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Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 23-7145009

The Ben May Charitable Trust

A private foundation in Mobile, AL. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 57 grants and $1.4 million paid in grants.

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Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
The Ben May Charitable Trust
Hancock Whitney Bank 25 W I-65, Service Rd N
Mobile, AL 36608
(228) 822-4365
Form and materials
Letter application along with copy of the IRS tax exemption letter
Deadlines
None
Restrictions
None

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $1,359,333

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $38,918,423

  • Tax year 2024

    $1,332,233

    Grants listed
    49
    Assets, end of year
    $31,688,196

  • Tax year 2023

    $1,349,233

    Grants listed
    61
    Assets, end of year
    $31,167,859

  • Tax year 2022

    $1,501,833

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $30,524,569

  • Tax year 2021

    $1,373,833

    Grants listed
    67
    Assets, end of year
    $34,681,853

  • Tax year 2020

    $1,380,733

    Grants listed
    67
    Assets, end of year
    $33,643,201

Grants paid in 2025

57 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of ScienceNew York, NY

    Ben may center for chemical theory and computation

    $250,000
  2. The University of ChicagoChicago, IL

    Cancer research funding

    $250,000
  3. Order of St JohnWashington, DC

    Research genetic eye disease

    $75,000
  4. Azalea Center for the ArtsMobile, AL

    Tickets for teachers program

    $55,000
  5. American Friends of the Peres Institute for PeaceCoral Gables, FL

    General purposes

    $50,000
  6. Museum of the Southern Jewish ExperienceNew Orleans, LA

    Research library and reading room

    $50,000
  7. Fuse ProjectMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $40,000
  8. Anti-Defamation LeagueNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $36,000
  9. McGill Toolen Catholic High SchoolMobile, AL

    ST augustine scholarship fund and baseball field resurfacing

    $35,000
  10. St Ignatius Catholic SchoolMobile, AL

    Playground at early learning center

    $35,000
  11. Mobile BaykeeperMobile, AL

    Oyster restoration programs

    $30,000
  12. Alabama Shakespeare FestivalMontgomery, AL

    2026 production of much ado about nothing

    $25,000
  13. Children of the WorldFairhope, AL

    Domestic adoption coordinator and adminstrative support

    $25,000
  14. Congregation B'nai JeshurunNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $25,000
  15. Congregation Orach ChaimNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $25,000
  16. United Jewish AppealNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $25,000
  17. George Washington's Mt Vernon Ladies AssocMt Vernon, VA

    Send alabama educators to george washington teacher institute

    $25,000
  18. Jewish Theological SeminaryNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $18,000
  19. Camp Ramah in the BerkshiresWingdale, NY

    General purposes

    $18,000
  20. Big Brothers Big Sisters of AlabamaMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $15,000
  21. DorotNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $15,000
  22. Government Street Presbyterian ChurchMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $15,000
  23. Community of Faith Global Methodist ChurchJackson, AL

    General purposes

    $15,000
  24. Mobile Museum of ArtMobile, AL

    Support for two exhibitions

    $15,000
  25. Alabama Policy InstituteBirmingham, AL

    General purposes

    $10,000
  26. Institute of Southern Jewish Life IncJackson, MS

    General purposes

    $10,000
  27. Israel Policy ForumNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $10,000
  28. National Association of ScholarsNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $10,000
  29. Prichard Preparatory SchoolMobile, AL

    Academic bridge program

    $10,000
  30. Red Door CommunityNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $10,000
  31. The Doe FundNew York, NY

    Ready willing and able program

    $10,000
  32. Jewish Agency for IsraelNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $8,333
  33. Competing Against CancerMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $7,500
  34. Pine Grove United Methodist ChurchLeroy, AL

    Ben may fund

    $7,500
  35. Mobile Area Jewish FederationMobile, AZ

    General purposes

    $5,400
  36. Alabama Coastal FoundationMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  37. Mobile Area Council Scouting AmericaMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  38. Boys & Girls ClubMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  39. Cahaba FoundationSelma, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  40. Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries IncDauphin Island, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  41. Little Sisters of the PoorMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  42. Main Street MobileMobile, AL

    Public art trail

    $5,000
  43. Mobile Arts CouncilMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  44. Prestwick Preservation SocietyLeroy, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  45. Ronald McDonald HouseMobile, AL

    Guest room sponsorship

    $5,000
  46. St Stephens Nutrition CenterSaint Stephens, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  47. University of Albama School of LawTuscaloosa, AL

    Ben may endowed scholarship fund

    $5,000
  48. Victory Health PartnersMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  49. Friends of Old Mobile IncMobile, AL

    Burial monuments

    $5,000
  50. Friends of Alabama ArchivesMontgomery, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  51. Broad Street Restoration SocietyMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $5,000
  52. The Learning TreeMobile, AL

    Generator

    $5,000
  53. Central Park ConservacyNew York, NY

    General purposes

    $2,500
  54. Tunnels to Towers FoundationStaten Island, NY

    General purposes

    $2,000
  55. Mobile SPCAMobile, AL

    General purposes

    $2,000
  56. Wounded Warrior ProjectJacksonville, FL

    General purposes

    $1,100
  57. Society of the CincinnatiWashington, DC

    General purposes

    $1,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. International aid4 grants $318,33334% of the total
  2. Education3 grants $265,00029% of the total
  3. Arts and culture7 grants $91,00010% of the total
  4. Human services5 grants $86,1009% of the total
  5. Civil rights1 grant $36,0004% of the total
  6. Environment2 grants $35,0004% of the total
  7. 5 other causes11 grants $97,90011% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. New York14 grants $446,833
  2. Alabama34 grants $432,400
  3. Illinois1 grant $250,000
  4. District of Columbia2 grants $76,000
  5. Florida2 grants $51,100
  6. Louisiana1 grant $50,000
  7. Virginia1 grant $25,000
  8. New Jersey1 grant $18,000
  9. Mississippi1 grant $10,000

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Lynette P KoppelDIST. COMMITTEE MEMBER Hours 2.3Pay $0
  • John D PeeblesDIST. COMMITTEE MEMBER Hours 2Pay $25,000
  • Steven KoppelDIST. COMMITTEE MEMBER Hours 2Pay $0
  • Vivian G Johnston IIIDIST. COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Hours 1Pay $25,000
  • William B PeeblesDIST. COMMITTEE MEMBER Hours 1.7Pay $8,333
  • Vivian G Johnston VDIST. COMMITTEE MEMBER Hours 2.7Pay $8,333
  • Ken NiemeyerSECRETARY Hours 2.4Pay $10,000
  • Hancock Whitney BankTRUSTEE Hours 5Pay $55,595

The return

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