Non-profit

Hughes Charitable Foundation

Website:

hughescf.org/

Location:

Jackson, WY

Tax ID:

81-0891916

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The Hughes Charitable Foundation is a center-right grantmaking organization based in Wyoming. It provides and advocates for social services for low-income and at-risk individuals. 1

The Hughes Charitable Foundation was founded by conservative billionaire B. Wayne Hughes, Jr., though the foundation has since made donations towards left-of-center projects. 2 The foundation advocates for expanded low-income housing programs and policy that provides social services to low-income individuals. 3

Background

The Hughes Charitable Foundation is a private foundation that was founded in 2017 by conservative billionaire B. Wayne Hughes, Jr., the son of Public Storage founder B. Wayne Hughes, Sr. 45 It provides grants to nonprofit organizations in Wyoming that offer social services to “single mothers, at-risk children, housing insecure, mentally ill, missing and murdered indigenous women, foster youth, veterans, and emergency responders.” 6

Wayne Hughes Jr. considers himself a Republican and has been described as a “major donor” to conservative organizations and Republican candidates. Nonetheless, the Hughes Foundation has begun to fund left-of-center campaigns and advocate for some left-of-center policies, especially those related to low-income populations. 7

Activities

The Hughes Charitable Foundation funds organizations that provide social services to low-income individuals and advocates for left-of-center policies to provide social service programs. It advocates for creating or expanding government funding for food banks, after-school childcare programs, career counselors, shelters, and government-subsidized low-income housing that is owned by the private sector. 8

In 2021, the Hughes Charitable Foundation made a $10 million donation to the Teton County Housing Trust, the largest private donation that the trust has ever received. The donation was made to subsidize housing for employees of the Human Service Council, so that it can retain employees who provide social services to the “most vulnerable community members.” 9 The Hughes Charitable Foundation is a major advocate for government subsidized low-income housing that is owned and operated by private-sector firms. Its founder B. Wayne Hughes Jr. advocates for government intervention to lower the cost of housing in Wyoming, particularly for human services employees and first responders. 10

In 2017, the Hughes Charitable foundation made an $80,000 grant to Restorative Partners, a left-of-center nonprofit organization that offers programs to formerly incarcerated individuals in San Luis Obispo County California who are transitioning back into society. 11

People

B. Wayne Hughes Jr.

Wayne Hughes Jr. is the founder of the Hughes Charitable Foundation and the son of the billionaire B. Wayne Hughes Sr., founder of Public Storage. Hughes Jr. worked for Public Storage for 20 years before getting involved in philanthropy, claiming that his conservative political ideology motivated him to donate to several right-of-center organizations. 12

In 2014, B. Wayne Hughes Jr. donated almost $1.3 million in support of California’s Proposition 47, a left-of-center ballot measure which reduced sentences for various drug offenses and used the money it saved by reducing those sentences to provide social services to drug users. In support of the proposition, he co-wrote an opinion article with U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to urge other Republicans to support the policy. 13

Molly Hughes

Molly Hughes is the president of the Hughes Charitable Foundation and is the wife of B. Wayne Hughes Jr. 1415

Finances

Wayne Hughes Jr. has been the sole funder of the foundation, and as of 2018, his contributions have amounted to $6,983,520. 16

In 2018, the Hughes Charitable Foundation reported a total of $148,173 in compensation for its employee, $130,000 of which is Molly Hughes’ personal salary. 1718

References

  1. “B. Wayne HUGHES, Jr.: A Call to Care.” Cowboy State Daily, June 10, 2021. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2021/06/10/b-wayne-hughes-jr-a-call-to-care/.
  2. Savchuk, Katia. “Why a Conservative Billionaire Is BACKING Criminal Justice Reform In California.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, October 30, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/10/30/why-a-conservative-billionaire-wants-to-reduce-sentences-for-drug-and-theft-crimes-in-california/?sh=634cc5884fb2.
  3. “B. Wayne HUGHES, Jr.: A Call to Care.” Cowboy State Daily, June 10, 2021. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2021/06/10/b-wayne-hughes-jr-a-call-to-care/.
  4. Savchuk, Katia. “Riding to the Rescue: Billionaire Brings Hope to Veterans on California Ranch.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 1, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/12/01/riding-to-the-rescue-billionaire-brings-hope-to-veterans-on-california-ranch/?sh=3d32ada424b7.
  5. “Home.” Hughes Charitable Foundation, July 30, 2021. https://hughescf.org/.
  6. “Hughes Charitable Foundation Supports Nonprofits from Jackson Office.” Jackson Hole Radio, July 1, 2021. https://jacksonholeradio.com/2021/06/hughes-charitable-foundation-supports-nonprofits-from-jackson-office/.
  7. Savchuk, Katia. “Riding to the Rescue: Billionaire Brings Hope to Veterans on California Ranch.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 1, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/12/01/riding-to-the-rescue-billionaire-brings-hope-to-veterans-on-california-ranch/?sh=3d32ada424b7.
  8. “B. Wayne HUGHES, Jr.: A Call to Care.” Cowboy State Daily, June 10, 2021. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2021/06/10/b-wayne-hughes-jr-a-call-to-care/.
  9. “Hughes Charitable Foundation GIVES Housing Trust 10 Million.” Jackson Hole Radio, July 8, 2021. https://jacksonholeradio.com/2021/07/hughes-charitable-foundation-gives-housing-trust-10-million/.
  10. “B. Wayne HUGHES, Jr.: A Call to Care.” Cowboy State Daily, June 10, 2021. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2021/06/10/b-wayne-hughes-jr-a-call-to-care/.
  11. Garcia, Karen. “Growing the Tennis Community.” New Times San Luis Obispo. New Times San Luis Obispo, June 20, 2019. https://www.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/growing-the-tennis-community/Content?oid=3450558.
  12. Savchuk, Katia. “Riding to the Rescue: Billionaire Brings Hope to Veterans on California Ranch.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 1, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/12/01/riding-to-the-rescue-billionaire-brings-hope-to-veterans-on-california-ranch/?sh=3d32ada424b7.
  13. Savchuk, Katia. “Why a Conservative Billionaire Is BACKING Criminal Justice Reform In California.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, October 30, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/10/30/why-a-conservative-billionaire-wants-to-reduce-sentences-for-drug-and-theft-crimes-in-california/?sh=634cc5884fb2.
  14. Hallberg, Tom. “Hughes’ Investment in Human Services Is ‘UPLIFTING’ for the Industry.” Jackson Hole News&Guide, July 6, 2021. https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/this_just_in/hughes-investment-in-human-services-is-uplifting-for-the-industry/article_63d9b12b-4ae4-5835-bf0d-9d20093665a8.html.     
  15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Hughes Charitable Foundation. 2018. Part VIII, line 1.
  16. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Hughes Charitable Foundation. 2015-2018. Schedule B.
  17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Hughes Charitable Foundation. 2018. Part VIII, line 1.
  18. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Hughes Charitable Foundation. 2018. Part I, line 13.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2017

  • Available Filings

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Hughes Charitable Foundation

    PO BOX 12649
    Jackson, WY 83002-2649