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Robert A Johnston Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Robert A Johnston 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.

$45k
Granted FY2025still arriving
28
Grants FY2025still arriving
12
States reached
$10k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0192% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Environment$70kAnimals$45kReligion$21kEducation$18kPublic Safety & Disaster$12kCivil Rights$8kYouth Development$7kArts & Culture$7kOther$0
02FY2025 · 28 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k27 grants · $35k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$1,000
Median grant
12
States reached
$141k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Creston Firefighters Association$10,000
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden$3,000
First Priority of America$3,000
World Wildlife Fund$3,000
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY$2,000
Lloyd Library and Museum$2,000
Ohio Environmental Council$2,000
CRU Foundation$1,500
Citizens for a Better Flathead$1,500
Fellowship of Christian Athletes$1,500
Alliance Defending Freedom$1,000
Montana Land Reliance$1,000
RUAH WOODS INSTITUTE$1,000
COLLISION$1,000
Trout Unlimited$1,000
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 (FY22–24, $8k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Adventures in Truth Ministries: $2k → 12%Citizens for a Better Flathead: $2k → 11%Citizens for a Better Flathead: $2k → 11%Adventures in Truth Ministries: $2k → 12%Adventures in Truth Ministries: $1k → 12%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

MT
MN
MI
NY
SD
OH
CA
CO
MO
KY
VA
AZ
TN
DC
GA
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.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$171k · 30 repeat orgs$30k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +16% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

30 repeat relationships: 18 still active in FY2025, 12 since wound down; 8 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

30
9

Total granted

$171k
$13k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+16%
0%

Still filing today

70%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 60% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $17k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentAnimalsCivil RightsEducationReligionHuman ServicesOther
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

  • ZS
    ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CINCINNATI
    5× · 2021–2025 · $19k · revenue +35%
  • CF
    CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD
    5× · 2020–2025 · $18k · revenue +425%
  • WC
    Wildlife Conservation Society
    5× · 2020–2024 · $16k · revenue +57%

Funded once

  • DF
    Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Incgraduated
    2× · 2022–2023 · $2k · revenue +70%
  • WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC
    one grant, 2020 · $2k · revenue +21%
  • TC
    THE CINCINNATI ZOO
    one grant, 2020 · $2k
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
Washington Forest Law Center

Dedicated to protecting the world's natural environment on behalf of the public by serving as a public interest law firm. refer to schedule o, part iii, line 4a, for list of litigated cases or advocacy work.

—
2
Conservation International Foundation

Ci works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity.

Environment
3
Natural Resources Defense Council Inc

We safeguard the earth: its people, its plants and animals, and (see schedule o) the natural systems on which all life depends. we work to restore the integrity of the elements that sustain life - air, land, and water - to defend…

Environment
4
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
5
Property and Environment Research Center

Perc is dedicated to advancing conservation through markets, incentives, property rights, and partnerships.

Public Benefit
6
Cascadia Wildlands

Cascadia wildlands defends and restores cacasia's wild ecosystems in the forests,in the courts, and in the streets. we envision vast old-growth forests, rivers full of wild salmon, wolves howling in the backcountry, a stable climate, and…

Environment
7
Resource Renewal Institute

The resource renewal institute facilitates the creation, development and implementation of practical strategies to solve the entire complex environmental problem by addressing it comprehensively.

Environment
8
Fauna & Flora International Usa Inc

Our mission is to act to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take into account human needs.

Philanthropy
9
Rainforest Foundation Inc

The purpose of rainforest foundation us is to support indigenous peoples and forest communities in their efforts to secure their lands, protect their environment, and uphold their rights.

Environment
10
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Inc

To guarantee all americans quality places to hunt and fish.

Animals
11
African Wildlife Foundation Inc

Awf's mission is to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern africa. we work to equip african governments, institutions, business, and communities with the tools, insights, and support they need to define, own, and realize a…

Animals
12
Western Environmental Law Center

Public interest law firm - the western environmental law center uses the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western u.s. lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate. we envision a thriving west,…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is First Liberty Institute; the most unlike its peers is Lloyd Library & Museum. 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

34 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. 34 of the 49 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
33/34
Grantees still filing
21/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

RAPTOR INC: $5,000 · OtherRAPTOR INCCRU Foundation: $4,500 · OtherCRU FoundationTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $4,000 · OtherTHE NATURE CONSERVANCYCRU: $3,500 · OtherCRUCET: $3,500 · OtherCETAFA: $3,000 · OtherRUAH WOODS INSTITUTE: $3,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $2,700 · OtherTHE NAVIGATORS: $2,250 · OtherGLOBAL MEDIA OUTREACH: $4,000 · OtherGLOBAL MEDIA OUTREACHALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $3,000 · Other+18 more: $24,500 · Other+18 moreEGAN SLOUGH COMMUNITY: $12,500 · EnvironmentEGAN SLOUGH COMMUNITYWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $12,000 · EnvironmentWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INCTHE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL: $8,500 · EnvironmentTHE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL …EARTHJUSTICE: $3,000 · EnvironmentEARTHJUSTICETHE MONTANA LAND RELIANCE: $2,000 · EnvironmentFLATHEAD LAND TRUST: $2,000 · EnvironmentMILL CREEK ALLIANCE: $2,000 · EnvironmentZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CINCINNATI: $18,500 · AnimalsZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF …Wildlife Conservation Society: $15,500 · AnimalsWildlife Conservation …TROUT UNLIMITED INC: $6,000 · AnimalsTROUT UNLIMITED INC+1 more: $1,000 · AnimalsCITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD: $17,500 · Human ServicesCITIZENS FO…ADVENTURES IN TRUTH MINISTRIES: $4,000 · Human ServicesADVENTURES …FIRST PRIORITY OF AMERICA INC: $13,500 · EducationFIRST PRI…RUAH WOODS: $2,000 · EducationRUAH WOOD…HILLSDALE COLLEGE: $1,500 · EducationHILLSDALE…Activities Beyond the Classroom: $1,000 · EducationActivitie…FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $5,550 · Youth DevelopmentURBAN YOUTH MINISTRIES: $5,500 · Youth DevelopmentCRESTON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION: $10,000 · Public Safety & Disaster
Other$62,950Environment$42,000Animals$41,000Human Services$21,500Education$18,000Youth Development$11,050Public Safety & Disaster$10,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF CINCINNATI: $18,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD: $17,500 over 5y, 7.1% of budgetWildlife Conservation Society: $15,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFIRST PRIORITY OF AMERICA INC: $13,500 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetEGAN SLOUGH COMMUNITY: $12,500 over 2y, 27% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $12,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCRESTON FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 1y, 5.5% of budgetTHE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL: $8,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTROUT UNLIMITED INC: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $5,550 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetURBAN YOUTH MINISTRIES: $5,500 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetRAPTOR INC: $5,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetADVENTURES IN TRUTH MINISTRIES: $4,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetGLOBAL MEDIA OUTREACH: $4,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $3,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetEARTHJUSTICE: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDian Fossey Gorilla Fund International Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRUAH WOODS: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE MONTANA LAND RELIANCE: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFLATHEAD LAND TRUST: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMILL CREEK ALLIANCE: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPALADIN CONSERVANCY INC: $1,500 over 2y, 2.2% of budgetHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $1,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetYoung America's Foundation: $1,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPROMISE KEEPERS: $1,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetActivities Beyond the Classroom: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFLATHEAD SPAY AND NEUTER TASK FORCE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% 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.

Helen Johnston Family…Robert a & Marian K K…Carol Ann and Ralph V…The Greater Cincinnat…Ge Aerospace Foundati…National Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…Natl Christian Charit…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
Helen Johnston Family FoundationOH22.1× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Helen Johnston Family Foundation · Robert a & Marian K Kennedy Charitable Trust · Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr Foundation · The Greater Cincinnati Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

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 Robert A Johnston Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Robert A Johnston Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    4report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Robert A Johnston Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Robert A Johnston 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.

    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 49 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 Robert A Johnston’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