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The Johnson Foundation Inc at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Private foundation

The Johnson Foundation Inc

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$14k
Granted FY2025still arriving
14
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$9k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Philanthropy$52kEnvironment$42kCommunity Improvement$24kHuman Services$7kEducation$5kHousing & Shelter$4kYouth Development$4kArts & Culture$3kOther$0
02FY2025 · 14 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$500
Median grant
1
States reached
$65M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNITED WAY OF RACINE$8,926
DOWNTOWN RACINE CORPORATION$750
RACINE ART MUSEUM$625
HOSPITALITY CENTER$500
SPANISH CENTER INC$500
HALO INC$500
RACINE COUNTY WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS$500
RACINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT$500
PORCARO FAMILY CHARITIES$250
BELEAF SURVIVORS$250
RACINE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY$250
HERITAGE COMMITTEE OF RACINE$250
RACINE LITERACY COUNCIL$250
RACINE FOUNDERS CLUB ROTARY FOUNDATION$250
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 (FY19–25, $5k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%Voces De La Frontera: $300 → 17%BELEAF SURVIVORS: $250 → 10%HALO: $1k → 10%Racine County Opportunity Center (RCOC): $700 → 10%HALO INC: $500 → 10%HALO: $500 → 10%Racine County Opportunity Center (RCOC): $500 → 10%Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization Inc: $500 → 10%Racine County Opportunity Center: $250 → 10%Racine County Opportunity Center: $250 → 10%HALO Inc: $150 → 10%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

MN
IL
WI
NY
CA
VA
AR
DC
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.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$143k · 34 repeat orgs$16k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +40% since the first grant, against +30% for those funded once.

34 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 24 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

34
28

Total granted

$143k
$14k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+40%
+30%

Still filing today

68%
46%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentEducationHuman ServicesPhilanthropyAnimalsArts & CultureOther
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

  • UNITED WAY OF RACINE COUNTY INC
    6× · 2019–2025 · $48k · revenue +27%
  • MS
    Metropolis Strategies NFP
    3× · 2019–2021 · $18k · revenue +235%
  • Resources for the Future Inc
    3× · 2019–2021 · $9k · revenue +70%

Funded once

  • EC
    EVERY1 CAN WORK
    one grant, 2021 · $2k · revenue +23%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2020 · $1k
  • WC
    Wisconsin Conservation Voices (Wisconsin League of
    one grant, 2021 · $1k
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
Racine Revitalization Partnership Inc

Our mission is to build a better Racine through the social, physical, and economic revitalization of our neighborhoods.

Community Improvement
2
Waukesha County Land Conservancy Inc

To protect environmentally senstive land in waukesha county wisconsin

Environment
3
Wisconsin Association of Lakes Inc

The mission of the wisconsin association of lakes is to conserve, enhance, and restore wisconsin's 15,000 lakes to ensure their sustainability for the benefit and collective use and enjoyment for this and future generations.

Environment
4
Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Inc

To foster the vitality of rural wisconsin, primarily through the promotion of education, improvement of health care services, cultural experiences, and support of the rural economic base.

—
5
The River Alliance of Wisconsin Inc

To empower people to protect and restore water.

Environment
6
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Inc

The wisconsin wildlife federation has a dual mission to engage in conservation education and to advocate for sound conservation policy.

Environment
7
River Bend Nature Center Inc

River bend nature center exists to provide environmental education and outdoor recreation to the children, families and adults of racine and southeastern wisconsin.

Environment
8
Renew Wisconsin Inc

Renew wisconsin leads and accelerates the transformation to wisconsin's renewable energy future through advocacy, education, and collaboration.

Environment
9
Landmark Conservancy Inc

Landmark conservancy is a nationally accredited, nonprofit conservation organization serving 20 counties across northwest wisconsin. their mission is to conserve wisconsin's natural legacy for everyone...forever.

Environment
10
Fund for Lake Michigan Inc

Lake Michigan is one of Wisconsin's greatest assets, and its water is critical to the state's future. The Fund for Lake Michigan is here to help sustain the Lake on behalf of the people and places that depend on it. Our goal is to have a…

Environment
11
River Revitalization Foundation Inc

Protect, maintain and restore the urban river basins within milwaukee county.

