← Back to US Funders Directory

H & B Young Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $5.0M

Ready to apply to H & B Young Foundation?

Let our AI help you write a winning grant application in minutes, not hours.

Get 2 free AI applications →

H & B Young Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,059,407 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (private foundation)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely - from scholarships to multi-million dollar property donations
  • Geographic Focus: Morgan City, Louisiana ONLY (strictly local)
  • Total Historic Giving: $35+ million since 1955
  • EIN: 72-6029365

Contact Details

Address: 818 2nd Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Mailing Address: PO Box 889, Morgan City, LA 70381-0889
Phone: (985) 385-0812
Website: No public website
Application Process: No public application process (private foundation with trustee discretion)

Overview

The H & B Young Foundation was established in 1955 and is named for brothers Hugh and Byrnes Young, whose family legacy continues to significantly benefit Morgan City, Louisiana. The foundation was originally known as the Morgan City Fund. Since neither Hugh nor Byrnes had heirs, they left their holdings—including several hundred acres of prime waterfront property—to create this foundation that would continue to benefit Morgan City and its citizens in perpetuity.

As a private grant-making foundation, the H & B Young Foundation has contributed more than $35 million in land and money throughout its history. Since 1999 alone, the foundation has disbursed more than $17 million to the local community, with a particular emphasis on educational institutions and community development projects. In 2023, the foundation contributed $2,059,407 across 39 grants to various organizations. The foundation operates under the mandate that funds be used "exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes," with the strict requirement that all supported projects must be completed within Morgan City.

The SLCC Foundation honored the Hugh & Byrnes Young Foundation as its 2019 Benefactor of the Year in recognition of decades of transformative support to education and community services in Morgan City.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with structured application processes. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on identified community needs in Morgan City.

Recent Major Investments:

  • Educational Infrastructure: $5 million+ to SLCC's Young Memorial Campus, including five acres of waterfront property for the Maritime and Petroleum Safety Training Center (opened 2017)
  • Youth Programs: Land and funding for Morgan City Youth Center facility
  • City Infrastructure: $1.475 million+ to City of Morgan City since 2013, including $90,000 for Downtown-Young Memorial walking-bike route
  • Library Support: Minimum $30,000 annually to Morgan City Public Library
  • Scholarships: Seven annual scholarships for Morgan City High School students (24 recipients currently in college)
  • Young Foundation Scholars Program: 30 free college course slots annually for first-time SLCC students

Priority Areas

Primary Focus - Education:

  • Student scholarships and tuition assistance
  • Educational facility construction and property donations
  • Program equipment and supplies for schools
  • Support for both public and private schools in Morgan City
  • Community college access and workforce development

Community Development:

  • Youth services and after-school programs
  • Infrastructure improvements benefiting the community
  • Public library support
  • Community spaces and facilities

Additional Support Areas:

  • Religious organizations and local churches
  • Charitable services (e.g., St. Mary Outreach)
  • Cultural programs (e.g., Community Concert Association)
  • Law enforcement needs
  • Medical equipment

What They Don't Fund

  • Geographic Restriction: No projects outside Morgan City, Louisiana
  • Given the strictly local focus, the foundation does not support:
    • Regional or statewide initiatives beyond Morgan City limits
    • Organizations without a direct Morgan City connection or presence

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Brenda B. Ayo - Chair
  • Emile A. Wagner III - Trustee
  • Gwen E. Ross - Trustee

The three-member board of trustees exercises discretion in identifying community needs and awarding grants. The foundation has demonstrated a long-term strategic approach to community investment, with major multi-year commitments to transformative projects alongside ongoing annual support for established programs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The H & B Young Foundation operates as a private foundation where grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than through open solicitation of proposals.

Grants appear to be made based on:

  • Trustees' identification of community needs
  • Pre-existing relationships with organizations serving Morgan City
  • Strategic initiatives aligned with the foundation's mission
  • Long-term partnerships with proven community institutions

Organizations should not submit unsolicited grant applications, as there is no formal review process for such requests.

Getting on Their Radar

Direct Community Presence in Morgan City: The foundation's trustees are deeply embedded in the Morgan City community. Organizations should:

  • Establish a strong track record of service specifically within Morgan City
  • Develop visible community impact that aligns with the foundation's education and community development priorities
  • Build relationships with other organizations that have received Young Foundation support, such as SLCC, Morgan City Public Library, or St. Mary Outreach

Specific Foundation Connections:

  • The foundation has particularly strong ties to South Louisiana Community College's Young Memorial Campus - the SLCC Foundation staff may be able to provide insight into the foundation's current priorities
  • Organizations serving youth in Morgan City have received consistent support through the Youth Center and scholarship programs
  • The foundation has demonstrated interest in infrastructure projects that benefit the broader Morgan City community when brought forward by municipal leadership

Contact Approach: While unsolicited proposals are not encouraged, organizations with significant community impact in Morgan City may consider reaching out to the trustees at (985) 385-0812 to introduce their work rather than request funding. Building awareness over time appears more effective than direct solicitation.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation operating on trustee discretion, there are no published decision timelines or board meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation awards grants proactively rather than in response to applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates without a public application process, "success" depends on alignment with trustee priorities rather than application quality. Key factors include:

1. Geographic Qualification

  • Critical requirement: Projects MUST be completed entirely within Morgan City, Louisiana. This is non-negotiable per the foundation's founding documents.

2. Education Focus

  • The foundation has made education its clear priority, particularly:
    • College access and completion for Morgan City youth
    • Educational facility development
    • Workforce training through community college programs
    • K-12 educational needs in local schools

3. Long-Term Community Impact

  • Recent grants show preference for transformative, lasting community assets over operating support:
    • Property donations for permanent facilities (SLCC Maritime Center, Youth Center)
    • Infrastructure that serves the community long-term (walking-bike routes)
    • Endowed scholarship programs that continue annually

4. Track Record and Sustainability

  • Organizations that have received multiple grants demonstrate:
    • Strong organizational capacity and financial stability
    • Proven impact in Morgan City over multiple years
    • Ability to leverage Young Foundation support with other funding sources
    • Transparent stewardship of previous investments

5. Youth Development Priority

  • Significant recent investments focus on youth:
    • After-school programs and youth center facilities
    • Scholarship programs for high school graduates
    • Free college access programs for first-time students
    • Educational and recreational opportunities for junior and senior high students

6. Strategic Community Partnerships

  • The foundation appears to value:
    • Collaboration with established institutions (SLCC, City of Morgan City)
    • Projects with multiple community benefits
    • Initiatives that align with broader community development plans

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is a private foundation that awards grants through trustee discretion only. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.

  • Strictly Local Focus: All funding must benefit Morgan City, Louisiana. Organizations outside this geographic area or serving broader regions are not eligible, regardless of project quality.

  • Education is King: The foundation's largest investments consistently support educational access, facilities, and youth development. Educational projects receive priority consideration.

  • Think Transformative: Recent major grants support lasting community assets (buildings, land, infrastructure) rather than one-time programs or operating support.

  • Relationship Building Over Time: The foundation's major grantees (SLCC, City of Morgan City, Public Library) have received support over many years through sustained relationships.

  • Trustee Discretion Drives Everything: With only three trustees making all decisions, understanding their community priorities and building awareness of your organization's impact is more important than formal proposal writing.

  • Consider Indirect Routes: Organizations may have more success having their work brought to trustees' attention through municipal leadership, SLCC connections, or other established grantees rather than direct solicitation.

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get 2 free AI applicatonsLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory