Edward C Johnson Fund
The Edward C Johnson Fund is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in conservation, rivers and fisheries, historic sites, and health.
Edward C Johnson Fund at a glance
In short: Edward C Johnson Fund gave $16.5M across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $392K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,455,700
- -25.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $391,802
- -21.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $264,100
- Total assets
- $563,852,929
- +13.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Edward C Johnson Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The fund makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (603) 681-4291
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Edward C Johnson Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $9.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 40 grants of 124 (32%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 45% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 25% to Maine, 11% to the District of Columbia, 10% to Virginia, and 2% to Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Edward C Johnson Fund gives
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 52% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $465K (2020) to $29.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $16.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc Lincoln, MA | Acquisition for Preservation | $1,500,000 |
| Revolutionary Spaces Inc Boston, MA | Operations Support | $1,500,000 |
| National Park Foundation Washington, DC | Discovery Research (Science) | $1,000,000 |
| Atlantic Salmon Federation Inc Brunswick, ME | Endowment | $1,000,000 |
| Tinker Island Foundation Boston, MA | General Operating / Annual Support | $827,500 |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital Inc Boston, MA | Endowment | $650,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, ME | Program Development / Evaluation | $575,000 |
| American Rivers Inc Washington, DC | Construction | $570,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Inc Arlington, VA | Property Care; Buildings; Construction | $500,000 |
| Buzzards Bay Coalition Inc New Bedford, MA | Program Development / Evaluation | $500,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $563,852,929 | $84,106,414 | $17,364,131 | $16,455,700 | 42 | $16,356,631 | $74,362,409 | $31,355,353 |
| 2023 | $496,554,483 | $22,935,036 | $23,368,016 | $22,016,479 | 44 | $21,483,016 | $13,672,274 | $25,886,565 |
| 2022 | $495,515,579 | $105,598,690 | $30,218,924 | $29,036,500 | 19 | $44,626,197 | $30,011,689 | $22,797,183 |
| 2021 | $418,919,628 | $48,451,859 | $25,063,734 | $23,221,784 | 17 | $24,046,576 | $39,924,484 | $24,696,848 |
| 2020 | $395,808,274 | $66,166,273 | $1,492,021 | $464,707 | 2 | — | $57,890,872 | $19,556,933 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward C Johnson Fund reported a distributable amount of $31.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own stated missions span different areas. Massachusetts Audubon Society says it works to protect Massachusetts nature through education, land conservation, advocacy, research, and habitat stewardship. Revolutionary Spaces describes its work as stewarding Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House and bringing people together to explore the American struggle to create and sustain a free society. The National Park Foundation says it works to protect and enhance America’s national parks.
Other 2024 recipients include Maine Coast Heritage Trust, which says it advances conservation of Maine’s lands and waters; American Rivers, which says it works to protect and restore rivers; Trout Unlimited, whose stated mission is conserving, protecting, and restoring coldwater fisheries and watersheds; and the Appalachian Mountain Club, which says it promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the Appalachian region’s mountains, forests, waters, and trails.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 42 grants totaling $16,455,700. Grant amounts ranged from $100,000 to $1,500,000, with a median of $264,100.
Among the largest grants were $1,500,000 to Massachusetts Audubon Society for acquisition for preservation and $1,500,000 to Revolutionary Spaces for operations support. The National Park Foundation received $1,000,000 for discovery research (science), and the Atlantic Salmon Federation received $1,000,000 for endowment. Other grants included $827,500 to Tinker Island Foundation for general operating/annual support, $650,000 to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for endowment, and $575,000 to Maine Coast Heritage Trust for program development/evaluation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Maura Marx as president; Abigail P. Johnson and Elizabeth L. Johnson as directors and vice presidents; Edward C. Johnson IV as director; Christopher J. McKown as secretary; Daniel M. Ardito as treasurer; and Kevin Saunders as assistant secretary.
Edward C Johnson Fund is led by Maura Marx, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Maura Marx
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$18K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Abigail P. Johnson
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward C. Johnson IV
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth L. Johnson
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel M. Ardito
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$9K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Kevin Saunders
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
$20K (2022) → $40K (2024)
Christopher J. McKown
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Melanie S. Sommer (2020–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: M. Allison Johnson (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $40K, to Kevin Saunders (Asst. Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Edward C Johnson Fund
How much does Edward C Johnson Fund give each year?
Edward C Johnson Fund gave $16.5M across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $22.0M across 44 grants.
What is Edward C Johnson Fund's typical grant size?
Edward C Johnson Fund's median grant in 2024 was $264,100, and its average grant was $391,802, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Edward C Johnson Fund give grants?
Edward C Johnson Fund's top state is Massachusetts, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maine (25%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (5 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), Arlington, VA (4 grants) and Brunswick, ME (2 grants).
Does Edward C Johnson Fund give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Edward C Johnson Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Acquisition for Preservation" (9 grants), "Endowment" (5 grants) and "Program Development / Evaluation" (4 grants).
Who are Edward C Johnson Fund's largest grantees?
Edward C Johnson Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc ($1,500,000), Revolutionary Spaces Inc ($1,500,000) and Atlantic Salmon Federation Inc ($1,460,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Edward C Johnson Fund?
Edward C Johnson Fund reported $563.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Edward C Johnson Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own stated missions span different areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edward C Johnson Fund?
The fund makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Edward C Johnson Fund's EIN?
Edward C Johnson Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6108344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Edward C Johnson Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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—
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Edward C Johnson Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edward-c-johnson-fund-morg_602de62559eb4bfcace874d7c4be36c3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046108344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Edward C Johnson Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/edward-c-johnson-fund-morg_602de62559eb4bfcace874d7c4be36c3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Edward C Johnson Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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