Environment
12
Wisconsin's Green Fire Incorporated

Advance science-informed analysis and policy solutions that address wisconsin's greatest conservation challenges.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wisconsin Conservation Voices Inc; the most unlike its peers is Fresh Energy. 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

39 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. 39 of the 67 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
39/39
Grantees still filing
32/39
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNITED WAY OF RACINE COUNTY INC: $48,269 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF RACINE COUNTY INCMetropolis Strategies NFP: $18,000 · PhilanthropyMetropolis Strategies NFP+3 more: $1,850 · PhilanthropyIndividual grant recipient: $6,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientNORTHWOODS ALLIANCE INCORPORATED: $3,000 · OtherNORTHWOODS ALLIANCE INCORP…Racine Founders Club Rotary Foundation Inc: $2,825 · OtherRacine Founders Club Rotar…EVERY1 CAN WORK: $2,000 · OtherEVERY1 CAN WORKPorcaro Family Charities: $1,550 · OtherRACINE ART MUSEUM: $1,375 · Other+35 more: $20,715 · Other+35 moreResources for the Future Inc: $9,000 · EnvironmentResources for the Futu…FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER: $6,000 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF THE MISSISS…FRESH ENERGY: $6,000 · EnvironmentFRESH ENERGYNORTH CENTRAL CONSERVANCY TRUST INC: $3,000 · EnvironmentNORTH CENTRAL CONSERVA…FRIENDS OF SCHMEECKLE RESERVE INC: $3,000 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF SCHMEECKLE …WISCONSIN CONSERVATION VOICES INC: $2,000 · EnvironmentWISCONSIN CONSERVATION…+3 more: $2,100 · Environment+3 moreCLIMATE GENERATION: $6,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT FOUNDATION INC: $3,000 · EducationRACINE VOCATIONAL MINISTRY INC: $500 · Education+2 more: $300 · EducationDowntown Racine Corporation: $5,100 · Community ImprovementHOMELESS ASSISTANCE LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION INC: $2,650 · Human ServicesRACINE COUNTY OPPORTUNITY CENTER: $1,700 · Human ServicesVOCES DE LA FRONTERA INC: $300 · Human ServicesBELEAF SURVIVORS INC: $250 · Human Services+1 more: $100 · Human ServicesTHE CENTRAL RIVERS FARMSHED INC: $3,000 · Food & Nutrition
Philanthropy$68,119Other$37,465Environment$31,100Education$9,800Community Improvement$5,100Human Services$5,000Food & Nutrition$3,000

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNITED WAY OF RACINE COUNTY INC: $48,269 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetMetropolis Strategies NFP: $18,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetResources for the Future Inc: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER: $6,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetCLIMATE GENERATION: $6,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetFRESH ENERGY: $6,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetDowntown Racine Corporation: $5,100 over 7y, 0.6% of budgetTHE CENTRAL RIVERS FARMSHED INC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT FOUNDATION INC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWOODS ALLIANCE INCORPORATED: $3,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetNORTH CENTRAL CONSERVANCY TRUST INC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetFRIENDS OF SCHMEECKLE RESERVE INC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetRacine Founders Club Rotary Foundation Inc: $2,825 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetHOMELESS ASSISTANCE LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION INC: $2,650 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWISCONSIN CONSERVATION VOICES INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetEVERY1 CAN WORK: $2,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetRACINE COUNTY OPPORTUNITY CENTER: $1,700 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetHOPES CENTER OF RACINE INC: $1,100 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetRACINE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC: $1,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPotomac Riverkeeper Network: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRACINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $900 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWISCONSIN POLICY FORUM INC: $800 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCaledonia Conservancy Ltd: $750 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetCaledonia Historical Society: $620 over 2y, 4.0% of budgetSAVE THE RIVER INC: $600 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetRACINE VOCATIONAL MINISTRY INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SALINE COUNTY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF RACINE COUNTY INC: $500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetRACINE ART MUSEUM ASSOCIATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetECO-JUSTICE CENTER INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVOCES DE LA FRONTERA INC: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRacine Literacy Council Inc: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetREBEL GOLF OUTING: $250 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTINY HOOVES RESCUE INC: $225 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAURORA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetVeterans Outreach of Wisconsin: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN INC: $50 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.

Racine Community Foun…Ec Styberg Foundation…Baird Foundation IncRuffo Family Foundati…United Way of Racine …Greater Milwaukee Fou…Herbert H Kohl Charit…Ascension All Saints …Lang Family Foundatio…Educators Credit UnionAbbVie FoundationGreen Bay Packers Fou…
Racine Community Foundation IncWI28.1× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Racine Community Foundation Inc · Ec Styberg Foundation Inc · Baird Foundation Inc · Ruffo Family Foundation Inc · United Way of Racine County Inc · Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · Ascension All Saints Hospital Foundation Inc · Lang Family Foundation Inc · Educators Credit Union · AbbVie Foundation · Green Bay Packers 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.

How much its grantees rely on government

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%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
    19report 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 The Johnson Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to The Johnson Foundation Inc 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 67 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 Johnson’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