Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation

ASPEN, CO EIN: 31-6087932

The Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation is a private foundation based in Aspen, Colorado. Established in 1989 in Ohio, the foundation has since relocated to Colorado and operates as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.8M

-2.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$133K

-1.2% YoY

Grant Count

+10.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

-10.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $145K 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

The foundation's primary funding interests include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Science education and teacher support
Renewable energy
Community and school gardens
Environmental education
Arts grants for nonprofits

Grantmaking

Ready to take the next step with Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Ohio, and Washington.

Grant Distribution by State

California $184K (31%)

Colorado $89K (15%)

Washington $72K (12%)

Ohio $68K (11%)

Massachusetts $49K (8%)

New York $33K (6%)

Maryland $22K (4%)

Pennsylvania $20K (3%)

+11 more states

States

Alabama California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Georgia Illinois Massachusetts Maryland Michigan Missouri New York Ohio Pennsylvania Virginia Vermont Vi Washington

Cities

AlexandriaAmericusAspenAuroraBaltimoreBasaltBellinghamBerkeleyBostonBoulderCarbondaleChicagoClevelandCloumbusColumbiaColumbusDenverDurangoGrove CityHagerstown

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $2,754,684

Total Annual Giving: $132,875 (most recent filing, 2024)

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$2,754,684	$2,824,888	$2,949,258
Revenue	$91,590	$50,378	$-166,448
Expenses	$166,151	$172,191	$260,626
Qualifying Distributions	$132,897	$135,747	$220,182
Net Investment Income	$58,336	$38,621	$24,820
Distributable Amount	$144,507	$136,314	$146,472

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

250 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alfred Braun Hut System ($10,000), Conservation Northwest ($8,000), Rios to Rivers ($6,125).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ADA PALO ALTO, CA	UNRESTRICTED	$1,500
ALFRED BRAUN HUT SYSTEM ASPEN, CO	UNRESTRICTED	$10,000
ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED	$400
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED	$1,000
ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ASPEN, CO	UNRESTRICTED	$1,500
ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL ASPEN, CO	UNRESTRICTED	$1,500
BALLETMET COLUMBUS, OH	UNRESTRICTED	$3,000
BEYOND FISTULA LOS ALTOS, CA	UNRESTRICTED	$5,000
CAF AMERICA (CAMERAS WITHOUT BORDERS) ALEXANDRIA, VI	UNRESTRICTED	$3,000
CAL MATTERS SACRAMENTO, CA	UNRESTRICTED	$500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is listed under the contact of Catharine Fergus Garber.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
ELIZABETH FERGUS	CO-TRUSTEE	4	—
CATHARINE FERGUS GARBER	CO-TRUSTEE	2	—
SYLVIA FERGUS	CO-TRUSTEE	2	—
CORWIN FERGUS	CO-TRUSTEE	2	—

Contact Information

Address: PO Box 1515, Aspen, CO 81612-1515

Telephone: 650-245-9680

EIN: 31-6087932

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science education and teacher support • Renewable energy • Community and school gardens • Environmental education • Arts grants for nonprofits

How do I apply for a grant from Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $250 to $20,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $132,875 in grants based on its most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). **Grant Activity:** The foundation does not currently maintain live grant opportunities.

Where does Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Ohio, and Washington.

What size grants does Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation award?

In 2024, Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation awarded 62 grants totaling $133K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $145K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation's EIN?

Robert & Elizabeth Fergus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6087932. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.