Hughes Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 85-3683086 · since 2021hughescf.org·Wyoming·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.3M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$1,000 to $260k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$50,000

Typical grant (median)

29 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

This Wyoming-based foundation funds social-service work across Wyoming, with a strong emphasis on domestic violence, foster care, disability services, community health, food insecurity, single mothers and at-risk youth programming, so a good fit is a charity working in these areas within Wyoming.
It operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications, so a cold proposal is not the way in; instead, organisations should look for ways to be known to or connected with the foundation before any approach.
A realistic request size is modest: half of its 141 grants across its recent filings were $45,000 or less, though a small share of grants have run much higher, up to $260,000, and one exceptional grant of $6,000,000 went to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, a regranting organisation, so very large asks are not typical for most applicants.
Giving has fallen in each of the last three years reported, so smaller or steady requests may be more realistic than ambitious ones.
Just under half of grant dollars went to organisations the foundation had already funded before, suggesting it leans towards relationships built over time rather than one-off applicants, so patience and a long view are useful; because it is invitation-only, groups without an existing connection should not send a direct application.

Overview

Hughes Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Jackson, WY.

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

It focuses on supporting poor, hungry, oppressed and housing-insecure people, veterans, women, children and Indigenous communities. Its priority is social-service organisations working in domestic violence, foster care, support for adults with disabilities, community health and wellbeing, food insecurity, single mothers and at-risk youth programming. The foundation supports organisations and projects that help people caught in the impact zone by meeting basic needs and empowering individuals and families to thrive. It says it has supported Wyoming-based organisations serving people in need. Its approach combines humility and deep listening with a commitment to giving back and enhancing community wellbeing.

Themes

Domestic violence
Foster care
Disability services
Community health
Food insecurity
Single mothers
At-risk youth

Geographic Focus

Wyoming.

How to apply

The foundation offers grant applications by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 49% 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 141 grants to organisations were $45,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It prioritises social-service organisations working in domestic violence, foster care, support for adults with disabilities, community health and wellbeing, food insecurity, single mothers and at-risk youth programming.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

Wyoming98%

Tennessee<1%

Hawaii<1%

New York<1%

Idaho<1%

The largest single recipient received 29% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 49% of grant dollars went to organisations Hughes Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
31% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

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

How much do they typically give?

Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k3%

$10k–$25k14%

$25k–$50k10%

$50k–$100k31%

$100k–$250k28%

$250k–$500k10%

Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)

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

Community Center for the Arts · Restricted to Endowment Fund
$333,3332024 tax year
Children's Museum of Cheyenne · Matching challenge grant for the completion of the capital campaign
$250,0002024 tax year
Saint John's Health Foundation · Restricted to the construction of workforce housing
$250,0002024 tax year
Slow Food in the Tetons · Restricted: operational and local discount program ($150,000); SRG Challenge Match
$225,0002024 tax year
Wyoming PBS Foundation · A state of Mind; Confronting Wyoming's Mental Health Crisis-Season 2
$200,0002024 tax year
Cheyenne Frontier Days Foundation · Funds to improve and relocate the Native American Indian Village at Cheyenne Frontier Days
$190,0002024 tax year
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area · Funds to assist with development staff and a strategic plan for the Parkside at Benson-Brown development
$166,6672024 tax year
Climb · Workforce development & economic empowerment for low-income single moms
$150,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Kristen Vieh Crago — Director
Marilyn Kite — Director
James Gersack — Secretary
Liz Brimmer — Treasurer
Bradley Wayne Hughes Jr — Director
Molly Hughes — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$16,799,459	$7,717,692	$5,676,764	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$7,489,609	$6,011,482	$2,479,632	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$15,438,036	$2,261,433	$6,285,282	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.