Henry M Jackson Foundation
The Henry M Jackson Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. It supports work in values-based leadership, climate change, human rights, and international affairs education through grantmaking, partnerships, and the Jackson Leadership Fellows program.
Henry M Jackson Foundation at a glance
In short: Henry M Jackson Foundation gave $569K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in District of Columbia. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $568,500
- +107.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +31.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $22,740
- +57.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $16,657,357
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (10 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Henry M Jackson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s grant-types page says it does not accept unsolicited requests for strategic initiatives at this time. Its strategic-grants page describes a letter-of-interest process for potential initiatives and larger requests, with some applicants invited to submit a full proposal. The filing describes full-proposal materials including a program description, goals and outcomes, evaluation plans, implementation strategy and budget, organizational description and financial statement, and IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. For opportunity grants, the filing describes an LOI with organizational information, project details, and a project budget. The website says opportunity-grant applications are considered on a rolling basis until funds are dispersed and decisions are made within three weeks.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists quarterly strategic-initiative deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The 2026 dates in that cycle had passed as of October 2, 2026.
- Deadline
- The filing lists quarterly strategic-initiative deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Maura Sullivan Program Officer
Mailing address: 1200 Fifth Avenue Suite 1450, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 682-8565
Website: https://hmjackson.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Henry M Jackson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Freedom House ($250K). Together the top 10 received $537K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 90 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Seattle and works with national and local nonprofits, think tanks, and the University of Washington. In 2025, 54% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, D.C.; 36% to Washington state; 9% to New York; and 1% to Colorado. The Foundation also sets aside some opportunity-grant funds for organizations in greater Snohomish County, Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Henry M Jackson Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 20 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 79% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 176% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $569K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $569K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom House Washington, DC | General operating support to further its mission to expand and defend freedom globally | $250,000 |
| The Council on Strategic Risks Washington, DC | General operating support grant to the center for climate & security | $50,000 |
| Human Rights First New York, NY | Strengthening the Implementation of Global Magnitsky Sanctions Program | $40,000 |
| University of Wa - Evans School Seattle, WA | Nextgen summer policy intensive: expanding the leadership pipeline program | $30,000 |
| Seattle Foundation Seattle, WA | The Seattle Times Climate Lab | $30,000 |
| University of Wa Jackson School of INL Studies Seattle, WA | Center for human rights - support for russian, east european & central asian studies program - paid 12/2024 | $30,000 |
| University of Wa Jackson School of INL Studies Seattle, WA | Center for human rights - support for russian, east european & central asian studies program - paid 9/2025 | $30,000 |
| University of Wa Jackson School of INL Studies Seattle, WA | Center for Human Rights Student Support | $22,000 |
| University of WA Seattle, WA | Jackson Munro Public Service Fellowships 2025-2026 | $15,000 |
| University of Wa - Evans School Seattle, WA | Jackson graduate fellowships in environmental policy & natural resource management in the 2025-2026 academic year | $12,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Henry M Jackson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,657,357 | $655,769 | $1,483,908 | $568,500 | 25 | $1,353,181 | $514,105 | $768,533 |
| 2024 | $16,393,602 | $432,310 | $1,180,437 | $274,650 | 19 | $1,052,518 | $293,827 | $734,580 |
| 2023 | $14,069,510 | $126,276 | $1,146,922 | $245,500 | 21 | $940,510 | $227,359 | $686,037 |
| 2022 | $12,965,231 | $3,842,628 | $1,106,429 | $318,390 | 25 | $986,456 | $3,713,358 | $707,086 |
| 2021 | $16,686,962 | $14,823,745 | $542,837 | — | — | — | $98,118 | $150,568 |
| 2020 | $2,082,790 | $106,381 | $527,864 | $10,000 | Total only | — | $89,777 | — |
| 2019 | $2,408,819 | $204,461 | $708,953 | $24,000 | Total only | — | $93,805 | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Henry M Jackson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $769K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to foster and amplify effective leadership and tackle key issues of national and global importance. Its website identifies four areas of focus: values-based leadership; limiting global warming; human rights; and international affairs education, with special emphasis on Russia and China. The Foundation also describes support for connections between researchers and policymakers and for developing climate and human rights leaders.
