Henry M Jackson Foundation
The Henry M Jackson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1983, the Foundation continues the legacy of the late Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson through grantmaking and strategic initiatives. The organization operates as a private foundation dedicated to advancing values-based leadership and addressing critical issues in international affairs, human rights, environmental stewardship, and civic engagement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.4M
+16.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$275K
+11.9% YoY
Grant Count
19
-9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+23.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Henry M Jackson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $735K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to continue the unfinished work of Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson in areas where he demonstrated key leadership. The organization focuses on four primary program areas:
- Values-Based Leadership — Investing in leadership development through the Jackson Leadership Fellows program
- Human Rights — Advancing human rights and international affairs education
- Climate Change — Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C
- Civic Health — Addressing dysfunction in governance at state legislatures
The Foundation also supports education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking initiatives.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
of $5,000.
Invitation Only
** Strategic initiatives are primarily conducted on an invitation-only basis. Interested individuals may contact the Foundation's program officer to discuss potential partnership ideas consistent with Foundation interests and priorities.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington, New York, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $16,393,602 (as of most recent filing)
Annual Giving: $274,650
Total Expenses: $1,146,900 (fiscal year 2023)
Total Liabilities: $358,000 (fiscal year 2023)
Revenue: $126,276 (fiscal year 2023)
Tax-Exempt Status: Since January 1984 (EIN: 52-1313011)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,393,602 | $14,069,510 | $12,965,231 |
| Revenue | $432,310 | $126,276 | $3,842,628 |
| Expenses | $1,180,437 | $1,146,922 | $1,106,429 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,052,518 | $940,510 | $986,456 |
| Net Investment Income | $293,827 | $227,359 | $3,713,358 |
| Distributable Amount | $734,580 | $686,037 | $707,086 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Uw Henry M Jackson School of International Studies ($52,000), The Council on Strategic Risks ($50,000), Human Rights First ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UW EVANS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY & GOVERNANCE SEATTLE, WA | JACKSON GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | $12,500 |
| UW CENTER FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND DIVERSITY SEATTLE, WA | JACKSON MUNRO PUBLIC SERVICE FELLOWSHIPS | $15,000 |
| HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST NEW YORK, NY | STRENGTHENING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GLOBAL MAGNITSKY SANCTIONS | $40,000 |
| THE COUNCIL ON STRATEGIC RISKS WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE AND SECURITY | $50,000 |
| CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SEATTLE, WA | WASHINGTON CLIMATE NARRATIVE SHIFT PROJECT | $30,000 |
| UW EVANS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCE SEATTLE, WA | FUELING THE JUNIOR SUMMER INSTITUTE PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| SEATTLE CITY CLUB SEATTLE, WA | TO SUPPORT THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DEBATES | $3,000 |
| ONEWORLD NOW SEATTLE, WA | TO SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION | $5,000 |
| OPERATION SNOW LEOPARD RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE EVACUATION AND RELOCATION OF AT RISK AFGHANS | $3,500 |
| SEATTLE 2030 DISTRICT SEATTLE, WA | TO HOLD A PILOT ROUNDTABLE TO FORM POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVANCING BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION AND DECARBONIZATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Kathryn Terry — Executive Director (40 hours/week, $167,000 annual compensation)
- Kiana Scott — President (from January 2024; previously Vice President through December 2023)
- Tom Bugert — Vice President
- Linda Mason Wilgis — Vice President
- David Rostov — Treasurer
- Anna Marie Laurence — Secretary
- Joel Merkel — General Counsel
The Foundation maintains an active board of directors.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHRYN TERRY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $166,864 |
| KIANA SCOTT | VP (THRU 12/23), PRESIDENT (FROM 1/24) | 5 | — |
| TOM BUGERT | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LINDA MASON WILGIS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DAVID ROSTOV | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ANNA MARIE LAURENCE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOEL MERKEL | GENERAL COUNSEL | 1 | — |
| ALEX ADAMS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| KEIKO BUDECH | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| BENJAMIN COOPER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHELE FRIX | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| CRAIG GANNETT | PRES (THRU 12/23), MEMBER (FROM 1/24) | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN HEMPELMANN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ANDREW MUNRO | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ALYSSA PATRICK | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MARIA DENNY | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| LARRY PHILLIPS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ANNIE THOMPSON | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| CAROL HARRIS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL MAGE | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| KARLA GRAUE PRATT | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| GARY BAKER | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/23) | 0.5 | — |
| CHUCK BLUMENFELD | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/23) | 0.5 | — |
| MATTHEW COMBE | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/23) | 0.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH MOLER | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/23) | 0.5 | — |
| PRIYA SAXENA | BOARD MEMBER (THRU 5/24) | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation released a Winter 2025 Newsletter highlighting its investment in empowering future human rights leaders at the University of Washington Center for Human Rights. The newsletter also announced the addition of a new Treasurer and featured highlights from Jackson Fellows.
Henry M. Jackson Foundation's Opportunity Grants \u2013USThe Jackson Leadership Fellows program requires each Fellow to complete an independent project addressing policy issues, community engagement, or civic analysis relevant to the Foundation's mission areas.
Creative Forces Supports Community Arts Engagement Projects for ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Henry M Jackson Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission is to continue the unfinished work of Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson in areas where he demonstrated key leadership. The organization focuses on four primary program areas: • **Values-Based Leadership** — Investing in leadership development through the Jackson Leadership Fellows program • **Human Rights** — Advancing human rights and international affairs education • **Climate Change** — Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C • **Civic Health** — Addressing dysfunct…
How do I apply for a grant from Henry M Jackson Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $52,000, with a median grant size of $5,000. **Recent Activity:** The Foundation made 19 grants in the most recent tax year, with total giving of $274,650. **Application Process:** Strategic initiatives are primarily conducted on an invitation-only basis. Interested individuals may contact the Foundation's program officer to discuss potential partnership ideas consistent with Foundation interests and priorities.
Where does Henry M Jackson Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington, New York, and Virginia.
What size grants does Henry M Jackson Foundation award?
In 2024, Henry M Jackson Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $275K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Henry M Jackson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Henry M Jackson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $735K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Henry M Jackson Foundation's EIN?
Henry M Jackson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1313011. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Henry M Jackson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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