the will of Aristotle Onassis – which, from this day forward will be available exclusively for the needs of the Foundation's own programmes, i.e. Scholarships addressed to Greek students, Scholarships addressed to foreign students for Hellenic studies, the Onassis Prizes, the Affiliated Foundation in New York with its annual exhibitions and the University Seminars Programme, that will continue to operate normally.

The Onassis Cultural Centre of the Foundation, which began its operation in Athens in the fall of 2010, is expected to absorb a large portion of the Foundation's resources. Its extremely promising schedule of activities has been strategically planned on a long-term basis, aiming to serve and promote Greek and foreign culture, Letters and Art. We are certain that the benefits that will arise from the contribution of the Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens to culture on a national and international level, will be of extreme significance and will considerably impact not only Greeks but every actively involved citizen, becoming, at the same time, a pole of attraction and a source of learning for the young.

Τhe International Conference entitled The Athens Dialogues was the inaugurating event of the Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens in November 2010. The Athens Dialogues now operate as an autonomous research programme. Professors and researchers of all levels, artists and intellectuals that are either related to or inspired by ancient Greek culture – directly or indirectly –have the opportunity to become members of a scientific and social network, active through the Conference's website. Inside, they are able to look for research programmes and financial support for the purchase of books for their University Libraries, all in favor of their instructional activities.

They can submit their candidature for participation in the University Seminars Programme operated by the Affiliated Onassis Foundation in the United States, while they will be offered the opportunity to make acquaintances within the worldwide scientific community in order to cultivate fruitful scientific collaborations.

The Foundation will continue to follow up on the developments in the fields related to its activities, deciding at times and on a case by case basis, on the financial support of independent, one-off programmes, projects and collaborations that are consistent with its by-laws and objectives.

All grants that have already been approved by the Foundation and communicated to the interested parties will be executed as normal.

Up until 2010, the Board of Directors of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation has offered significant funding for the realization of important projects of public benefit interest, undertaking, with the assistance of its team of advisors, both the preliminary studies and their implementation. Under certain circumstances, it has decided on the financial contribution towards large-scale projects, both in Greece and abroad, in collaboration with other public benefit foundations.

The substantial grants handed out by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation testify to its concern with Greek culture, art and literature. It also provided financial support to organisations that are active in these fields. Thanks to its generous sponsorship, exhibitions, traditional dance, theatre performances and book launches have served to make Greece known all over the world.

In the field of education, the Foundation has donated educational material and technical equipment to a large number of primary and secondary schools, having given preference to schools in remote frontier areas and to the Cultural Centres of Greek communities abroad that are faced with serious financial difficulties.  Outside Greece, it has provided financial assistance to many University libraries and schools in Greek communities. At the same time, it has responded positively in the case of Greek and foreign universities which have requested financial help in acquiring certain academic publications.

The Foundation has followed with particular interest the activities of certain research organisations which have requested financial assistance for the completion of medical, environmental and archaeological research. In this context, it has funded the publication of research writings by its Greek and foreign scholars, thereby contributing essentially to their academic and professional careers.

The Foundation has provided immediate and substantial humanitarian aid in cases of emergency such as earthquakes, floods and mass disasters. In a considerable number of cases its Board of Directors has unanimously decided to provide direct support to the State in aiding the citizens. 
Based on its Statutes, the Foundation is prevented from providing charity to individuals in need, but it could and did contribute substantially to the effort to confront problems and needs in today's society. 

Indicative was the donation of USD 5,000,000 for the restoration of 20 Greek schools which were destroyed by the 1981 earthquake in the departmental regions of Attica, Evia Corinth, Viotia, Fokis, Ioannina and Preveza. 

The Foundation has supported the work of the Church by donating large sums for the restoration and preservation of churches in Greece and of Greek communities abroad.