Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 81-1386818 · since 2016garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org·Pierce County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$4.9M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$15,000 to $225k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$50,000

Typical grant (median)

45 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

This foundation, based in Tacoma, WA, gives priority to Pierce County, Washington, so it best suits nonprofits working directly in that area.
Its core focus is animal welfare and marine life preservation, with some additional support for pre-selected homelessness and youth initiatives, so general homelessness or youth projects that are not part of that pre-selected group are unlikely to fit.
A realistic request would sit around the median grant of $50,000, as half of its grants are $50,000 or less, though the range runs from $15,000 up to $225,000, with one grant as large as $1,200,000.
The application process is rolling, starting with a letter of inquiry and an eligibility quiz, and only if that is approved are organisations invited to submit a full application.
With 93% of grant dollars going to previously funded organisations, this looks like a fairly relationship-led funder, so new applicants should apply but bear in mind that most of the money tends to go to established grantees; do not apply if your organisation is not a 501(c)3, or if your proposal is for annual funds, galas or other special event fundraising, sectarian religious activities, political lobbying or legislative activities, or if your organisation discriminates on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, political affiliation or religious belief.

Overview

Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tacoma, WA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Milgard family foundations support a wide variety of non-profit organisations that serve their communities, listening to people who see needs first-hand. The Ruth Foundation focuses primarily on organisations in Pierce County that provide direct services for animal welfare and marine life preservation. It also supports some pre-selected homelessness and youth initiatives. Its stated funding priorities are animal welfare, marine life preservation and some pre-selected youth and homelessness initiatives. Organisations begin with an eligibility quiz and submit a letter of inquiry through the grant portal; where an enquiry is approved, they are asked to provide a full application.

Themes

Animal welfare
Marine life preservation
Homelessness initiatives
Youth initiatives

Geographic Focus

Priority: Pierce County, Washington.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations that do not qualify as 501(c)3 tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code
Annual funds, galas, or other special event fundraising activities
Sectarian religious activities, political lobbying, or legislative activities
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, political affiliation or religious belief

How to apply

Organisations begin with a letter of inquiry. If approved, they are asked to provide a full application.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 137 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Ruth Foundation prioritises organisations that provide direct services for animal welfare and marine life preservation.
The letter of inquiry should address whether the proposal aligns with the foundation's funding priorities.
Recipients must submit grant reports at six months and again at one year when applicable.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Washington90%

Wyoming6%

Maryland2%

Georgia1%

Tennessee<1%

California<1%

3 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

45 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $50,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 45 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k24%

$25k–$50k22%

$50k–$100k20%

$100k–$250k22%

$250k–$500k9%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over2%

Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

The Humane Society - Tacoma & Pierce Co · 2024-2025 programs & services
$1,200,0002024 tax year
Pasado's Safe Haven · Pierce county hqhvsn clinics
$405,9002024 tax year
Boys & Girls Clubs Of South Puget Sound · Operations/teen mental health
$400,0002024 tax year
Tacoma Rescue Mission · Breakfast meals program
$310,0002024 tax year
Ginger's Pet Rescue · Rescue 2024
$250,0002024 tax year
Forgotten Dogs Rescue · Medical care dogs wa state
$225,0002024 tax year
Dog Is My CoPilot · Animal transport operations
$175,0002024 tax year
Auburn Valley Humane Society · Nwsnc subsidy/assistance programs
$160,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Jill Berry — Secretary
Harold Berry — Executive Director
Ashley Roberts — Secretary
Mark Milgard — President & Treasurer

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$6,733,774	$5,700,000	$104,161,836	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$5,904,403	$4,952,068	$112,655,074	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$5,957,266	$4,900,000	$120,490,292	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.