Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation
The Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation is a private foundation based in Canton, Ohio. Its filing describes award restrictions for youth betterment in Maine, Florida, and the Menlo Park and Atherton areas of California; its 2026 grants also went to organizations in other locations and supported a range of stated purposes.
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation at a glance
In short: Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation gave $7.2M across 68 grants in 2026 (avg $106K), mostly in Ohio. 37% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $7,238,402
- +562.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 68
- +15.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $106,447
- +474.6% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,711,415
- -37.8% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (24 of 65, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (69% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Huntington Bank’s Irene Gray as the contact. It states that no form or other materials are required and that there are no deadlines. Its listed award restrictions are for youth betterment in Maine, Florida, and the Menlo Park and Atherton areas of California.
- Contact
Application contact: Huntington Bank Irene Gray
Mailing address: 4481 Munson St Nw Ste 100, Canton, OH 44718
Phone: (330) 258-2362
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was The Ferguson Foundation ($4.8M). Together the top 10 received $6.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
308 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 282 grants of 308 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing identifies Maine, Florida, and the Menlo Park and Atherton areas of California as locations for youth-betterment awards. In 2026, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 14% to Florida, 5% to California, 4% to Illinois, and 4% to Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 24 of 65 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $213K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 46% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 773% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 666% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $829K (2023) to $7.2M (2026). In 2026 it made 68 grants totaling $7.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Ferguson Foundation Canton, OH | Foundation Split | $4,836,562 |
| Conservancy of SW Florida Naples, FL | General Funds | $1,000,000 |
| Highland Community College Freeport, IL | Concert Grand Piano and Fine Arts Program | $317,500 |
| Wilderness Center Wilmot, OH | Grant to Help with Land Purchase, Conservation | $118,000 |
| Maine Environmental Education Association Brunswick, ME | Grant to Make Small Grants to Schools for Supplies for Learning Outdoors | $100,000 |
| Project Drawdown Pittsburgh, PA | General Funds | $100,000 |
| Give Direct New York, NY | LA Fire Relief for Poorest Families and Individuals | $55,000 |
| Shelburne Farms Shelburne, VT | Martin Tierney Endowment Fund | $50,000 |
| Eastside College Preparatory East Palo Alto, CA | Tuition for 2 Students | $48,000 |
| Peninsula Bridge Mateo, CA | Mental Health Needs | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports that one-third of the foundation’s assets went to The Ferguson Foundation, a new, separate foundation exempt under section 501(c)(3), during the split.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $8,711,415 | $2,045,668 | $7,350,214 | $7,238,402 | 68 | $7,297,041 | $2,009,495 | $1,095,169 |
| 2025 | $14,015,961 | $5,087,745 | $1,202,882 | $1,092,950 | 59 | $1,135,491 | $1,460,989 | $1,048,188 |
| 2024 | $10,131,098 | $850,406 | $1,043,411 | $980,600 | 65 | $1,011,564 | $823,559 | $831,888 |
| 2023 | $10,311,201 | $438,368 | $922,608 | $828,700 | 62 | $862,982 | $411,382 | $833,566 |
| 2022 | $10,795,441 | $1,477,460 | $945,702 | $871,000 | 54 | $909,802 | $1,447,487 | $926,318 |
| 2021 | $10,263,683 | $556,785 | $938,557 | $878,525 | 84 | — | $527,962 | $785,491 |
| 2020 | $10,645,455 | $858,265 | $1,100,134 | $1,011,145 | 58 | — | $822,782 | $757,012 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. The filing lists restrictions on awards as youth betterment in Maine, Florida, and the Menlo Park and Atherton areas of California. In 2026, grant purposes included conservation, outdoor learning, arts, tuition, mental health, and disaster relief.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Shelburne Farms says its mission is to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future. Eastside College Preparatory describes its commitment to opening higher-education opportunities for students historically underrepresented in higher education. Peninsula Open Space Trust says it protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. Other 2026 grantees describe work in local food systems, children’s learning differences and mental health, conservation, emergency assistance, and youth music education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 68 grants totaling $7,238,402. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $4,836,562, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed grant was $4,836,562 to The Ferguson Foundation in Canton, Ohio, for a “Foundation Split.” Other large grants included $1,000,000 to Conservancy of SW Florida for general funds; $317,500 to Highland Community College for a concert grand piano and fine arts program; and $118,000 to Wilderness Center to help with a land purchase for conservation.
Additional 2026 grants included $100,000 to Maine Environmental Education Association for small grants to schools for outdoor-learning supplies, $100,000 to Project Drawdown for general funds, and $55,000 to Give Direct for Los Angeles fire relief for low-income families and individuals. The filing also lists grants to Eastside College Preparatory for tuition for two students ($48,000), Peninsula Open Space Trust to safeguard wildlife passages and protect biodiversity ($30,000), and Massillon Family YMCA for its gymnastics program and Gators swim team ($27,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Lynne A Seeley and Dana G Seeley Hayse as trustees.
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's 2026 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Dana G Seeley Hayse
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynne A Seeley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nancy Seeley (2020–2025) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation
How much does Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation give each year?
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation gave $7.2M across 68 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $1.1M across 59 grants.
What is Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's typical grant size?
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $106,447, across 68 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation that year got $213K on average.
Where does Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation give grants?
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Canton, OH (5 grants), Brunswick, ME (3 grants), East Palo Alto, CA (3 grants) and Massillon, OH (3 grants).
Does Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 68) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's largest grantees?
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include The Ferguson Foundation ($4,836,562), Conservancy of SW Florida ($1,000,000) and Highland Community College ($317,500), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation?
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation reported $8.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. The filing lists restrictions on awards as youth betterment in Maine, Florida, and the Menlo Park and Atherton areas of California. In 2026, grant purposes included conservation, outdoor learning, arts, tuition, mental health, and disaster relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation?
The filing lists Huntington Bank’s Irene Gray as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's EIN?
Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6245247. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/leonard-c-and-mildred-f-ferguson-foundation-morg_ab74a5fd9007469aa636a123f778776f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_656245247_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Leonard C \& Mildred F Ferguson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/leonard-c-and-mildred-f-ferguson-foundation-morg_ab74a5fd9007469aa636a123f778776f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Leonard C & Mildred F Ferguson 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.
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