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Wisconsin · Private foundation

Johnson Family 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.

$3.5M
Granted FY2025(still arriving)
47
Grants FY2025
42
Organizations funded FY2024
38%
First-time grantees FY2024
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2025
$10,000
Largest grant, FY2025
$1,467,500
Organizations funded a year
26 to 42
FY2018 to FY2024
States reached, FY2025
14
Total assets, FY2025
$68M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2024, 38% of the organizations Johnson Family Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 8% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 92% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $161k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthHuman ServicesEducationEnvironmentAnimalsFood & NutritionOther
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.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2025still arriving43$3.5M42%
FY202442$2.0M38%
FY202326$1.5M15%
FY202227$1.9M19%
FY202135$3.2M46%
FY202032$1.4M34%
FY201931$493k32%
FY201833$398k70%
93% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Education$10MHealth$874kAnimals$818kInternational$713kReligion$668kPhilanthropy$430kEnvironment$358kHuman Services$195kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

NH
MN
IL
WI
NY
MA
OR
IA
OH
CT
RI
CA
CO
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
TN
NC
SC
DC
GA
TX
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2025, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

Show all 83 grantees
All grantees of Johnson Family Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
The Prairie School Inc$9,167,500910%
The Exuma Foundation$684,664798%
Journey to Living Free Inc Co Curt Johnson$590,000778%
Wisconsin Humane Society$414,00051%
Cornell University$360,00080%
The Johnson Foundation Inc$350,00017%
Racine Zoological Society Inc$330,00038%
Northland College$290,00011%
Lake Owen Association Inc$250,000292%
Habitat for Humanity of Racine and Kenosha Counties$100,00013%
American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Inc$100,00013%
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation$65,00040%
Mote Marine Laboratory Inc$62,50030%
The Norfolk Academy$57,50050%
Leahs Hopes and Dreams Organization$55,00026%
Racine County Project Emergency Inc$52,00031%
Landmark Conservancy Inc$50,00012%
Minnesota Wild Foundation$48,50052%
Wounded Warrior Project Inc$40,50060%
Cable Natural History Museum Inc$40,50032%
Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization Inc$40,00011%
Cancer Research Institute Inc$36,00070%
Risevb$34,500524%
Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin$33,75021%
Carthage College$30,00010%
International School of Brooklyn$27,00030%
Katie Flowers Endowment Inc$25,00018%
Volunteer Center of Racine Countyinc$25,0001n/a
Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha Inc$20,0001n/a
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace$20,00020%
River Bend Nature Center Inc$20,0001n/a
Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters$19,50060%
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue$19,00020%
Disabled American Veterans$17,00050%
After the Races Inc$15,00021%
Waterorg$14,50050%
Navy Seal Foundation Inc$14,00060%
World Central Kitchen Inc$14,00030%
Lees Friends$13,50071%
Team Rubicon Inc$13,50040%
Choate Rosemary Hall Foundation Incorporated$12,50030%
K9s for Warriors Inc$12,50040%
Meals on Wheels Inc$10,50040%
The Filmmakers Collaborative Inc$10,00010%
Meals of Virginia Beach Inc$10,00042%
Racine County Historical Society & Museum Inc$10,00014%
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy$10,00010%
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia$10,00050%
Kind Campaign$10,00010%
International Wilderness Leadership Foundation Inc$9,00010%
Els for Autism Foundation$8,50030%
Ronald McDonald House Global$7,50030%
React19 Inc$7,50021%
Friends of Malibu Urgent Care Center$6,00041%
National Network of Abortion Funds Inc$6,00010%
Humane Society of Charlotte Inc$5,75020%
Blue Ridge Conservancy$5,0001n/a
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Huntington Inc$5,0001n/a
Safe Haven of Racine Inc$5,00010%
Big Brothers Big Sisters Of America$5,00020%
Children's Hospital Los Angeles$5,00010%
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Inc$5,00011%
Woof Gang Rescue Inc$5,00021%
Musicares Foundation Inc$4,50020%
American Cancer Society Inc$4,50020%
Maryhurst Inc$4,00030%
St Mary's Home for Children$3,00010%
Big Shoulders Fund$2,50010%
Greater Chicago Food Depository$2,50010%
Arcadia Food Inc$2,50010%
Racine Fire Bells Incorporated$2,5001n/a
One Family Memphis$2,50010%
Teens Grow Greens Inc$2,50010%
Amazon Watch Inc$2,50010%
Virginia Beach Spca$2,00010%
The Brooklyn Waldorf School$2,00010%
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Inc$2,00010%
Operation Smile Inc$1,75020%
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc$1,50010%
Saint Francis Service Dogs$1,50010%
Meals on Wheels America$1,00010%
Cancer Care Foundation of Tidewater$1,00011%
Brooklyn Friends School$5001n/a

