The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1987, it supports nonprofit organizations in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, with a focus on preserving and restoring nature and supporting institutions that present nature and cultural heritage to the public.
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation gave $850K across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Washington. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $849,800
- -17.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,140
- -5.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,904,887
- +20.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (12 of 70, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Washington (78% 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 Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The website says only previous grantees are eligible to apply, with occasional trustee invitations for proposals from Oregon and Montana. The 2025 filing directs applicants to Amy Wilcox for the application format. The website says applications must be submitted online; mailed or emailed applications are not accepted.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists February 15 and September 15 deadlines. The application page says the form is being updated and is expected back online by December 1, 2026, ahead of the February 15, 2027 deadline.
- Deadline
- The website lists February 15 and September 15 deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Amy Wilcox
Mailing address: PO Box 941, Conway, WA 98238
Phone: (206) 799-9589
Website: https://hughandjanefergusonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
Who The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Burke Museum ($50K). Together the top 10 received $310K.
Grant Size Distribution
378 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 358 grants of 378 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports nonprofits in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Its policies specify that eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located in Washington or Alaska; trustees may occasionally invite proposals from Oregon and Montana. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 7% to Alaska, 4% to Oregon, 3% to the District of Columbia, and 3% to Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 70 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 294% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $850K (2025) to $1.1M (2022). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $850K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Burke Museum Seattle, WA | Cultural Institution and Projects | $50,000 |
| Woodland Park Zoo Seattle, WA | Saving wildlife, conserving habitat, and keeping garbage out of landfills through composting | $50,000 |
| Wing Luke Asian Museum Seattle, WA | Cultural Institutions & Projects | $45,000 |
| Alaska Wilderness League Washington, DC | Environmental Protection | $25,000 |
| American Indian College Fund Denver, CO | Cultural Institutions & Projects | $25,000 |
| Jefferson County Community Foundation Port Hadlock, WA | Cultural Institutions & Projects | $25,000 |
| Makah Cultural and Research Center Neah Bay, WA | Cultural Institutions and Projects | $25,000 |
| Southwest Seattle Historical Society Seattle, WA | Cultural Institutions & Projects | $25,000 |
| Alaska Community Foundation Anchorage, AK | Environmental Protection | $20,000 |
| Inland Northwest Land Conservancy Spokane, WA | Environmental Protection | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hugh and Jane Ferguson 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 | $1,904,887 | $1,277,011 | $955,383 | $849,800 | 70 | $889,134 | $505,620 | $302,520 |
| 2024 | $1,583,259 | $472,809 | $1,141,487 | $1,031,300 | 80 | $1,077,212 | $413,534 | $272,055 |
| 2023 | $2,251,937 | $155,072 | $1,027,042 | $926,800 | 78 | $969,294 | $97,324 | $270,625 |
| 2022 | $3,123,907 | $915,714 | $1,178,970 | $1,063,300 | 78 | $1,113,845 | $848,928 | $287,420 |
| 2021 | $3,387,163 | $956,694 | $1,110,716 | $911,800 | 72 | $944,677 | $867,351 | $405,581 |
| 2020 | $3,541,185 | $2,575,127 | $1,011,652 | $900,000 | 79 | — | $2,495,566 | $327,514 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $303K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to preserve and restore nature, including wildlife and their habitats, and to support institutions that present nature and cultural heritage to the public. Its website highlights community-based habitat and wildlife restoration, collaborative projects, cultural and natural history institutions using community-based approaches, and projects from Native American communities focused on cultural preservation and protecting natural resources. It also expresses particular interest in marginalized communities and institutions that may have difficulty accessing mainstream funding.
The foundation supports organizations with varied missions. For example, the Alaska Wilderness League says it works to protect Alaska’s wild lands and waters through support for federal policy action. The Makah Cultural and Research Center says its mission is to enhance understanding of Makah culture, while the Southwest Seattle Historical Society describes its work as promoting inclusive local history through education, preservation, and advocacy. The American Indian College Fund says it invests in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $849,800. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. The website gives an average grant-size range of $5,000 to $10,000.
The largest reported grants included $50,000 each to the Burke Museum for cultural institutions and projects and to Woodland Park Zoo for wildlife, habitat, and composting work. Other notable grants included $45,000 to the Wing Luke Asian Museum; $25,000 each to the Alaska Wilderness League, American Indian College Fund, Jefferson County Community Foundation, Makah Cultural and Research Center, and Southwest Seattle Historical Society; and $20,000 each to the Alaska Community Foundation, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, Jefferson County Historical Society, and Koahnic Broadcast Corp.
The foundation’s website says only previous grantees are eligible to apply, while trustees may occasionally invite proposals from Oregon and Montana. Its 2025 filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. The website says applications are submitted online and may be followed by a request for additional narrative or organizational financial information. It excludes research or academic-study projects, media or film production, and overhead costs such as a percentage paid to a university or sponsoring organization.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Ellen Ferguson as a founding trustee and says she continues the foundation’s giving. The 2025 filing lists Ellen Lee Ferguson as president. The website identifies Amy Wilcox as the foundation advisor; the contact page calls her the foundation coordinator.
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation is led by Ellen Lee Ferguson, President on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen Lee Ferguson
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
How much does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation give each year?
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation gave $850K across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 80 grants.
What is The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,140, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation give grants?
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Alaska (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (34 grants), Vancouver, WA (4 grants), Anchorage, AK (2 grants) and Spokane, WA (2 grants).
Does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 70 grants with a stated purpose on The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environmental Protection" (38 grants), "Cultural Institutions & Projects" (14 grants) and "Cultural Institutions and Projects" (4 grants).
Who are The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Burke Museum ($50,000), Woodland Park Zoo ($50,000) and Wing Luke Asian Museum ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation?
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $889K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $303K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to preserve and restore nature, including wildlife and their habitats, and to support institutions that present nature and cultural heritage to the public. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation?
The website says only previous grantees are eligible to apply, with occasional trustee invitations for proposals from Oregon and Montana. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's EIN?
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1357603. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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 August 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hugh-and-jane-ferguson-foundation-morg_e5e76b49d1f54e49a7d44bf43f3b1264
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911357603_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hugh-and-jane-ferguson-foundation-morg_e5e76b49d1f54e49a7d44bf43f3b1264},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Hugh and Jane 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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