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The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc

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.

$315k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$75k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Health$790kEducation$444kHuman Services$320kArts & Culture$95kPublic Safety & Disaster$85kInternational$55kRecreation & Sports$50kScience & Tech$15kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k10 grants · $190k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $125k
$25,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$5.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
St Martin's Episcopal Preschool$75,000
TIRR Foundation$50,000
Outreach Center of West Houston$25,000
Tunnel to Towers Foundation$25,000
The 100 Club Inc$25,000
The University of Texas at Austin$25,000
Life House$20,000
The Childrens Fund Inc$20,000
Air Warriors Courage Foundation$15,000
Buffalo Bill Center of the West Memorial Foundation$15,000
Texas Regional Para Sport$10,000
TIRR Foundation$10,000
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 (FY17–24, $130k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 96% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%PATRIOT PAWS: $5k → 5%HOUSTON APHASIA RECOVERY CENTER: $55k → 16%Christian Community Service Center: $30k → 16%HOUSTON APHASIA RECOVERY CENTER: $15k → 16%HOUSTON APHASIA RECOVERY CENTER: $5k → 16%Houston Aphasia Recovery Center: $20k → 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.
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.

69%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.3M · 15 repeat orgs$580k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +33% since the first grant, against +31% for those funded once.

15 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
20

Total granted

$1.3M
$430k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+33%
+31%

Still filing today

73%
60%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 52% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $150k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthHuman ServicesArts & CultureEducationPhilanthropyScience & TechOther
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

  • TF
    TIRR Foundation
    4× · 2022–2025 · $185k · revenue +42%
  • OC
    OUTREACH CENTER OF WEST HOUSTON INC
    3× · 2022–2025 · $120k · revenue +81%
  • TC
    Texas Children's Hospital
    2× · 2022–2024 · $100k · revenue +41%

Funded once

  • PF
    PTSD FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
    one grant, 2024 · $150k · revenue -10%
  • TU
    The University of Texas at Austin Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program
    one grant, 2024 · $35k
  • CC
    Christian Community Service Center Incgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $30k · revenue +96%
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
West Street Recovery

West Street Recovery's mission is to connect communities to the resources they need to rebuild after climate disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and build resilient, secure, and stronger communities.

Public Safety & Disaster
2
Trees for Houston

Plant, protect and promote trees all over the greater Houston area.

—
3
Breakthrough Houston

The mission of Breakthrough Houston (BTH) is to work with highly motivated students to achieve post-secondary success and empower aspiring leaders to become the next generation of educational advocates.

Education
4
LifeHouse of Houston Inc

LifeHouse is a Christ-centered ministry ensuring life for unborn children by providing opportunities for housing, help, and hope for young women during their pregnancies and beyond.

—
5
Houston Area Parkinson Society

The mission of the Houston Area Parkinson Society is to use a whole-human approach to community building, which reduces the fear and isolation associated with a Parkinson's diagnosis.

—
6
The Arc of Harris County

To promote wellness, enriching the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

—
7
Family Service Center of Houston and Harris County

The mission of Family Service Center of Houston and Harris County (Family Houston) is to create a stronger community for tomorrow by helping individuals and families meet the challenges they face today. We help others help themselves.

Human Services
8
Halo House Foundation

Halo House's mission is to help save the lives of cancer patients battling leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma by providing them with low-cost, fully furnished temporary housing while undergoing active cancer treatment at the Texas Medical…

Health
9
Connectability

ConnectAbility's mission is to empower those with life altering disabilities and their caregivers to reach their fullest potential.

