The Ben May Charitable Trust (Hancock Whitney Bank successor trustee) concentrates its giving on advanced scientific research at major research universities and institutes, with large, targeted gifts supporting cancer research and theoretical/computational chemistry. Grants are project-focused and often designated to named centers, indicating an interest in building institutional research capacity and scientific advancement rather than broad general operating support.
The Ben May Charitable Trust Hancock Whitney Bank Successor Trustee is marked by repeated six-figure support for scientific research, especially at The University of Chicago and the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. Across the recent grant list, both institutions received $250,000 grants in multiple years, showing a steady commitment to named research efforts rather than one-off awards. The trust’s giving also extends to scientific and educational capacity-building in Alabama, including support for the Alabama School of Math and Science and St Ignatius Catholic School. Its portfolio reaches beyond research into Jewish communal institutions, public-interest organizations, and place-based projects in Mobile and elsewhere in the Southeast. Some grants are designated for specific centers or programs, such as the Ben May Center for Chemical Theory and Computation and research on inherited retinal degeneration, which points to targeted, project-based philanthropy. The overall picture is of a funder that uses substantial grants to back specialized research, institutional infrastructure, and selected community priorities.
Cancer research is a central line of support for the trust: it gave $250,000 to The University of Chicago in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for cancer research funding. In chemistry, it backed the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science with $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the Ben May Center for Chemical Theory and Computation. The trust also funds inherited retinal degeneration and genetic eye disease research through the Order of St John, including $69,000 in 2023 and 2024 for research of families with inherited retinal degeneration and $75,000 in 2025 for research genetic eye disease. Beyond research, it supported St Ignatius Catholic School with $50,000 in 2024 and 2025 for an early learning center capital campaign, and the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience with $50,000 in 2025 for a research library and reading room.
Typical grants cluster at modest-to-mid six-figure levels: p25 is $5,000, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $25,000. The recent list also shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including recurring support for research institutions and annual-fund gifts to religious and cultural organizations. The trust gives directly to operating nonprofits, schools, museums, and research entities, and it also makes grants to a community foundation for a memorial fund. It funds individuals as well as organizations, but the recent grant sample is dominated by institutional awards.
$1.4M
$38.9M
$4.3M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated — a very small number of large, repeat grants split nearly equally between two institutional grantees; funding is project- or center-specific rather than widely distributed.
Notable grantees: The University of Chicago (cancer research), American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Ben May Center for Chemical Theory and Computation (Weizmann project)
Giving is regional and heavily concentrated in Alabama, which accounts for 62% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Mobile appears frequently, including grants to Community Foundation of South Alabama, St Ignatius, St Ignatius Catholic School, and Fuse Project. Other Alabama recipients include Birmingham and New Orleans-linked regional support nearby, while major out-of-state grants land in Chicago, New York, Washington, Miami, and Coral Gables. The recipient country distribution in the provided data is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on research institutions and named academic centers, especially cancer research and chemical theory. It also funds schools, museums, Jewish communal organizations, and local community projects, including capital campaigns and general-purpose support.
The grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards, with p25 at $5,000, median grant size at $10,000, and p75 at $25,000. The recent grant list also includes repeated larger awards of $250,000 for research priorities.
Yes. Several grantees receive support across multiple years, including The University of Chicago, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Jewish Theological Seminary, American Friends of the Peres Institute for Peace, and St Ignatius Catholic School.
Alabama is the main state for giving, with 62% of grants in the trust’s HQ state and the top state by grant count. Mobile-based recipients appear often, and the broader recent list also includes Chicago, New York, Washington, Miami, Coral Gables, Birmingham, and New Orleans.
