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Rugeley Ferguson Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Rugeley Ferguson Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$378k
Granted FY2025still arriving
29
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$145k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Human Services$547kAnimals$491kHealth$211kArts & Culture$165kRecreation & Sports$125kEducation$123kYouth Development$60kReligion$47kOther$0
02FY2025 · 29 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k20 grants · $100k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $70k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $208k
$5,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$6.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Special Forces Charitable Trust$145,000
San Antonio Zoological Society$62,675
HILL COUNTRY SPORTING CLAYS FOUNDATION$10,000
SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION$10,000
Rodeo Austin$10,000
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY$10,000
SOUTH TEXAS COASTAL INITIATIVE$10,000
CLUB 12$10,000
ROUGHRIDERS BAR-B-Q INC$10,000
CAMP ARANZAZU$5,000
MISSION HERITAGE PARTNERS$5,000
Moms for America$5,000
K9S FOR WARRIORS INC$5,000
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS FOUNDATION$5,000
TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY23–25, $20k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%CAMP ARANZAZU: $5k → 16%CAMP ARANAZU: $5k → 17%Moms for America: $5k → 14%CAMP ARANZAZU: $5k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

MI
NY
OR
OH
CT
CA
CO
MO
MD
TN
NC
SC
OK
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.6M · 28 repeat orgs$249k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +40% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

28 repeat relationships: 19 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 10 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

28
21

Total granted

$1.6M
$194k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+40%
0%

Still filing today

79%
57%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 85% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $55k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthArts & CultureAnimalsYouth DevelopmentPhilanthropyRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TS
    THE SPECIAL FORCES CHARITABLE TRUST
    6× · 2020–2025 · $522k · revenue +160%
  • SA
    SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
    7× · 2017–2025 · $395k · revenue +84%
  • SA
    SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION INC
    5× · 2020–2025 · $85k · revenue +33%

Funded once

  • RA
    RED ARENA INC
    one grant, 2021 · $80k · revenue -21%
  • TR
    THREE RANGERS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2024 · $10k · revenue 0%
  • FH
    FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +43%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Texas Flying Legends Museum
—
2
Texas State Rifle Association Foundation Inc
—
3
Center for 20TH Century Texas Studies
—
4
Kimbell Art Foundation
Arts & Culture
5
Alamo Trust Inc

The organization is to be operated exclusively to preserve and restore the alamo complex and to educate and inspire visitors on the history of all those who lived, fought, and died there.

Arts & Culture
6
San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association

To collect and preserve significant historical materials that relate to the early history and culture of Texas and to promote the study of the history of Texas through exhibits, publications, and educational programs.

Arts & Culture
7
Texas Public Radio

The mission of Texas Public Radio is to engage, inspire and inform, bringing people together to better understand their community and world.

Arts & Culture
8
Texas Prairieland Foundation
Philanthropy
9
Genetic Resource Association of Texas
Health
10
Texas Marines Medal of Honor Fund

The texas marines medal of honor fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on the remembrance of the sixteen texas marines and one navy corpsman who received the medal of honor; the maintenance of the texas marine medal of honor…

Arts & Culture
11
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

We inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the sonoran desert.

Arts & Culture
12
Texas Ranger Association Foundation

Support active and retired texas rangers and immediate family members through scholarships, financial assistance, and operational support in service to the citizens of texas; preserve and perpetuate the history and heritage of the texas…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is San Antonio Livestock Exposition Inc; the most unlike its peers is TrueNorth Health Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