Human Services
10
Houston's Amazing Place Inc

Amazing Place empowers families facing the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's and advances brain health for all. The Organization serves adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate dementia, caregiving families and…

Human Services
11
Rebuilding Together Houston

Rebuilding Together Houston is the only organization in Houston and Harris County providing free home repairs to hundreds of families each year. We employ licensed contractors to restore homes to safe, livable conditions, extending each…

Housing & Shelter
12
Summerhouse Houston

Summerhouse Houston's supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their familites, and our community through employment, volunterism, and partnerships to foster a culture of belonging, choice and respect.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Easter Seals of Greater Houston Inc; the most unlike its peers is Ls Classic 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

26 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. 26 of the 40 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/26
Grantees still filing
16/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

TIRR-JJA ENDOWNMENT FD: $150,000 · OtherTIRR-JJA ENDOWNMENT FDUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAISANO: $149,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAISANOST MARTINS EPISCOPAL PRESCHOOL: $75,000 · OtherST MARTINS EPISCOPAL PRESCHOOLTEXAS REGIONAL PARA SPORT: $50,000 · OtherTEXAS REGIONAL PARA SPORTThe University of Texas at Austin: $50,000 · OtherThe University of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program: $35,000 · OtherLS CLASSIC FOUNDATION: $35,000 · Other+13 more: $175,000 · Other+13 moreTIRR Foundation: $185,000 · HealthTIRR FoundationOUTREACH CENTER OF WEST HOUSTON INC: $120,000 · HealthOUTREACH CENTER OF WEST HOU…Texas Children's Hospital: $100,000 · HealthTexas Children's HospitalEASTER SEALS OF GREATER HOUSTON INC: $20,000 · HealthMENDCENTER FOUNDATION: $15,000 · Health+1 more: $10,000 · HealthHouston Aphasia Recovery Center: $95,000 · Human ServicesHouston Aphasi…Life House: $55,000 · Human ServicesLife HousePURSUIT FOUNDATION: $50,000 · Human ServicesPURSUIT FOUNDA…Christian Community Service Center Inc: $30,000 · Human ServicesChristian Comm…+2 more: $10,000 · Human ServicesPTSD FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $150,000 · Public BenefitPTSD FOUN…A D Players: $70,000 · Arts & CultureExpansion International Inc: $55,000 · Arts & CultureBo's Place: $10,000 · Arts & CultureThe Brenda & John H Duncan Rise School of Houston: $55,000 · EducationSTRATFORD BAND BOOSTERS: $25,000 · EducationSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $25,000 · EducationTHE 100 CLUB INC: $85,000 · Crime & Legal
Other$719,000Health$450,000Human Services$240,000Public Benefit$150,000Arts & Culture$135,000Education$105,000Crime & Legal$85,000

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 budgetTIRR Foundation: $185,000 over 4y, 2.1% of budgetPTSD FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $150,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetOUTREACH CENTER OF WEST HOUSTON INC: $120,000 over 3y, 14% of budgetTexas Children's Hospital: $100,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHouston Aphasia Recovery Center: $95,000 over 4y, 9.1% of budgetTHE 100 CLUB INC: $85,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetA D Players: $70,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetExpansion International Inc: $55,000 over 2y, 4.3% of budgetThe Brenda & John H Duncan Rise School of Houston: $55,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetLife House: $55,000 over 2y, 9.5% of budgetPURSUIT FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetLS CLASSIC FOUNDATION: $35,000 over 3y, 2.5% of budgetChristian Community Service Center Inc: $30,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S FUND INC: $20,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetEASTER SEALS OF GREATER HOUSTON INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHouston Advanced Research Center: $15,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMENDCENTER FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetAir Warrior Courage Foundation: $15,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetFREEDOM CANINES INTERNATIONAL INC: $10,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetBo's Place: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetNick Finnegan Counseling Center Foundation: $10,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHAOHANNAHS HOPE INC dba SHOW HOPE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPATRIOT PAWS SERVICE DOGS: $5,000 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.

Greater Houston Commu…The Brown Foundation …Albert & Ethel Herzst…Shell USA Company Fou…Briar Hollow Foundati…Raymond James Charita…Christian Community F…Natl Christian Charit…The Blackbaud Giving …Jpmorgan Chase Founda…National Philanthropi…American Endowment Fo…
Greater Houston Community FoundationTX25.8× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Greater Houston Community Foundation · The Brown Foundation Inc · Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · Briar Hollow Foundation · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · Christian Community Foundation Inc · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · American Endowment 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 Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to The Ralph A Johnston 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 40 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 Ralph 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