Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation
The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Metairie, Louisiana. Its 2024 filing reports 93 grants totaling nearly $9.6 million, with 96% of grant dollars going to recipients in Louisiana.
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation gave $9.6M across 93 grants in 2024 (avg $103K), mostly in Louisiana. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,573,988
- +29.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 93
- +32.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $102,946
- -2.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $89,322
- +89.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (59 of 93, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no application form or other required materials, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Brittany Whitsell
Mailing address: 5800 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70003
Phone: (504) 731-1779
Email: brittany.whitsell@saints.nfl.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ochsner Clinic Foundation ($2.6M). Together the top 10 received $8.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
255 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 162 grants of 255 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Louisiana. Virginia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and New York each accounted for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 93 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 59 of 93 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $53K; repeat grants $189K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.8M (2022) to $10.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 93 grants totaling $9.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $2,600,000 |
| Catholic Community Foundation New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $1,687,200 |
| Jesuit High School of New Orleans Foundation Inc New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $1,000,000 |
| Notre Dame Seminary New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $502,000 |
| Archbishop Rummel High School Metairie, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $500,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $500,000 |
| National World War II Museum Inc New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $500,000 |
| La SPCA New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $300,000 |
| Bastion Community of Resilience New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $250,000 |
| Good Shepherd Nativity School New Orleans, LA | To support the mission of the organization | $200,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $89,322 | $9,624,192 | $9,581,984 | $9,573,988 | 93 | $9,581,982 | $67 | $45,512 |
| 2023 | $47,114 | $7,418,203 | $7,415,720 | $7,413,633 | 70 | $7,415,720 | $175 | $2,570 |
| 2022 | $84,629 | $6,770,196 | $6,770,093 | $6,768,283 | 34 | $6,768,283 | — | $2,367 |
| 2021 | $44,526 | $10,673,881 | $10,938,299 | $10,936,826 | 33 | $10,936,826 | — | $7,622 |
| 2020 | $308,944 | $8,525,778 | $8,966,209 | $8,944,500 | 25 | — | — | $18,769 |
| 2019 | $749,375 | $27,671 | $9,583,480 | $9,562,730 | 46 | — | — | $50,478 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Ochsner Clinic Foundation describes its mission as serving, healing, leading, educating, and innovating. Bastion Community of Resilience says it supports returning warriors and their families through their transition from military service by providing a healing environment in an intentionally designed neighborhood.
Other 2024 recipients included educational organizations. Louisiana Key Academy says it provides evidence-based education for children with dyslexia, while Metairie Park Country Day School describes its work as educating talented young people in a challenging and supportive community. The grantees also included arts and cultural organizations: the New Orleans Museum of Art says it collects, preserves, exhibits, and presents visual art while engaging the public, and the New Orleans Ballet Association describes accessible arts instruction and performance opportunities as part of its work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 93 grants totaling $9,573,988. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $2.6 million, with a median grant of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $2.6 million to Ochsner Clinic Foundation, $1,687,200 to Catholic Community Foundation, and $1 million to Jesuit High School of New Orleans Foundation. Other notable awards were $502,000 to Notre Dame Seminary; $500,000 each to Archbishop Rummel High School, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the National World War II Museum; and $300,000 to LA SPCA. The filing listed each of these grants as supporting the recipient organization’s mission.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward F. Lang
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gayle M. Benson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory C. Bensel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
S. Benjamin Hales
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Lauscha
Trusteee
Trustee → Trusteee, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation
How much does Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation give each year?
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation gave $9.6M across 93 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.4M across 70 grants.
What is Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $102,946, across 93 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation that year got $53K on average.
Where does Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation give grants?
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Louisiana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (45 grants), Metairie, LA (16 grants), Baton Rouge, LA (7 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 93 grants with a stated purpose on Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To support the mission of the organization" (93 grants).
Who are Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ochsner Clinic Foundation ($2,600,000), Catholic Community Foundation ($1,687,200) and Jesuit High School of New Orleans Foundation Inc ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation?
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation reported $89K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $46K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Ochsner Clinic Foundation describes its mission as serving, healing, leading, educating, and innovating. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0221908. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 19, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Greater New Orleans Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Greater New Orleans Foundation funds arts and culture, education, youth development, health, social services, and other regional priorities across the 13 parishes of Southeast Louisiana. Its stated average grant is about $20,000; its IMPACT grants are invitation-only, while the Foundation encourages nonprofits to share information about their work through a form.
Assets
$513.0M
Grants
623
Total Given
$34.6M
Eugenie & Joseph Jones Family Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Eugenie & Joseph Jones Family Foundation supports a broad range of Louisiana organizations, including schools, arts and cultural groups, nature programs, and nonprofits providing food and human services; nearly all its 2025 grant dollars went to Louisiana. Grants ranged from $200 to $125,000, with a median of $12,500. It accepts requests from organizations beyond a preselected group; applications are due by the 15th of the month before a scheduled meeting.
Assets
$15.9M
Grants
52
Total Given
$1.0M
Baptist Community Ministries
New Orleans, LA
Baptist Community Ministries funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in health, education, or public safety in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana. Its 2025 grants had a median of $10,000, while public Transom Grants start at $50,000 per year and discretionary donations are generally $5,000 or less. It accepts unsolicited requests through these public programs; other grant types are invitation-only.
Assets
$397.5M
Grants
264
Total Given
$10.6M
Patrick F Taylor Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation primarily funds education, equal opportunity, and free enterprise, with additional support for charitable and humanitarian work, arts and culture, the environment, and community needs. In 2024, grants ranged from $600 to $425,000, with a median of $8,000; it focuses on Louisiana while also funding work elsewhere, especially in Mississippi. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$45.5M
Grants
109
Total Given
$3.7M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Goldring Family Foundation
Metairie, LA
The Goldring Family Foundation funds nonprofits in education, health, arts and culture, human services, children’s opportunities, Jewish causes, and other areas, primarily in Greater New Orleans. Its 2024 grants had a median of $7,000, though awards ranged from $30 to $1 million. It invites organizations to begin with a Letter of Inquiry.
Assets
$199.2M
Grants
305
Total Given
$7.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Louisiana
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gayle-and-tom-benson-charitable-foundation-morg_8a8b2b915ebb4c6191afd8fd7a3a42eb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260221908_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gayle-and-tom-benson-charitable-foundation-morg_8a8b2b915ebb4c6191afd8fd7a3a42eb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?