45 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 45 of the 60 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
44/45
Grantees still filing
27/45
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE SPECIAL FORCES CHARITABLE TRUST: $522,100 · PhilanthropyTHE SPECIAL FORCES CHARITABLE TR…+1 more: $15,000 · PhilanthropySAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $394,675 · AnimalsSAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIE…RODEO AUSTIN: $70,000 · AnimalsRODEO AUSTIN+2 more: $10,000 · AnimalsFORMER TEXAS RANGERS FOUNDATION: $45,000 · OtherFORMER TEXAS RANGERS FO…CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $32,000 · OtherCHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHTHE ACORN - A SCHOOL FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: $25,000 · OtherTHE ACORN - A SCHOOL FO…UTHSCSA: $15,000 · OtherST ANDREWS - SEWANEE SCHOOL: $15,000 · OtherLONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS FOUNDATION: $30,000 · OtherLONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS …ROUGHRIDERS BAR-B-Q INC: $15,000 · OtherMAJESTY OUTDOORS: $15,000 · OtherSOUTH TEXAS COASTAL INITIATIVE: $20,000 · OtherFISHER HOUSE INC: $20,000 · OtherCamp Aranzazu Inc: $15,000 · Other+22 more: $140,000 · Other+22 moreRED ARENA INC: $80,000 · HealthRED ARENA I…TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE: $35,000 · HealthTEXAS BIOME…SUPPORT FOR LIFE: $25,000 · HealthSUPPORT FOR…CLUB 12: $20,000 · HealthCLUB 12+5 more: $25,000 · Health+5 moreSAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART: $40,000 · Arts & CultureWitte Museum: $40,000 · Arts & CultureMCNAY ART MUSEUM: $15,000 · Arts & CultureSAN ANTONIO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM: $10,000 · Arts & CultureADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE SONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE OPERA SAN ANTONIO DBA OPERA SAN AN: $5,000 · Arts & CultureSAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION INC: $85,000 · Recreation & SportsHILL COUNTRY SPORTING CLAYS FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 · Recreation & SportsTEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY: $60,000 · EducationHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $5,000 · EducationCONVERSE UNIVERSITY: $5,000 · Education
Philanthropy$537,100Animals$474,675Other$387,000Health$185,000Arts & Culture$120,000Recreation & Sports$95,000Education$70,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE SPECIAL FORCES CHARITABLE TRUST: $522,100 over 6y, 2.8% of budgetSAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $394,675 over 7y, 0.6% of budgetSAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION INC: $85,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetRED ARENA INC: $80,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budgetRODEO AUSTIN: $70,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetTEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY: $60,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetFORMER TEXAS RANGERS FOUNDATION: $45,000 over 7y, 1.7% of budgetSAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART: $40,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetWitte Museum: $40,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE: $35,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ACORN - A SCHOOL FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: $25,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetSUPPORT FOR LIFE: $25,000 over 4y, 4.0% of budgetCLUB 12: $20,000 over 3y, 2.2% of budgetFISHER HOUSE INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetSOUTH TEXAS COASTAL INITIATIVE: $20,000 over 2y, 71% of budgetROUGHRIDERS BAR-B-Q INC: $15,000 over 2y, 11% of budgetSEAL FUTURE FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetCamp Aranzazu Inc: $15,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetMAJESTY OUTDOORS: $15,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetMCNAY ART MUSEUM: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHREE RANGERS FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetHILL COUNTRY SPORTING CLAYS FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 5.5% of budgetFISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLOS COMPADRES DE SAN ANTONIO: $10,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetCOASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAN ANTONIO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: $6,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTrueNorth Health Foundation: $5,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetAUGUSTHEART: $5,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetSA Life Academy: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTEXAS STATE AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS: $5,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetHyperbarics for Heroes Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetMcMullen Co Community Development Corp: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCONVERSE UNIVERSITY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE OPERA SAN ANTONIO DBA OPERA SAN AN: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetST ANDREW'S-SEWANEE SCHOOL: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

San Antonio Area Foun…The Brown Foundation …Greater Houston Commu…Mays Family FoundationElizabeth Huth Coates…Nelson Puett Foundati…Horse Creek TrustRoger L and Laura D Z…Ksl Family FoundationImpetus FoundationMcCombs Foundation IncJohn R & Greli N Less…
San Antonio Area FoundationTX22.7× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: San Antonio Area Foundation · The Brown Foundation Inc · Greater Houston Community Foundation · Mays Family Foundation · Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992 · Nelson Puett Foundation · Horse Creek Trust · Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation · Ksl Family Foundation · Impetus Foundation · McCombs Foundation Inc · John R & Greli N Less Charitable Trust #FE324

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Rugeley Ferguson Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Rugeley Ferguson Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • K9S for Warriors Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 60 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Rugeley Ferguson’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home