Hughes Charitable Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Jackson, WY EIN: 85-3683086 Website

The Hughes Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Jackson, Wyoming, dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that serve vulnerable and at-risk populations throughout Wyoming. Incorporated in 2020, the foundation's philanthropic work in the state began in 2017. Since its inception, the foundation has supported more than 300 Wyoming-based organizations and distributed over $25.8 million in grants.

Key facts about Hughes Charitable Foundation

EIN: 85-3683086
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $2,814,933
Grants made (2024): 29
Average grant: $97,067
Median grant: $50,000
New grantees (estimate): 52% first-time grantees (15 of 29, 2024)
Total assets: $6,285,282
Primary geography: Wyoming (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals: No
How to apply: The Hughes Charitable Foundation offers grant applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Hughes Charitable Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Hughes Charitable Foundation's 29 itemized 2024 grants were Wyoming (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, WY (11 grants), Cheyenne, WY (4 grants), Laramie, WY (3 grants) and Riverton, WY (2 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Hughes Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?

52%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 15 of 29 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $96K; repeat grants $98K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $53K repeat.

21% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving fell 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.3M

+153.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.8M

-72.8% YoY

Grant Count

-48.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$97K

-47.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hughes Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $135K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission Statement: "It's simple: We are called to help meet people's basic needs and bless them where they are."

The foundation operates around the concept of the "impact zone"—a metaphor describing people trapped in cycles of crisis who struggle to gain steady footing. The foundation seeks to support organizations serving families and individuals living on the precipice of disaster, one accident, illness, natural disaster, or job loss away from homelessness or worse.

Primary Funding Areas:

Faith
Food Insecurity & Hunger
Housing Insecurity & Homelessness
People with Disabilities
Community Health & Wellness
Women & Children
Survivors of Domestic Violence
At-Risk Youth
Arts & Education
Community Vibrance
Animals & Environment
Indigenous Communities

Grantmaking

Grant Range

** Grants vary widely, from $10,000 to $10 million, with an average around $102,000 based on 2023 data.

Invitation Only

** The Hughes Charitable Foundation offers grant applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Wyoming statewide, with particular emphasis on Teton County and Jackson Hole area organizations.

Grant Distribution by State

Wyoming $2.7M (96%)

New York $100K (4%)

Share of all 29 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Hawaii Idaho New York Tennessee Utah Virginia Wyoming

Cities

JacksonCheyenneLaramieCasperSheridanLanderRivertonGilletteBuffaloCodyFort WashakieSan Luis ObispoTorringtonEvansvilleHonoluluAlexandriaBrooklynDouglasEtnaGreybull

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Revenue: $10,159,714
Total Expenses: $15,438,036
Total Assets: $6,285,282
Annual Giving (2023): $6,011,482
Employees: 1

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$6,285,282	$2,479,632	$5,676,764
Revenue	$10,159,714	$9,765,040	$10,003,792
Expenses	$15,438,036	$7,489,609	$16,799,459
Qualifying Distributions	$2,579,983	$6,262,630	$7,950,077
Net Investment Income	$94,231	$69,381	—
Distributable Amount	$135,344	$159,887	$117,233

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

182 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Community Center for the Arts ($333,333), Children's Museum of Cheyenne ($250,000), St John's Health Foundation ($250,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Community Center for the Arts Jackson, WY	Restricted to Endowment Fund	$333,333
Children's Museum of Cheyenne Cheyenne, WY	Matching challenge grant for the completion of the capital campaign	$250,000
St John's Health Foundation Jackson, WY	Restricted to the construction of workforce housing	$250,000
Slow Food in the Tetons Jackson, WY	Restricted: operational and local discount program ($150,000); SRG Challenge Match	$225,000
Wyoming PBS Foundation Riverton, WY	A state of Mind; Confronting Wyoming's Mental Health Crisis-Season 2	$200,000
Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation Cheyenne, WY	Funds to improve and relocate the Native American Indian Village at Cheyenne Frontier Days	$190,000
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area Jackson, WY	Funds to assist with development staff and a strategic plan for the Parkside at Benson-Brown development	$166,667
Climb Cheyenne, WY	Workforce development & economic empowerment for low-income single moms	$150,000
Tumbleweed Creative Arts Jackson, WY	Fund manager and instructor salaries to support and cultivate local creatives	$150,000
Robbie's House Laramie, WY	Restricted: Pathways to Healing	$125,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

B. Wayne Hughes, Jr. – Founder and Board Chairman
Molly Hughes – President (compensation: $130,000 as of 2025)
Hunter Christensen – Senior Vice President

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Molly Hughes	President	40	$130,000
Bradley Wayne Hughes Jr	Director	1	—
Liz Brimmer	Treasurer	1	—
James Gersack	Secretary	1	—
Marilyn Kite	Director	1	—
Kristen Vieh Crago	Director	1	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has been increasingly active in major philanthropic initiatives:

**Housing for Service Workers:** Made a record-breaking $10 million donation to Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust to provide safe, stable, and affordable housing for human service workers across multiple organizations in Teton County, including Senior Center of Jackson Hole, Community Entry Services, Community Safety Network, One22, Teton Literacy Center, Children's Learning Center, Climb Wyoming, Jackson Hole Community Counseling, Teton Youth and Family Services, and local emergency services.

Teton Habitat awarded a $500,000 grant from the Hughes Charitable Foundation

**Housing Development:** Announced a $15 million challenge grant to Teton Habitat for Humanity for home construction in Northern South Park, along with a separate $500,000 grant to the organization.

Wyoming PBS announces $500k grant from Hughes Charitable ...

**Public Media:** Awarded $500,000 to Wyoming PBS Foundation as a challenge grant.

Wyoming PBS Foundation Receives $500K Challenge Grant from Hughes Charitable

**Community Engagement:** Continues annual $1 million matching support for WyoGives, Wyoming's Day of Giving for nonprofits.

The foundation maintains a blog featuring spotlights on grantee organizations and updates on philanthropic initiatives across Wyoming.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hughes Charitable Foundation fund?

**Mission Statement:** "It's simple: We are called to help meet people's basic needs and bless them where they are." The foundation operates around the concept of the "impact zone"—a metaphor describing people trapped in cycles of crisis who struggle to gain steady footing. The foundation seeks to support organizations serving families and individuals living on the precipice of disaster, one accident, illness, natural disaster, or job loss away from homelessness or worse. **Primary Funding Area…

How do I apply for a grant from Hughes Charitable Foundation?

The Hughes Charitable Foundation offers grant applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Hughes Charitable Foundation make grants?

Wyoming statewide, with particular emphasis on Teton County and Jackson Hole area organizations.

What size grants does Hughes Charitable Foundation award?

In 2024, Hughes Charitable Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $97K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Hughes Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hughes Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $135K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.