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William Lawrence & Blanche Hughes Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.2M
Grant Range
$25K - $50.0M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,225,000 (2024)
  • Foundation Assets: $159 million
  • Success Rate: 12% for new applicants
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $5,851,557
  • Average Grant: $3,000,000+
  • Number of Grants: 3-5 annually
  • Geographic Focus: National (CA, IN, MD, WA, British Columbia)

Contact Details

Address: 884 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511-9410
Phone: (310) 494-2267
Alternative Address: 5158 Clareton Dr / PO Box 490, Agoura Hills, CA 91376
EIN: 95-4536657

Note: This foundation does not have a public website.

Overview

The William Lawrence & Blanche Hughes Foundation was established in 1997 by B. Wayne Hughes, founder of Public Storage, after his youngest son Parker died from leukemia at age eight in 1998. Named after Hughes' parents, the foundation is dedicated exclusively to funding medical research related to pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia (especially B-ALL). With assets totaling $159 million and led by President Tamara Gustavson (Hughes' daughter), the foundation has contributed over $100 million to advance cures for childhood leukemia. The foundation takes a highly focused approach, making very few but extremely substantial grants annually to leading children's hospitals and research institutions. The foundation's deeply personal mission drives transformative gifts aimed at developing revolutionary cell and gene therapies to create "a future free of pediatric cancers."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through direct grants to medical research institutions rather than through formal grant programs. Recent grants include:

  • Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation: $50 million (2024) for immunotherapy cancer research and clinical trials
  • Riley Children's Endowment (Indianapolis, IN): Multi-year support for leukemia research
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles: Support for pediatric cancer research
  • Children's National Medical Center (Silver Spring, MD): Leukemia research funding
  • British Columbia Children's Hospital (Vancouver): Pediatric cancer research

The foundation has also partnered with the USC Parker Institute for Childhood Cancer Research to accept and distribute grant applications for pediatric ALL research.

Priority Areas

Exclusively funds:

  • Pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) research, particularly B-cell ALL
  • Development of novel therapies and cures for childhood leukemia
  • Cell and gene therapy research for pediatric cancers
  • Clinical trials for innovative leukemia treatments
  • Research aimed at improving survival rates and quality of life for children with leukemia

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not fund:

  • Research outside pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia
  • General pediatric cancer research unrelated to leukemia
  • Adult cancer research
  • Capital campaigns or building projects
  • General operating support
  • Programs outside medical research
  • International organizations (except Canada)

Governance and Leadership

President/Director: Tamara Gustavson - daughter of founder B. Wayne Hughes, she has continued her father's mission to find a cure for childhood leukemia that took her younger brother's life

Vice President: Benjamin Logan

Treasurer: Anita McIntyre

The foundation is a private family foundation with all leadership serving without compensation.

Key Quote from Tamara Gustavson: "My father, Wayne Hughes, always wanted to not only cure childhood leukemia but to help create a future free of pediatric cancers so that fewer families suffer the traumatic loss of a child."

On supporting research: "We are honored to support the lifesaving research and development of treatments for childhood leukemia."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The William Lawrence & Blanche Hughes Foundation does not have a formal public application process or website. The foundation operates primarily through:

  1. Direct Relationships: The foundation identifies and approaches major children's hospitals and research institutions with established pediatric leukemia programs
  2. Partnership Programs: The foundation has worked with the USC Parker Institute for Childhood Cancer Research to accept grant applications (historical program - verify current status)
  3. Ongoing Consideration: Limited information suggests the foundation accepts inquiries on an ongoing basis

For USC Parker Institute Partnership (if still active):

  • Electronic submissions sent to [email protected] and [email protected]
  • Applications for established investigators at academic institutions
  • Researchers working with established investigators also eligible

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has demonstrated a clear pattern in its grant-making:

Institutions They Support: The foundation focuses on leading children's hospitals with established pediatric hematology-oncology programs, including:

  • Seattle Children's Hospital (largest recipient - over $100 million total)
  • Riley Children's Hospital (Indianapolis)
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles
  • Children's National Medical Center (Washington, DC area)
  • British Columbia Children's Hospital (Vancouver)

Strategic Approach: The foundation appears to make long-term commitments to institutions rather than one-off grants. Seattle Children's has been renamed the B. Wayne Hughes Research Institute in recognition of the family's sustained support.

Research Focus Areas: Based on funded projects, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Cell and gene therapy platforms
  • Immunotherapy approaches for pediatric leukemia
  • Clinical trials of novel treatments
  • Research with potential for transformative cures rather than incremental improvements

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the size of grants and the foundation's selective approach, decision timelines are likely extensive and involve thorough due diligence.

Success Rates

According to foundation data, approximately 12% of new applicants receive funding. However, given the foundation makes only 3-5 grants annually from a private foundation model, most funding goes to established institutional relationships.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation's pattern suggests it prefers sustained relationships with institutions over rotating grant recipients.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's unique approach and limited public guidance, success factors are derived from observed funding patterns:

1. Institutional Excellence: All funded institutions are nationally recognized children's hospitals with robust pediatric hematology-oncology programs. The foundation seeks partners with:

  • Established track records in pediatric leukemia treatment
  • Infrastructure to support large-scale research initiatives
  • Clinical trial capabilities

2. Focus on B-Cell ALL: While the foundation supports pediatric ALL research broadly, there is particular emphasis on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the specific disease that affected Parker Hughes.

3. Transformative Potential: The foundation's largest grants support research aimed at revolutionary breakthroughs rather than incremental improvements. As evidenced by the Seattle Children's gift, they prioritize:

  • Next-generation cell and gene therapies
  • Immunotherapy platforms
  • Research with curative intent

4. Long-term Vision: The foundation makes sustained, multi-year commitments to institutions. Seattle Children's received multiple gifts totaling over $100 million, suggesting they value enduring partnerships over one-time projects.

5. Personal Mission Alignment: The foundation's work is deeply personal, stemming from the loss of Parker Hughes. Proposals that demonstrate understanding of this mission and commitment to preventing future childhood cancer deaths resonate with the foundation's values.

6. Clinical Translation: Given the emphasis on treatments, clinical trials, and therapies (not just basic research), proposals should demonstrate clear pathways from research to patient benefit.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly Selective: With only 3-5 grants annually totaling $10+ million, this is one of the most selective funders in pediatric cancer research
  • Institutional Focus: The foundation funds major children's hospitals rather than individual researchers or small organizations
  • Relationship-Driven: No public application process; funding flows through established relationships and institutional partnerships
  • Laser-Focused Mission: Exclusively funds pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia research - do not approach for other pediatric cancers
  • Transformative Scale: Average grants exceed $3 million; the foundation makes large, multi-year commitments rather than small seed grants
  • Personal Legacy: Understanding the foundation's origin story (Parker Hughes' death from leukemia in 1998) is essential to appreciating their mission
  • Long-term Partner: Seattle Children's example shows the foundation values sustained relationships; consider multi-phase research proposals

References

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