Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation
The Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Bay St Louis, Mississippi. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on supporting educational, cultural, and community-based initiatives primarily in the Gulf Coast region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.6M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$563K
+8.6% YoY
Grant Count
62
+3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+5.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $620K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Education — including educational outreach and innovative teaching initiatives
- Arts and Culture — support of arts organizations and cultural and historical awareness
- Human Services — community outreach and support programs
- Religious Purposes — Christian outreach
- Youth Development — youth sports promotion
- Health Organizations
Grantmaking
No application process information is available in verified sources.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- North Carolina
With particular emphasis on the Gulf Coast region, including the Bay St Louis and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,569,322
- Total Revenues: $745,883
- Total Expenses: $613,310
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11,431,749
- Total Revenues: $79,071
- Total Expenses: $591,185
As of 2023 (alternate source):
- Total Assets: $11.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,569,322 | $11,431,749 | $11,924,663 |
| Revenue | $745,883 | $79,071 | $-132,739 |
| Expenses | $613,310 | $591,185 | $795,649 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $565,745 | $547,043 | $733,688 |
| Net Investment Income | $615,921 | $261,411 | $185,876 |
| Distributable Amount | $619,623 | $586,254 | $633,464 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience ($50,000), City of Bay St Louis Mississippi ($48,557), Feeding the Gulf Coast ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 MEN DBA HALL (HUNDRED MEMBERS DEBATING BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION) BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL AWARENESS | $5,000 |
| THE ANDREW MCDONOUGH B FOUNDATION WILMINGTON, DE | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND FUND CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH. | $850 |
| BAY RATZ MARCHING BAND BAY ST LOUIS, MS | COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM | $2,500 |
| BETHESDA FREE CLINIC (BETHESDA FREE HEALTH CLINIC OF D'IBERVILLE) DIBERVILLE, MS | MEDICAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS | $15,000 |
| BWYC COMMUNITY SAILING FOUNDATION INC BAY ST LOUIS, MS | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM/OLYMPIC SPORT | $10,000 |
| BYOBIKES BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | COMMUNITY YOUTH OUTREACH | $3,000 |
| CATCH-A-DREAM FOUNDATION STARKVILLE, MS | HUNTING AND FISHING EXPERIENCES TO CHILDREN 18 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER WHO HAVE A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS | $10,000 |
| CITY OF BAY ST LOUIS MISSISSIPPI BAY ST LOUIS, MS | CITY NEEDS | $48,557 |
| CLEMSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CLEMSON, SC | SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| COAST CHORALE DIAMONDHEAD, MS | PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND MUSICAL ARTS EXHANGE PROGRAMS | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEO W SEAL III | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| WALLACE LEE SEAL | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CLAY WAGNER | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JOHN BAXTER | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively promoting educational innovation through the **Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Grants** program, which awards grants to Mississippi teachers for innovative teaching practices. In 2026, 10 Mississippi teachers were awarded these grants. The foundation also held a Leo W. Seal Award Luncheon in 2025 to present grants to teachers.
2026 Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Grants awarded to 10 Mississippi teachersContact Information
Address: PO Box 3720, Bay St Louis, MS 39521-3720
Telephone: 228-641-4505
EIN: 72-1373522
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • **Education** — including educational outreach and innovative teaching initiatives • **Arts and Culture** — support of arts organizations and cultural and historical awareness • **Human Services** — community outreach and support programs • **Religious Purposes** — Christian outreach • **Youth Development** — youth sports promotion • **Health Organizations**
How do I apply for a grant from Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 90 grants in 2023 • Made 40 grants in 2024 (with 37 additional grants totaling $373,217) • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $80,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • The Louisiana Music and Heritage Experience: $50,000 (Promotion of Cultural and Historical Awareness) • The Hancock Health Foundation: $20,000 (Support of Hospital Foundation) • Feeding the Gulf Coast: $20,000 (Food/shelter Community Outreach) • Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra: $1,000 (Local Suppor…
Where does Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Mississippi • Louisiana • North Carolina With particular emphasis on the Gulf Coast region, including the Bay St Louis and surrounding areas.
What size grants does Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation awarded 62 grants totaling $563K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $620K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation's EIN?
Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1373522. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Veterans Memory Park in Ridgeland
RIDGELAND, MS
Assets
$88K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Kappa Delta Sorority Inc 0805
OXFORD, MS
Assets
$725K
Grants
1
Total Given
$66K
William a Coleman Trust Ua Dtd 04091986 Tr
JACKSON, MS
Assets
$316K
Grants
4
Total Given
$14K
Van Devender Family Foundation
JACKSON, MS
Assets
$137K
Grants
47
Total Given
$760K
Northeast Ms Board of Realtors
TUPELO, MS
Assets
$683K
Grants
1
Total Given
$6K
United Way of Northeast Mississippi Inc
TUPELO, MS
Assets
$3.1M
Grants
35
Total Given
$783K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Leo W Seal Jr Family Foundation to a real strategy.