John & Nancy Hughes
John & Nancy Hughes is a private foundation, based in Lake Forest, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $10.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $525K. Net investment income was $1.0M.
John & Nancy Hughes at a glance
In short: John & Nancy Hughes gave $525K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $525,000
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $75,000
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $10,098,911
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who John & Nancy Hughes funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital ($250K). Together the top 7 received $525K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 11 grants of 20 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How John & Nancy Hughes gives
- Giving grew 950% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2022) to $525K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $525K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, IL | Operating Fund | $250,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Lake Forest, IL | Operating Fund | $75,000 |
| American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association Evanston, IL | Operating Fund | $50,000 |
| Family First Center of Lake County Waukegan, IL | Operating Fund | $50,000 |
| Nourishing Hope Chicago, IL | Operating Fund | $50,000 |
| Gorton Center Lake Forest, IL | Operating Fund | $25,000 |
| The Grace Network Glenview, IL | Operating Fund | $25,000 |
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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 | $10,098,911 | $1,035,692 | $568,164 | $525,000 | 7 | $525,000 | $1,007,494 | $577,687 |
| 2024 | $9,631,383 | $611,989 | $527,406 | $500,000 | 5 | $500,000 | $586,370 | $541,795 |
| 2023 | $9,546,800 | $82,089 | $473,685 | $450,000 | 4 | $450,015 | $98,739 | $480,181 |
| 2022 | $9,938,396 | $6,194 | $68,088 | $50,000 | 4 | $50,000 | $74,963 | $458,968 |
| 2021 | $10,000,290 | $10,000,290 | — | — | — | — | $290 | $41,039 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Nancy Hughes reported a distributable amount of $578K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
John & Nancy Hughes is led by John W. Hughes III, Trustee on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John W. Hughes III
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about John & Nancy Hughes
How much does John & Nancy Hughes give each year?
John & Nancy Hughes gave $525K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $500K across 5 grants.
What is John & Nancy Hughes's typical grant size?
John & Nancy Hughes's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $75,000, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John & Nancy Hughes give grants?
John & Nancy Hughes gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Lake Forest, IL (2 grants).
Does John & Nancy Hughes give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John & Nancy Hughes's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John & Nancy Hughes's largest grantees?
John & Nancy Hughes's largest 2025 grantees include Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital ($250,000), Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($75,000) and American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John & Nancy Hughes?
John & Nancy Hughes reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $525K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $578K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is John & Nancy Hughes's EIN?
John & Nancy Hughes's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0691493. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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