Its grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Freedom House describes its work as defending and expanding freedom globally; the Council on Strategic Risks says it addresses systemic risks to 21st-century security; and Human Rights First describes its work as advancing free and equal societies. The Foundation has also supported the Seattle Foundation, whose stated mission is to strengthen the Greater Seattle community through philanthropy, and the Free Russia Foundation, which describes work to advance democracy, strengthen civil society, and defend human rights.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 25 grants totaling $568,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $5,000. Notable awards included $250,000 to Freedom House for general operating support, $50,000 to the Council on Strategic Risks for the Center for Climate & Security, and $40,000 to Human Rights First for work strengthening implementation of the Global Magnitsky sanctions program. Other awards included $30,000 to the Seattle Foundation for The Seattle Times Climate Lab and multiple grants to University of Washington programs.
The Foundation describes strategic initiatives and larger grants as generally $10,000 or more, often supporting forums, roundtables, conferences, or other convenings. It also makes occasional larger general operating grants to organizations closely aligned with its goals. Opportunity grants are generally up to $5,000 and can support smaller projects, events, or capacity-building; some funds are set aside for organizations in greater Snohomish County.
The Foundation says it funds U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Its website excludes grants to private foundations, endowment funds, and individuals; lobbying; candidate support or opposition; and overhead or administration fees at academic institutions or universities. It allows indirect expenses up to 15% of the total budget. The filing also states that grants may not cover operating deficits or capital expenditures.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tom Bugert and Linda Mason Wilgis as vice presidents; Anna Marie Laurence as secretary; David Rostov as treasurer; and Joel Merkel as general counsel. Board members listed were Alex Adams, Keiko Budech, Ben Cooper (through December 31, 2024), Maria Denny, and Michele Frix.
Henry M Jackson Foundation is led by Kathryn Terry, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathryn Terry
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2021) → $174K (2025)
Kiana Scott
President
Vice President → Vice President & President, 2024
Vice President & President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Adams
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Munro
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Marie Laurence
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Harris
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Rostov
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel Merkel
General Counsel
General Counsel → Counsel, 2020
Counsel → General Counsel, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hempelmann
Board Member
Past President → Director, 2020
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karla Graue Pratt
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Phillips
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Mason Wilgis
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Denny
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Frix
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Bugert
Vice President
Director → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Patrick
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keiko Budech
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annie Thompson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Mage
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Craig Gannett (2019–2025) — Board Member · Filing note: Through 123124
- Former: Ben Cooper (2025) — Board Member · Filing note: Through 123124
- Former: Benjamin Cooper (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Chuck Blumenfeld (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Moler (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Gary Baker (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Matthew Combe (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Priya Saxena (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Eileen Grevey Hillson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Radha Friedman (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Carol Vipperman (2019–2020) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Lara Iglitzin (2019–2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Peter Jackson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Susan Wickwire (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Tammy Helgeson (2019–2020) — Consulting CFO
- Former: Leah Scott (2020) — Consulting CFO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $174K, to Kathryn Terry (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Henry M Jackson Foundation
How much does Henry M Jackson Foundation give each year?
Henry M Jackson Foundation gave $569K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $275K across 19 grants.
What is Henry M Jackson Foundation's typical grant size?
Henry M Jackson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $22,740, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Henry M Jackson Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Henry M Jackson Foundation give grants?
Henry M Jackson Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (36%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (11 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Lynnwood, WA (2 grants).
Does Henry M Jackson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 12% of Henry M Jackson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Henry M Jackson Foundation's largest grantees?
Henry M Jackson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Freedom House ($250,000), University of Wa Jackson School of INL Studies ($82,000 across 3 grants) and The Council on Strategic Risks ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Henry M Jackson Foundation?
Henry M Jackson Foundation reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $769K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Henry M Jackson Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to foster and amplify effective leadership and tackle key issues of national and global importance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Henry M Jackson Foundation?
The Foundation’s grant-types page says it does not accept unsolicited requests for strategic initiatives at this time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does Henry M Jackson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 10, 2021)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Henry M Jackson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Henry M Jackson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/henry-m-jackson-foundation-morg_d86b6decaa1d4472a9c4933b02f35a4e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521313011_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Henry M Jackson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/henry-m-jackson-foundation-morg_d86b6decaa1d4472a9c4933b02f35a4e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Henry M Jackson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Henry M Jackson Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?