The John and Alison Ferring Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Established in 2001, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as a vehicle for philanthropic giving across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$479K
-42.0% YoY
Grant Count
27
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-29.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports causes in Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. Grant recipients have included organizations focused on religious charities, missions, churches, student clubs, food pantries, animal shelters, private schools, and youth development.
Grantmaking
No specific application procedures are documented in available sources.
Grant Range
$190 to $425,380
Average Grant
amount: approximately $107–$190
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with documented giving in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023–2024):
- Total assets: $4.6–$5.78 million
- Total giving (2023): $479,123–$826,366
- Annual revenue (2023): $465,178
- Annual expenses (2023): $848,855
- Giving rate: 16.9%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arch City Defenders ($150,000), St Louis Shakespeare Festival ($58,000), Flance Early Learning Center ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CASA ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| COCA ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| FINE ARTS WORK CENTER PROVINCETOWN, MA | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| FIRST TEE OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY PALM DESERT, CA | GENERAL FUND | $2,500 |
| FLANCE EARLY LEARNING CENTER ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $50,000 |
| MASS AUDUBON LINCOLN, MA | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| MED & FOOD FOR KIDS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $27,500 |
| PEDAL THE CAUSE ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $2,500 |
| ST LOUIS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $58,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- John H. Ferring IV
- Alison N. Ferring
Both trustees serve without compensation.
Alison Nichols Ferring's Community Involvement: Alison has served on the board of trustees for the Flance Early Learning Center since 2014 and on the board of the St. Louis Library Foundation since 2008. She co-chaired the library foundation's $75 million capital campaign from 2004–2010. She was a founding member of the board of trustees for Shakespeare St. Louis and served on the executive committee of the Laumeier Sculpture Park board from 2012–2021.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN H FERRING IV | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ALISON N FERRING | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In June 2022, John and Alison Ferring were honored with the Jane and Whitney Harris St. Louis Community Service Award in recognition of their decades of service to Saint Louis and Washington University in Saint Louis, and for advancing the university's mission with their time, wisdom, and resources. The award recognizes those who significantly contribute to the culture and welfare of the greater Saint Louis community.
John and Alison Ferring receive Harris Award - The Source - WashUThe foundation has supported organizations including the Saint Louis Visionary Awards, which provides an annual awards ceremony to recognize women who have significantly contributed to the Saint Louis area art community.
Ferrings commit funding for Donald M. Suggs Arch Grant - St. Louis AmericanSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John and Alison Ferring fund?
The foundation supports causes in Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. Grant recipients have included organizations focused on religious charities, missions, churches, student clubs, food pantries, animal shelters, private schools, and youth development.
How do I apply for a grant from The John and Alison Ferring?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Grant range: $190 to $425,380 • Median grant amount: $22,749 • Average grant amount: approximately $107–$190 • Recent grant activity: 53 grants awarded in 2023; 33 grants awarded in 2024 • The foundation is open to new applicants **Application Process:** No specific application procedures are documented in available sources.
Where does The John and Alison Ferring make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with documented giving in California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Wyoming.
What size grants does The John and Alison Ferring award?
In 2024, The John and Alison Ferring awarded 27 grants totaling $479K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The John and Alison Ferring's EIN?
The John and Alison Ferring's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1944616. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John and Alison Ferring'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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