Yes. The trust supports genetic eye disease and inherited retinal degeneration research through the Order of St John, including $69,000 grants in 2023 and 2024 for research of families with inherited retinal degeneration and a $75,000 grant in 2025 for research genetic eye disease.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | CANCER RESEARCH FUNDING |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | BEN MAY CENTER FOR CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION |
| ORDER OF ST JOHN | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH GENETIC EYE DISEASE |
| AZALEA CENTER FOR THE ARTS | MOBILE, AL | $55,000 | 2026 | TICKETS FOR TEACHERS PROGRAM |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PERES INSTITUTE FOR PEACE | CORAL GABLES, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MUSEUM OF THE SOUTHERN JEWISH EXPERIENCE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH LIBRARY AND READING ROOM |
| FUSE PROJECT | MOBILE, AL | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $36,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MCGILL TOOLEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | MOBILE, AL | $35,000 | 2026 | ST AUGUSTINE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND BASEBALL FIELD RESURFACING |
| ST IGNATIUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MOBILE, AL | $35,000 | 2026 | PLAYGROUND AT EARLY LEARNING CENTER |
| MOBILE BAYKEEPER | MOBILE, AL | $30,000 | 2026 | OYSTER RESTORATION PROGRAMS |
| CONGREGATION ORACH CHAIM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | MONTGOMERY, AL | $25,000 | 2026 | 2026 PRODUCTION OF MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CHILDREN OF THE WORLD | FAIRHOPE, AL | $25,000 | 2026 | DOMESTIC ADOPTION COORDINATOR AND ADMINSTRATIVE SUPPORT |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MT VERNON LADIES ASSOC | MT VERNON, VA | $25,000 | 2026 | SEND ALABAMA EDUCATORS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON TEACHER INSTITUTE |
| CONGREGATION B'NAI JESHURUN | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CAMP RAMAH IN THE BERKSHIRES | TEANECK, NJ | $18,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DOROT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| COMMUNITY OF FAITH GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH | JACKSON, AL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART | MOBILE, AL | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR TWO EXHIBITIONS |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ALABAMA | MOBILE, AL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | MOBILE, AL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| RED DOOR COMMUNITY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PRICHARD PREPARATORY SCHOOL | WHISTLER, AL | $10,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC BRIDGE PROGRAM |
| ALABAMA POLICY INSTITUTE | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOLARS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ISRAEL POLICY FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN JEWISH LIFE INC | JACKSON, MS | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE DOE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | READY WILLING AND ABLE PROGRAM |
| JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL | NEW YORK, NY | $8,333 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PINE GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | LEROY, AL | $7,500 | 2026 | BEN MAY FUND |
| COMPETING AGAINST CANCER | MOBILE, AL | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MOBILE AREA JEWISH FEDERATION | MOBILE, AL | $5,400 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS OF OLD MOBILE INC | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | BURIAL MONUMENTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALBAMA SCHOOL OF LAW | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | BEN MAY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS OF ALABAMA ARCHIVES | MONTGOMERY, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MOBILE AREA COUNCIL SCOUTING AMERICA | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MOBILE ARTS COUNCIL | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BROAD STREET RESTORATION SOCIETY | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PRESTWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY | LEROY, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DAUPHIN ISLAND BIRD SANCTUARIES INC | DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| VICTORY HEALTH PARTNERS | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CAHABA FOUNDATION | SELMA, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ST STEPHENS NUTRITION CENTER | ST STEPHENS, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | GUEST ROOM SPONSORSHIP |
| MAIN STREET MOBILE | MOBILE, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC ART TRAIL |
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$250,000CANCER RESEARCH FUNDING
BEN MAY CENTER FOR CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION
ORDER OF ST JOHN
$75,000RESEARCH GENETIC EYE DISEASE
AZALEA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$55,000TICKETS FOR TEACHERS PROGRAM
MUSEUM OF THE SOUTHERN JEWISH EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH LIBRARY AND READING ROOM
FUSE PROJECT
$40,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MCGILL TOOLEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$35,000ST AUGUSTINE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND BASEBALL FIELD RESURFACING
ST IGNATIUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$35,000PLAYGROUND AT EARLY LEARNING CENTER
MOBILE BAYKEEPER
$30,000OYSTER RESTORATION PROGRAMS
CONGREGATION ORACH CHAIM
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
$25,000DOMESTIC ADOPTION COORDINATOR AND ADMINSTRATIVE SUPPORT
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MT VERNON LADIES ASSOC
$25,000SEND ALABAMA EDUCATORS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON TEACHER INSTITUTE
CONGREGATION B'NAI JESHURUN
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES
JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$18,000GENERAL PURPOSES
COMMUNITY OF FAITH GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000SUPPORT FOR TWO EXHIBITIONS
GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSES
RED DOOR COMMUNITY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOLARS
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL
$8,333GENERAL PURPOSES
PINE GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$7,500BEN MAY FUND
COMPETING AGAINST CANCER
$7,500GENERAL PURPOSES
MOBILE AREA JEWISH FEDERATION
$5,400GENERAL PURPOSES
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
FRIENDS OF OLD MOBILE INC
$5,000BURIAL MONUMENTS
UNIVERSITY OF ALBAMA SCHOOL OF LAW
$5,000BEN MAY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
FRIENDS OF ALABAMA ARCHIVES
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MOBILE AREA COUNCIL SCOUTING AMERICA
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MOBILE ARTS COUNCIL
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
BROAD STREET RESTORATION SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PRESTWICK PRESERVATION SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
DAUPHIN ISLAND BIRD SANCTUARIES INC
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CAHABA FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ST STEPHENS NUTRITION CENTER
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MAIN STREET MOBILE
$5,000PUBLIC ART TRAIL