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 48 recipients with no EIN on record ($1.2M), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Johnson Family Foundation supplied at least a quarter of the budget for 3 of its grantees at some point. The chart plots its 76 largest grantees; load-bearing ones sit top left.

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetThe Prairie School Inc: $9,167,500 over 9y, 10% of budgetThe Exuma Foundation: $684,664 over 7y, 98% of budgetJourney to Living Free Inc Co Curt Johnson: $590,000 over 7y, 78% of budgetWisconsin Humane Society: $414,000 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetCornell University: $360,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetThe Johnson Foundation Inc: $350,000 over 1y, 6.6% of budgetRacine Zoological Society Inc: $330,000 over 3y, 7.8% of budgetNorthland College: $290,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetLake Owen Association Inc: $250,000 over 2y, 92% of budgetHabitat for Humanity of Racine and Kenosha Counties: $100,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetAmerican Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetHazelden Betty Ford Foundation: $65,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMote Marine Laboratory Inc: $62,500 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetThe Norfolk Academy: $57,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetLeahs Hopes and Dreams Organization: $55,000 over 2y, 6.0% of budgetRacine County Project Emergency Inc: $52,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetLandmark Conservancy Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetMinnesota Wild Foundation: $48,500 over 5y, 1.7% of budgetWounded Warrior Project Inc: $40,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCable Natural History Museum Inc: $40,500 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetHomeless Assistance Leadership Organization Inc: $40,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetCancer Research Institute Inc: $36,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetRisevb: $34,500 over 5y, 24% of budgetVeterans Outreach of Wisconsin: $33,750 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetCarthage College: $30,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetInternational School of Brooklyn: $27,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetKatie Flowers Endowment Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 7.6% of budgetDavid Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetChildren's Hospital of the King's Daughters: $19,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCoco's Heart Dog Rescue: $19,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetDisabled American Veterans: $17,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAfter the Races Inc: $15,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetWaterorg: $14,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetNavy Seal Foundation Inc: $14,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetWorld Central Kitchen Inc: $14,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLees Friends: $13,500 over 7y, 0.8% of budgetTeam Rubicon Inc: $13,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetChoate Rosemary Hall Foundation Incorporated: $12,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetK9s for Warriors Inc: $12,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetMeals on Wheels Inc: $10,500 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetThe Filmmakers Collaborative Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMeals of Virginia Beach Inc: $10,000 over 4y, 1.9% of budgetRacine County Historical Society & Museum Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetSouthern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFoodbank of Southeastern Virginia: $10,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetKind Campaign: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetInternational Wilderness Leadership Foundation Inc: $9,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEls for Autism Foundation: $8,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 76.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

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.

Racine Community Foundation IncWI26× affinity10 shared granteesties to 9 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Racine Community Foundation Inc · Lang Family Foundation Inc · AbbVie Foundation · Ruffo Family Foundation Inc · United Way of Racine County Inc · Green Bay Packers Foundation · Ec Styberg Foundation Inc · Baird Foundation Inc · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · Educators Credit Union · United Way of South Hampton Roads · Hampton Roads Community Foundation

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.

Compare Johnson Family Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Johnson Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Johnson Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About Johnson Family Foundation

How much does Johnson Family Foundation give?
Johnson Family Foundation reported 47 grants totaling $3,523,677 in its FY2025 IRS filing. It funded between 26 and 42 organizations a year over FY2018 to FY2024.
What does Johnson Family Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2025, its largest causes are Education (67%), Health (6%), Animals (5%).
Who are Johnson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2025: The Prairie School Inc ($9.2M), The Exuma Foundation ($685k), Journey to Living Free Inc Co Curt Johnson ($590k).
Does Johnson Family Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2024, 38% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Johnson Family Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as Johnson Family Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Racine Community Foundation Inc, Lang Family Foundation Inc, AbbVie Foundation.
Where is Johnson Family Foundation based?
Johnson Family Foundation is based in WI.

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 132 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

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