The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation
The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation is a private foundation established in 1984 and based in Seattle, Washington. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since June 1985. It functions as a family foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.9M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+0.3% YoY
Grant Count
28
-3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$111K
+3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Human Services (primary focus)
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Religious Organizations (Christian agencies, Baptist churches, Christian Scientist churches)
- Community Support (including United Way)
The foundation supports general support initiatives, community centers, health care advancement, and programs benefiting women and children.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 29 grants in 2024 and 28 grants in 2023.
Grant Range
Range:** $4,000–$640,000
Average Grant
Amount:** Varies by year
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Washington (primary focus, particularly the Seattle region)
- Georgia
- New York
Recent grants have also extended to Wyoming and Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total Assets: $29,850,963
- Total Revenue: $1,887,569
- Total Expenses: $3,109,413
- Total Giving: $3,094,000
- Net Income: -$1,221,844
- Total Liabilities: $68,900
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2023:
- Total Assets: ~$30,000,000
- Total Distributions: $3,100,000
The foundation maintains substantial assets and distributes approximately 10% annually in grants.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,850,963 | $27,637,142 | $28,865,815 |
| Revenue | $1,887,569 | $1,506,981 | $1,615,402 |
| Expenses | $3,109,413 | $3,092,886 | $3,134,340 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,096,100 | $3,086,975 | $3,078,174 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,883,296 | $1,503,096 | $1,612,438 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,440,435 | $1,415,981 | $1,565,612 |
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
145 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include United Way of King County ($640,000), Seattle First Baptist Church ($350,000), Church Council of Greater Seattle ($225,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 12TH CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SERVICES & ACTIVITIES | $100,000 |
| 1ST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST BOSTON, MA | MOTHER CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND AND GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION BY ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY FOR STUDENTS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | $30,000 |
| CARTER CENTER ATLANTA, GA | SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ALLEVIATION OF HUMAN SUFFERING | $115,000 |
| CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT BUILDING COLLECTIVE POWER THROUGH FAITH-ROOTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING | $225,000 |
| COMPANIS SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY FOSTERING SKILLED VOLUNTEER SERVICE | $50,000 |
| FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TO PREVENT AND ELIMINATE CANCER AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE | $200,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TUKWILA, WA | FAMILY RESOURCE PROGRAM | $180,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL AMERICUS, GA | SUPPORT BUILDING HOMES, COMMUNITIES AND HOPE. | $29,000 |
| KBTC ASSOCIATION TACOMA, WA | SUPPORT THE ARTISTIC, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF KBTC PUBLIC TV | $18,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Christopher R Hughes
- Julie A Hughes
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER R HUGHES | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | — |
| JULIE A HUGHES | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made notable grants beyond its primary geographic focus:
**Wyoming PBS:** $500,000 challenge grant announced in 2025 to support the Wyoming PBS Foundation endowment
Wyoming PBS announces $500k grant from Hughes Charitable Foundation | Wyoming**Nevada Community Foundation:** Participation in the Hughes & Jones Music Fund, which provides grants enriching Nevada's public school music programs through the 2025 Rural Nevada Music Awards
Announcing the 2025 Rural Nevada Music Awards: Hughes & Jones Music Fund**Philadelphia:** Hughes Scholarship supporting Philadelphia students through the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
HUGHES SCHOLARSHIP WILL BENEFIT PHILADELPHIA STUDENTSFrequently Asked Questions
What does The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • **Human Services** (primary focus) • **Education** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Religious Organizations** (Christian agencies, Baptist churches, Christian Scientist churches) • **Community Support** (including United Way) The foundation supports general support initiatives, community centers, health care advancement, and programs benefiting women and children.
How do I apply for a grant from The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation?
**Grant Size Range:** $4,000–$640,000 **Median Grant Amount:** $48,000 **Average Grant Amount:** Varies by year **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • United Way of King County: $640,000 (UWKC Gates Challenge) • Seattle First Baptist Church: $350,000 (Support for Justice-Oriented & Inclusive Intergenerational Community) • Swedish Medical Center Foundation: $225,000 (Support for Advancing Health Care in the Seattle Region) • 12th Church of Christ Scientist (Seattle, WA): $100,000 (Support for Chris…
Where does The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • **Washington** (primary focus, particularly the Seattle region) • **Georgia** • **New York** Recent grants have also extended to Wyoming and Nevada.
What size grants does The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation award?
In 2024, The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $3.1M — an average of about $111K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation's EIN?
The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1286019. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John C & Karyl Kay Hughes 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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