OVERVIEW: The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to healthcare, education, and Catholic causes. It also earmarks funds for causes like the arts.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which restricts transparency regarding its grantmaking priorities and activities.
PROFILE: Established in 2007, the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation was founded by Tom and Gayle Benson. Gayle Benson is the widow of Tom Benson, former owner of the NFL New Orleans Saints and NBA New Orleans Pelicans. She now owns both teams. She also worked as an interior designer starting in the 1970s and founded thoroughbred horse racing company GMB Racing. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to healthcare, education, and Catholic causes. It also earmarks funds for causes like the arts.
Grants for Arts and Culture, Public Health and Access, and Education
The Bensons are major benefactors of Ochsner Health System in Louisiana, home to the The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. Gayle and Tom Benson gave $20 million alone to expand the Center in 2017. Benson sits on the Ochsner Health Foundation Board. The foundation made a $1.5 million gift to Xavier University of Louisiana, naming the Gayle and Tom Benson Sanctuary and establishing the Gayle and Tom Benson Scholarship Fund. The family also has a long relationship with University of the Incarnate Word in Texas, home to the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. Gayle Benson sits on the board of Tulane University, where the foundation directed $500,000 gift to fund completion of the chapel in the Fr. Val McInnes, OP, Center for Catholic Life.
Past grantees include Notre Dame Seminary, Saint Mary’s Dominican High School, Brother Martin High School (Tom Benson’s school), Greater New Orleans Foundation, Loyola University, Archdiocese of New Orleans, and New Orleans Opera Association.
Important Grant Details
Grants range from $1,000 to $2.5 million. In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $15.2 million.
The foundation does not provide a prescribed form for applicants. It does not list any deadlines or restrictions or limitations on awards.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Dennis Lauscha
5800 Airline Dr.
Metairie, LA 70003
