Leo W Seal United Methodist Church Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, and its filing says it limits contributions to preselected charitable organisations, so a small nonprofit without an existing invitation should not send a cold application.
- Its recorded grants have gone mainly to United Methodist churches and related organisations in Mississippi, but no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern describes who it has funded rather than who may apply.
- About 8 in 10 of its 31 grants fall between $19,000 and $155,000, with a median of about $50,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling, though its largest grant was about $240,000.
- In the latest filing, all of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so relationships matter far more than an open approach, and the filing gives no timing to plan around.
Overview
Leo W Seal United Methodist Church Trust is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Hancock Whitney Bank, in New Orleans, LA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The trust's recorded grants provide general support to United Methodist churches and related organisations in Mississippi. Recipients include congregations, a Methodist children's home, a Methodist rehabilitation centre, a Methodist assembly and a conference pension board. Its listed direct charitable activities also include support for a Methodist church, hospital and rehabilitation centre, children's home and assembly. The filing limits contributions to preselected charitable organisations and says unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Mississippi.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 31 grants to organisations were about $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Leo W Seal United Methodist Church Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 10 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $65,089 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Main Street Umc Attn Cindy Eberhart · General support$229,2892024 tax year
- Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center · General support$115,4522024 tax year
- United Methodist Children's Home · General support$115,4522024 tax year
- MS Conference Of The Umc Board Of Pension · General support$96,0752024 tax year
- Seashore United Methodist Assembly · General support$96,0752024 tax year
- Pearlington Umc Attn Cheryl Bennett · General support$34,1032024 tax year
- Valena C Jones Memorial Umc · General support$34,1032024 tax year
- Waveland Umc · General support$34,1032024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
Administered by its trustee, Hancock Whitney Bank.
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $957,069 | $738,376 | $16,872,145 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,011,044 | $836,807 | $17,653,212 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $996,319 | $807,356 | $18,742,909 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Leo W Seal United Methodist Church Trust?
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Contact
- New Orleans, LA (office of its trustee, Hancock Whitney Bank)
Applying to Leo W Seal United Methodist Church Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New Orleans, LA (office of its trustee, Hancock Whitney Bank)