The Ferris Foundation
The Ferris Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. It reported 17 grants totaling $103,500 in filing year 2025. Its grants that year went to organizations in New York, Montana, Florida, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.
The Ferris Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ferris Foundation gave $104K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in New York. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $103,500
- +49.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,088
- +23.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $672,760
- -5.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (57% 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 The Ferris Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Cerity Prtnrs 99 Park Ave 16 F, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 476-5348
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ferris Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends Upper East Side Historic District ($25K). Together the top 10 received $95K.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 82 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 57% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 24% to Montana, 17% to Florida, 1% to Massachusetts, and less than 1% to Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ferris Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 35% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 226% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 $67K (2020) to $127K (2022). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $104K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends Upper East Side Historic District New York, NY | General | $25,000 |
| Museum of the City of New York New York, NY | General | $15,000 |
| Preserve Montana Helena, MT | General | $15,000 |
| Key West Literary Seminar Key West, FL | General | $10,000 |
| Park County Community Foundation Livingston, MT | General | $10,000 |
| Century Association Archives Foundation New York, NY | General | $5,000 |
| Key West Film Society Inc (DBA Tropic Cinema) Key West, FL | General | $5,000 |
| James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation Inc Millwood, NY | General | $3,500 |
| Philharmonic Symphony Society of NY Inc New York, NY | General | $3,000 |
| Wnet New York, NY | General | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ferris 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 | $672,760 | $77,868 | $114,845 | $103,500 | 17 | $108,253 | $71,276 | $47,886 |
| 2024 | $709,737 | $78,157 | $79,533 | $69,225 | 14 | $73,012 | $71,636 | $48,547 |
| 2023 | $711,113 | $58,541 | $84,633 | $73,520 | 13 | $76,954 | $50,862 | $43,953 |
| 2022 | $737,205 | $35,737 | $136,035 | $127,406 | 22 | $130,530 | $30,232 | $49,365 |
| 2021 | $837,503 | $62,984 | $78,310 | $67,500 | 16 | $70,164 | $54,838 | $57,751 |
| 2020 | $852,829 | $44,899 | $77,261 | $67,443 | 12 | — | $37,645 | $51,120 |
| 2019 | $885,191 | $38,764 | $120,506 | $108,745 | 23 | — | $31,428 | $51,077 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ferris Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in historic preservation, museums, literary programs, archives, public media, theater, and children’s medical research. These descriptions reflect the grantees’ missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
For example, the Museum of the City of New York says it fosters understanding of urban life and interprets New York City’s past, present, and future. The Century Association Archives Foundation says it preserves records and other materials relating to arts, literature, and civic life. Key West Literary Seminar says it promotes discussion of literature, supports new literary voices, and preserves Key West’s literary heritage. WNET describes itself as a public-service nonprofit providing lifelong learning and meaningful experiences.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $103,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median grant of $3,000.
Among the largest grants were $25,000 to Friends Upper East Side Historic District, $15,000 each to the Museum of the City of New York and Preserve Montana, and $10,000 each to Key West Literary Seminar and Park County Community Foundation. Other listed grants included $5,000 to Century Association Archives Foundation and $3,000 each to the Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York and WNET. The listed grant purposes were “GENERAL.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susan Henshaw Jones as president and Richard Eaton as secretary.
The Ferris Foundation is led by Susan Henshaw Jones, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan Henshaw Jones
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Eaton
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Ferris Foundation
How much does The Ferris Foundation give each year?
The Ferris Foundation gave $104K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $69K across 14 grants.
What is The Ferris Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ferris Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $6,088, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ferris Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Ferris Foundation give grants?
The Ferris Foundation gives mostly in New York: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Montana (24%) and Florida (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants) and Key West, FL (4 grants).
Does The Ferris Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ferris Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ferris Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ferris Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Friends Upper East Side Historic District ($25,000), Museum of the City of New York ($15,000) and Preserve Montana ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ferris Foundation?
The Ferris Foundation reported $673K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ferris Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in historic preservation, museums, literary programs, archives, public media, theater, and children’s medical research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ferris Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ferris Foundation's EIN?
The Ferris Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4013680. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ferris 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ferris Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Andrew Sabin Family Foundation
East Hampton, NY
The foundation funds environmental protection, stronger communities, and healthcare research, including cancer research, conservation, education, emergency services, and food security. Its 2024 grants ranged from $25 to $2.05 million, with a median of $5,000; grants went to recipients listed in New York, though its initiatives also include global work. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
167
Total Given
$6.8M
Charina Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Charina Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations across varied fields, with most 2025 grant dollars going to recipients in New York and Massachusetts. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $750,000, with a median of $7,500. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$10.1M
Grants
279
Total Given
$3.8M
Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Inc
West Palm Beach, FL
The Foundation funds nonprofits serving Palm Beach and Martin Counties, or projects that directly benefit residents there, in areas including education and youth, economic opportunity, thriving communities, capacity building, and crisis preparation and response. Its FY25 competitive grants averaged about $37,000, with a median of $30,000; awards ranged from $5,397 to $1.1 million. It accepts year-round requests starting with a Letter of Inquiry, and may invite selected applicants to submit a full proposal.
Assets
$293.4M
Grants
421
Total Given
$26.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ferris Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ferris-foundation-morg_75ecdf73eb364e37bad70ba12246a1a9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134013680_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ferris Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ferris-foundation-morg_75ecdf73eb364e37bad70ba12246a1a9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Ferris 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.
The Ferris Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?