The Ben May Charitable Trust
Mobile, AL · EIN 23-7145009. Reported 294 grants totalling $6,916,465 to 111 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Ben May Charitable Trust did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $251,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $1,251,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science | New York, NY | $1,250,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Order of St John | Washington, DC | $357,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jewish Theological Seminary | New York, NY | $336,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Friends of the Peres Institute for Peace | Miami, FL | $250,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Fuse Project | Mobile, AL | $195,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience | New Orleans, LA | $154,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Ignatius Catholic School | Mobile, AL | $135,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Children of the World | Fairhope, AL | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Congregation B'nai Jeshurun | New York, NY | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nature Conservancy | Birmingham, AL | $125,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| United Jewish Appeal | New York, NY | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Azalea Center for the Arts | Mobile, AL | $120,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Alabama Shakespeare Festival Inc | Montgomery, AL | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Mount Vernon Ladies Assoc of the Union | Mount Vernon, VA | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| St Ignatius | Mobile, AL | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama | Mobile, AL | $90,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Congregation Orach Chaim | New York, NY | $89,600 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Community Foundation of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | $83,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Government Street Presbyterian Church | Mobile, AL | $61,000 | 9 | 5 | 2025 |
| Institute of Southern Jewish Life Inc | Jackson, MS | $60,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mcgill Toolen Catholic High School | Mobile, AL | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Jewish Agency for Israel | New York, NY | $58,332 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| National Association of Scholars | New York, NY | $52,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Doe Fund | New York, NY | $52,400 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Alabama School of Math and Science | Mobile, AL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dorot | New York, NY | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Israel Policy Forum | New York, NY | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mcgill Toolen Catholic School | Mobile, AL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dumas Wesley Community Center | Mobile, AL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pef Israel Endowment Fund | New York, NY | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Competing Against Cancer | Mobile, AL | $43,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club | Mobile, AL | $40,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mobile Arts Council | Mobile, AL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Prichard Preparatory School | Whistler, AL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Red Door Community | New York, NY | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Mobile Baykeeper | Mobile, AL | $37,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Pine Grove United Methodist Church | Leroy, AL | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Anti-Defamation League | New York, NY | $36,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Alabama Policy Institute | Birmingham, AL | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Village of Spring Hill | Mobile, AL | $32,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Albama School of Law | Tuscaloosa, AL | $30,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Mobile, AL | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Broad Street Restoration Society | Mobile, AL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Main Street Mobile | Mobile, AL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Mulherin Custodial Home | Mobile, AL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Avodah the Jewish Service Corps | New York, NY | $27,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cahaba Foundation | Selma, AL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| George Washington's Mt Vernon Ladies Assoc | Mt Vernon, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jewish Federation of North America Inc | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Mobile, AL | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Victory Health Partners | Mobile, AL | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries Inc | Dauphin Island, AL | $24,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Alabama Coastal Foundation | Mobile, AL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Foundation for New Media | Stone Ridge, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Prestwick Preservation Society | Leroy, AL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Camp Ramah in the Berkshires | Teaneck, NJ | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Springhill Avenue Temple | Mobile, AL | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Central Park Conservacy | New York, NY | $17,833 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Veterans Recovery Resources | Mobile, AL | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mobile Area Jewish Federation | Mobile, AL | $17,200 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Community of Faith Global Methodist Church | Jackson, AL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Learning Tree | Mobile, AL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Mobile Museum of Art | Mobile, AL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House | Mobile, AL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| St Stephens Nutrition Center | St Stephens, AL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| St Stephens Volunteer Fire Department | St Stephens, AL | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Technoserve | Arlington, VA | $12,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| American Chestnut Fdn (al Chapter) | Ashville, NC | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Back Country Horsemen of America | Jackson, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Child Advocacy Center | Mobile, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community of Mobile | Mobile, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| First Baptist Church of Leroy | Leroy, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Leroy Volunteer Fire Department | Leroy, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Society of Colonial Dames | Mobile, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Midway Community Church | St Stephens, AL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wounded Warrior Project | Jacksonville, FL | $7,100 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Presbyterian Home for Children | Talladega, AL | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Uss Alabama Battleship Foundation | Mobile, AL | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Emmanuel Connection | Daleville, MS | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Alabama Contemporary Art Center | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bellingrath Gardens & Home | Theodore, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Child Advocacy Center of Southeast Alabama | Dothan, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Alabama Archives | Montgomery, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Friends of Old Mobile Inc | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Gilda's Club New York | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Infirmary Foundation | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mobile Area Council Scouting America | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mobile Infirmary Foundation | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ramah Darom | Atlanta, GA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Stephens Nutritional Center | St Stephens, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation | Stanten Island, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wilmer Hall Children's Home | Mobile, AL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shubuta United Methodist Church | Waynesboro, MS | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alabama Archives and History Foundation | Montgomery, AL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fairhope Film Festival | Fairhope, AL | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Barton Academy Foundation | Mobile, AL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Foundation | Merrifield, VA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dauphin Island Sea Lab | Dauphin Island, AL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation | Jamestown, VA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic | Mobile, AL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Waterfront Rescue Mission | Mobile, AL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Leroy High School | Leroy, AL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mobile SPCA | Mobile, AL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Tunnels to Towers Foundation | Staten Island, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Explore Center Inc | Mobile, AL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| George Washington University School of Law | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mobile Ballet | Mobile, AL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Society of the Cincinnati | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
64 of 111 (58%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 69%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
BEN MAY CENTER FOR CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION - Order of St John
RESEARCH GENETIC EYE DISEASE - Azalea Center for the Arts
TICKETS FOR TEACHERS PROGRAM - St Ignatius Catholic School
EARLY LEARNING CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
RESEARCH LIBRARY AND READING ROOM - Mcgill Toolen Catholic High School
ST AUGUSTINE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND BASEBALL FIELD RESURFACING
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 157 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67 | $1,373,833 | $7,500 |
| 2022 | 60 | $1,501,833 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 61 | $1,349,233 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 49 | $1,332,233 | $10,000 |
| 2025 | 57 | $1,359,333 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
35% of its giving went to organizations in New York. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New York.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Ben May Charitable Trust's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 25 W I-65 Service Rd N, Mobile, AL, 36608. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 23-7145009 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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