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 working on nature preservation and restoration, including wildlife and habitat, as well as institutions that present nature and cultural heritage to the public.
Key facts about The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
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.
- EIN
- 91-1357603
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $849,800
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- Average grant
- $12,140
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (12 of 70, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,904,887
- Primary geography
- Washington (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s application page says it is being updated and is expected back online by December 1, 2026, ahead of the next stated deadline. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists February 15 and September 15 as application deadlines.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
+20.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$850K
-17.6% YoY
Grant Count
70
-12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-5.8% YoY
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.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to preserve and restore nature, including wildlife and their required 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 a community-based approach, and projects by Native American communities focused on cultural preservation and natural-resource protection. It is particularly interested in supporting marginalized communities and institutions that may have difficulty accessing mainstream funding.
The 2025 grants illustrate support for organizations with varied missions. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society says its mission is to promote inclusive local history through education, preservation, and advocacy. The Makah Cultural and Research Center says it works to enhance understanding of Makah culture. The American Indian College Fund says it invests in Native students and tribal college education. The Alaska Wilderness League says it works to protect Alaska’s wild lands and waters. EarthCorps says it cultivates leaders and community partnerships to advance environmental justice.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 70 grants totaling $849,800. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,000; the website gives a typical award range of $5,000–$10,000. Among the largest reported grants were $50,000 each to the Burke Museum and Woodland Park Zoo; $45,000 to the Wing Luke Asian Museum; and $25,000 each to Alaska Wilderness League, American Indian College Fund, Jefferson County Community Foundation, Makah Cultural and Research Center, and Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
Review Cycle
. The 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Amy Wilcox for the application format.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports nonprofits in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Its website’s general eligibility policy names 501(c)(3) organizations located in Washington and Alaska, with proposals from Oregon and Montana occasionally invited by trustees. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 7% to Alaska, 4% to Oregon, and 3% each to recipients in Washington, DC, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 70 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,904,887 | $1,277,011 | $955,383 | $849,800 | 70 |
| 2024 | $1,583,259 | $472,809 | $1,141,487 | $1,031,300 | 80 |
| 2023 | $2,251,937 | $155,072 | $1,027,042 | $926,800 | 78 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,904,887 | $1,583,259 | $2,251,937 |
| Revenue | $1,277,011 | $472,809 | $155,072 |
| Expenses | $955,383 | $1,141,487 | $1,027,042 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $889,134 | $1,077,212 | $969,294 |
| Net Investment Income | $505,620 | $413,534 | $97,324 |
| Distributable Amount | $302,520 | $272,055 | $270,625 |
Data update history
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
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ellen Lee Ferguson as president. The foundation’s website identifies Ellen Ferguson as a founding trustee, alongside her parents, Hugh S. Ferguson and Jane A. Ferguson. The website identifies Amy Wilcox as the foundation advisor; its application information also names her as the contact for application-format details.
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.
Contact
Application contact: Amy Wilcox
Mailing address: PO Box 941, Conway, WA 98238
Phone: (206) 799-9589
Website: https://hughandjanefergusonfoundation.org
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 required 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 foundation’s application page says it is being updated and is expected back online by December 1, 2026, ahead of the next stated deadline. 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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