Corporate Philanthropy


In alignment with the institution's founding promise to facilitate commerce and opportunities for people, Hancock Holding Company and its two banks—Whitney Bank and Hancock Bank—approve annual budgets for charitable contributions to community groups. These donations support critical services and innovative programs delivered through not-for-profit agencies, schools, universities, service organizations, and other groups in the markets the banks serve.

Focus Areas

Each year, Whitney Bank receives hundreds of requests for support from numerous organizations. The bank prioritizes consideration of charitable contributions according to organizations with objectives that reflect the company's century-old mission, purpose, and values and with the greatest overall community impact. Additionally, the company encourages its associates to volunteer for myriad civic, cultural, service, and educational endeavors that benefit the greater populations of the regions Whitney serves.

The company's discretionary areas of focus for charitable contributions and volunteerism include financial literacy for grades K-12, colleges and universities, and adult financial literacy; economic growth and sustainability; education and workforce development; affordable housing, and community revitalization; economic self-reliance, health and human services, and quality of life initiatives; cultural enrichment, heritage and historic preservation, and fine arts; environmental preservation and public service; and state, regional, and national organizations that address issues critical to the company's markets and to the services the company provides.

Consideration

To be considered for a charitable contribution, an organization must be a tax-exempt, not-for-profit entity as defined under Section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code.

The company's charitable contributions program may not support

• Individuals, including but not limited to pageant contestants, individual student trips or projects, and individual sports competitors;
• Multi-year commitments (unless a specific strategic rationale exists and the company reviews for renewal annually);
• Operating costs of organizations funded through a Whitney Bank supported United Way;
• Legislators, political organizations, or campaigns not provided for through the company's Political Action Committee (PAC).

Hancock Holding Company, Whitney Bank, Hancock Bank, and affiliated subsidiaries reserve the right to review, evaluate, accept, or decline requests for charitable contributions and/or volunteers according to pre-approved budgets, corporate objectives, and established decision-making guidelines, processes, and protocols. Receipt, acceptance, or consideration of a request does not constitute approval of the request.

The company's charitable contributions committees strive to review active requests within six (6) weeks of receipt but may extend review based on the need for additional information, more detailed information, and other factors affecting a final decision.

The company's charitable contributions program acknowledges approval of donation requests verbally and/or in writing. However, the sheer volume of requests may preempt communicating declined proposals to requesting organizations.

Submitting a Request

To request a charitable contribution from Whitney Bank, an organization should submit a cover letter and supporting documents that provide the:

  • Legal name of the organization (identical to the name used on IRS Form 990);
  • Verification of tax-exempt, not-for-profit status;
  • Mission of the organization;
  • Amount of the request;
  • Reason for the request;
  • Project objectives;
  • Overall budget for the project or proposal;
  • Other sources of income for the project or proposal;
  • Area and population(s) served by the project;
  • Duration or timeline for the project or initiative;
  • Expected outcome and effectiveness;
  • Means of measuring outcome and effectiveness;
  • Organizational financial statement of income & expenses;
  • List of organizational board of directors & affiliations;
  • Other pertinent information.

Information submitted for consideration—including the cover letter and supporting documents—should not exceed five (5) single-spaced typewritten pages.

Contacts to request a charitable contribution from Whitney Bank include:

LOUISIANA—Greater New Orleans
Caroline Milling
VP & Corporate Contributions Director
228 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-302-7962
caroline.milling@whitneybank.com

LOUISIANA—Alexandria, Covington, Baton Rouge, Hammond, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Mandeville, Morgan City, Slidell, & Immediate Vicinities
Courtney de la Bretonne Hart
Regional Marketing Specialist
P.O. Box 591
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
225-248-7122
courtney.hart@whitneybank.com

TEXAS
Courtney de la Bretonne Hart
Regional Marketing Specialist
P.O. Box 591
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
225-248-7122
courtney.hart@whitneybank.com