Coypu Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Coypu Foundation operates as a donor-advised private foundation administered through JPMorgan Chase Bank, carrying forward the philanthropic legacy of John Stauffer "Jack" McIlhenny (1909-1997). McIlhenny was a member of the prominent Avery Island, Louisiana family behind the McIlhenny Company (Tabasco brand) and was a lifelong naturalist and philanthropist who sponsored numerous wildlife ecology research efforts and scientific expeditions worldwide.

The foundation's grantmaking philosophy reflects McIlhenny's deep commitment to understanding and preserving natural ecosystems, particularly in Louisiana's Gulf Coast region. Its charter directs funding toward "scientific, literary, and educational purposes," which in practice translates to a strong emphasis on wildlife ecology, conservation biology, habitat management, and environmental education. The foundation maintains a relatively lean governance structure with three co-trustees (Chris Hale, Tina Freeman, and William Callihan) who each dedicate approximately 2 hours per week, while JPMorgan Chase Bank serves as the institutional trustee handling administration, investment management, and grant processing. This structure keeps overhead low — with total officer/trustee compensation around $177,000 annually against $835,000+ in charitable disbursements — ensuring that roughly 82-87% of expenses flow directly to grantees.

## Funding Patterns

The Coypu Foundation maintains consistent annual grantmaking with total distributions ranging from $756,000 to $933,000 per year. In 2024, the foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $756,229, while 2023 saw 20 awards. The foundation's $16.7 million asset base generates revenue primarily through dividends ($636,613 or 66.6% of 2024 revenue) and asset sales ($307,026 or 32.1%), with zero new contributions — reflecting its status as a fully endowed legacy foundation.

Grant sizes range from $5,000 to $109,494, with a median of approximately $50,000 and an average of roughly $46,600. The largest grants consistently go to major national conservation organizations: The Nature Conservancy ($100,000), the LSU Foundation ($100,885), and Tulane University ($84,000) are among top recipients. Mid-range grants ($50,000-$70,000) support organizations like the National Wildlife Federation and National Audubon Society, while smaller grants ($20,000-$27,000) fund specific research projects such as Ducks Unlimited's mottled duck breeding ecology study ($26,000) and LSU Libraries' historic map restoration ($20,000).

The foundation shows strong fidelity to repeat grantees — organizations like The Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation appear across multiple filing years, suggesting that building a multi-year relationship is key to sustained funding. Geographic distribution heavily favors Louisiana, with secondary concentrations in Virginia and Tennessee, though grants have reached organizations in Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Texas, and even Toronto, Canada.

## Peer Comparison

The Coypu Foundation occupies a distinctive niche among private foundations focused on wildlife conservation and environmental education in the Gulf Coast region. Here is how it compares to peer foundations:

Compared to its peers, the Coypu Foundation offers a unique combination of moderate grant sizes ($5K-$109K), accessibility to new applicants (12% new applicant funding rate), and breadth of eligible activities spanning pure research, education, and historic preservation. Unlike NFWF's highly competitive federal-scale programs or the McIlhenny Foundation's hyper-local Iberia Parish focus, the Coypu Foundation serves as a mid-tier funder that bridges local Louisiana priorities with national conservation organizations.

## Recent Activity

In its most recent filing year (2024), the Coypu Foundation distributed $835,329 in charitable disbursements across 16 grants. The foundation's total assets stood at $16,684,409 with zero liabilities, reflecting prudent financial management. Revenue of $955,269 slightly exceeded expenses of $955,346, resulting in a near-breakeven year that maintained the endowment's purchasing power.

Notable recent grants include a $20,000 award to LSU Libraries' Special Collections for the professional restoration of two rare early 19th-century Louisiana maps — John La Tourrette's 1845 Reference Map of the State of Louisiana and Catesby Graham's 1838 Map of the State of Louisiana. This grant exemplifies the foundation's interest in preserving Louisiana's cultural and natural heritage beyond pure ecology.

The foundation also continued its multi-year support of Ducks Unlimited's mottled duck breeding ecology research in southwestern Louisiana's coastal marshes, a four-year collaborative study with Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries examining factors impacting the western Gulf Coast mottled duck population, which has declined over 40 years. The foundation funded both the first and current years of this study ($26,000).

The foundation currently lists one active grant opportunity on Instrumentl with a July 31, 2026 deadline, indicating continued openness to new applications through the JPMorgan online grants portal.

## Application Tips

1. Apply through the correct portal. The Coypu Foundation accepts applications exclusively online through JPMorgan's grants portal (jpmorgan.com/onlinegrants). Search for "Coypu" to find the foundation. Do not send unsolicited proposals by mail or email — they will not be reviewed.

2. Emphasize Louisiana connections. While applications from all locations are accepted, the foundation's charter and giving history strongly prefer Louisiana-based organizations and projects. If your organization is outside Louisiana, explicitly demonstrate how your work benefits Louisiana ecosystems, wildlife, or communities. Top recipients (LSU, Nature Conservancy's Louisiana chapter, Nicholls State) all have deep Louisiana roots.

3. Align with wildlife ecology and conservation. The foundation's core identity traces to founder Jack McIlhenny's passion for wildlife ecology and scientific expeditions. Proposals focused on field research, species conservation, habitat management, and ecological monitoring have the strongest alignment. Education proposals should connect to environmental or scientific literacy rather than general education.

4. Request an appropriate amount. With a median grant of ~$50,000 and a range of $5,000-$109,494, most successful proposals fall in the $20,000-$100,000 range. First-time applicants may want to start at the lower end ($20,000-$50,000) given the 12% new applicant funding rate.

5. Build for multi-year relationships. The foundation's grantee list shows strong repeat funding patterns. Initial grants often lead to sustained multi-year support. Frame your proposal to show clear outcomes that could warrant continued investment, and plan to report results that demonstrate impact worthy of renewal.

6. Submit well before the July 31 deadline. The annual deadline is firm. Allow adequate time for the JPMorgan portal submission process, which may require organizational registration and document uploads. Early submission demonstrates professionalism and avoids technical issues.