The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1987 and based in Seattle, Washington. The foundation is dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that align with its conservation and cultural heritage mission across the Pacific Northwest region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-29.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+11.3% YoY
Grant Count
80
+2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+8.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $272K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of nature, including wildlife and their required habitats. It also supports institutions that present nature and the cultural heritage of the greater Puget Sound area to the public, including museums, libraries, aquariums, zoos, and public media.
The foundation identifies five primary areas of interest:
- Environmental protection and wildlife conservation
- Cultural institutions and projects
- Community-based projects that engage local volunteers
- Collaborative and coalition-building efforts that bring organizations together to share strengths and maximize effectiveness
- Support for Native American communities and marginalized groups
Grantmaking
The foundation made 79 grants in 2024, with a total grantmaking amount of approximately $1.026 million. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, with a particular emphasis on the greater Puget Sound area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $472,809
- Total Expenses: $1,141,487
- Net Income: -$668,678
- Total Assets: $1,583,259
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since October 1987. It is required to file IRS Form 990-PF annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,583,259 | $2,251,937 | $3,123,907 |
| Revenue | $472,809 | $155,072 | $915,714 |
| Expenses | $1,141,487 | $1,027,042 | $1,178,970 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,077,212 | $969,294 | $1,113,845 |
| Net Investment Income | $413,534 | $97,324 | $848,928 |
| Distributable Amount | $272,055 | $270,625 | $287,420 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Burke Museum ($90,000), Humanities Washington ($30,000), Alaska Wilderness League ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE WASHINGTON, DC | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS & PROJECTS | $25,000 |
| ARTSFUND SEATTLE, WA | CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS & PROJECTS | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING BELLINGHAM, WA | CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS & PROJECTS | $5,000 |
| BIRDS CONNECT SEATTLE SEATTLE, WA | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | $10,000 |
| BLACKPAST ORG SEATTLE, WA | CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS & PROJECTS | $10,000 |
| BRAIDED RIVER SEATTLE, WA | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | $10,000 |
| BURKE MUSEUM SEATTLE, WA | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | $90,000 |
| CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY VANCOUVER, WA | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION | $10,000 |
| CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB SEATTLE, WA | CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROJECTS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ellen Ferguson is a founding trustee and current leader of the foundation. She is a third-generation Seattleite with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. Ellen has dedicated her life to preserving natural resources and supporting cultural heritage throughout the Pacific Northwest, with a 50-year career at The Burke Museum. She was recently awarded the Gates Volunteer Service Award for her lifetime of philanthropic giving, volunteerism, and impact in the Seattle community and region.
Amy Wilcox serves as the Foundation Advisor, bringing more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit and government administration, leadership, and management. Her areas of expertise include conservation and environmental protection, education, and arts and culture.
The foundation was founded by Hugh S. Ferguson (1916-2011) and Jane A. Ferguson (1918-1994), who have since passed away.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN LEE FERGUSON | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Pratt Museum received a generous grant from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation. The foundation's Welcome Hall at the Wing Luke Museum serves as an event space available for inquiries.
Pratt Museum Receives Generous Grant from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of nature, including wildlife and their required habitats. It also supports institutions that present nature and the cultural heritage of the greater Puget Sound area to the public, including museums, libraries, aquariums, zoos, and public media. The foundation identifies five primary areas of interest: • Environmental protection and wildlife conservation • Cultural institutions and projects • Community-based projects that engage l…
How do I apply for a grant from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation?
The foundation made 79 grants in 2024, with a total grantmaking amount of approximately $1.026 million. Recent grants include: • Burke Museum Association: $90,000 (Environmental Protection) • Woodland Park Zoo: $50,000 (Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Preservation) • Potlatch Fund: $50,000 (Cultural Institutions & Projects) The foundation gives approximately $1 million annually. The foundation prioritizes community-based projects and collaborative efforts. While the foundation primarily accep…
Where does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, with a particular emphasis on the greater Puget Sound area.
What size grants does The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation awarded 80 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $272K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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