Arthur Q Johnson Foundation
Arthur Q Johnson Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2001 and based in La Jolla, California. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization designated for charitable, educational, scientific, and related philanthropic purposes.
Key facts about Arthur Q Johnson Foundation
- EIN
- 33-0953548
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $200,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- Average grant
- $5,882
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (15 of 34, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,944,871
- Primary geography
- California (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Arthur Q Johnson Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Arthur Q Johnson Foundation's 34 itemized 2024 grants were California (91%) and District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (14 grants), Carlsbad, CA (5 grants), La Jolla, CA (2 grants) and San Marcos, CA (2 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Arthur Q Johnson Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 34 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Arthur Q Johnson Foundation
- How to evaluate Arthur Q Johnson Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Arthur Q Johnson Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.9M
+14.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$200K
+10.8% YoY
Grant Count
34
+61.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-31.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arthur Q Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $174K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation has awarded 210 grants totaling $1,308,459 across its history. Individual grants range from $100 to $35,000, with a median award of $5,000. In the most recent tax year (2024), the foundation made 34 grants.
Ready to take the next step with Arthur Q Johnson Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation demonstrates highly concentrated geographic giving, with 90% of all grants awarded in California. Within the state, funding concentrates in San Diego (49%), Carlsbad (13%), and Vista (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 34 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Tax Year (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,872,107
- Revenue: $1,109,711
- Expenses: $303,206
- Net Assets: $3,074,651
- Charitable Disbursements: $256,019 (84.4% of expenses)
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Contributions Received: $357,644 (32.2%)
- Sales of Assets: $678,368 (61.1%)
- Dividends: $67,200 (6.1%)
- Interest Revenue: $6,499 (0.6%)
Funding Trajectory: The foundation has demonstrated moderate 33% growth over eight years, indicating stable and gradually increasing funding capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,944,871 | $2,569,723 | $2,508,626 |
| Revenue | $942,453 | $278,934 | $311,242 |
| Expenses | $240,500 | $217,837 | $228,254 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $201,985 | $181,885 | $188,725 |
| Net Investment Income | $716,717 | $184,533 | $152,159 |
| Distributable Amount | $173,917 | $163,182 | $161,430 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include It's All About the Kids ($25,000), Boys Girls Club of Carlsbad ($20,000), The Richness of Giving ($13,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS San Diego, CA | TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN | $25,000 |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF CARLSBAD Carlsbad, CA | TO SUPPORT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CARLSBAD | $20,000 |
| THE RICHNESS OF GIVING Carlsbad, CA | to support all sorts of initiatives that help kids affected by poverty. | $13,000 |
| HEART IN THE SPECTRUM Temecula, CA | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS. | $12,000 |
| PACIFIC RIDGE SCHOOL Carlsbad, CA | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP AND ENDOWMENT FUND. | $10,000 |
| ANERA Washington, DC | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. | $10,000 |
| BAJA BOUND MINISTRIES INC Chula Vista, CA | TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TRAVELING TO WORK IN THE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IN BAJA CA. | $8,000 |
| THE BREAKFAST CLUB San Diego, CA | TO SUPPORT THE THE CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES OF THE BREAKFAST CLUB KIDS IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA | $6,000 |
| PROMISES 2 KIDS San Diego, CA | to respond to the needs of foster children and provide support to children removed from their home due to abuse and neglect. | $5,000 |
| SCRIPPS HEALTH FOUNDATION La Jolla, CA | TO SUPPORT SCRIPPS HEALTH FOUNDATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Arthur Quicke Johnson — Chief Executive Officer and Registered Agent
- Annette Marie Johnson — Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Q Johnson | President | 4 | — |
| Natalie Gumina | Secretary | 2 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 7855 Ivanhoe Avenue, Suite 210, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone: 858-454-4837
- EIN: 33-0953548
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Arthur Q Johnson Foundation?
The foundation has awarded 210 grants totaling $1,308,459 across its history. Individual grants range from $100 to $35,000, with a median award of $5,000. In the most recent tax year (2024), the foundation made 34 grants. The foundation maintains a balanced approach to new applicants, with 38% of recent grantees being first-time recipients, while also maintaining ongoing relationships with established partners. The foundation appears open to unsolicited applications.
Where does Arthur Q Johnson Foundation make grants?
The foundation demonstrates highly concentrated geographic giving, with 90% of all grants awarded in California. Within the state, funding concentrates in San Diego (49%), Carlsbad (13%), and Vista (8%).
What size grants does Arthur Q Johnson Foundation award?
In 2024, Arthur Q Johnson Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $200K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Arthur Q Johnson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Arthur Q Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $174K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Arthur Q Johnson Foundation's EIN?
Arthur Q Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0953548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arthur Q Johnson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
San Diego, CA
Assets
$862.3M
Grants
774
Total Given
$148.1M
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Assets
$188.7M
Grants
253
Total Given
$14.3M
Price Philanthropies Foundation
La Jolla, CA
Assets
$498.0M
Grants
246
Total Given
$33.8M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Assets
—
Grants
9,499
Total Given
$73.1M
More Funders in California
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.