Edward C Johnson Fund
The Edward C. Johnson Fund is a private family foundation established in 1964 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The foundation is connected to the Johnson family of Fidelity Investments and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. It functions as a non-operating foundation that makes grants to charitable organizations primarily in New England, with a particular focus on the Boston area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$563.9M
+13.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.5M
-25.3% YoY
Grant Count
42
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$392K
-21.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports arts and culture, historic preservation, environmental conservation, and health. In recent years, the foundation has shifted its strategic focus, with environmental conservation and climate change now receiving the majority of its funding attention. The foundation primarily funds endowment, general operating and annual support, property care, collections and archives, renovations, new construction, and land preservation.
Grantmaking
The Edward C. Johnson Fund does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their identified priorities and existing relationships. The foundation operates by invitation only.
Grant Range
Approximately $50,000–$467,000
Average Grant
Approximately $50,000–$467,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New England, with particular emphasis on:
- Boston, Massachusetts (primary focus)
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $496.6 million–$497 million
- Annual giving: $20.5 million
- Total revenues: $22.9 million
- Total expenses: $23.4 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $288 million in 2011 to over $563 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $563,852,929 | $496,554,483 | $495,515,579 |
| Revenue | $84,106,414 | $22,935,036 | $105,598,690 |
| Expenses | $17,364,131 | $23,368,016 | $30,218,924 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,356,631 | $21,483,016 | $44,626,197 |
| Net Investment Income | $74,362,409 | $13,672,274 | $30,011,689 |
| Distributable Amount | $31,355,353 | $25,886,565 | $22,797,183 |
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
124 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc ($1,500,000), Revolutionary Spaces Inc ($1,500,000), National Park Foundation ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH, NC | PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; RENOVATION | $100,000 |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY | ENDOWMENT | $278,200 |
| CAMP BEECH CLIFF MOUNT DESERT, ME | ENDOWMENT | $250,000 |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION WASHINGTON, DC | INSTALLATIONS (ARTS & CULTURE) | $100,000 |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION | $100,000 |
| ISLAND HERITAGE TRUST INC DEER ISLE, ME | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION | $350,000 |
| COASTAL RIVERS CONSERVATION TRUST DAMARISCOTTA, ME | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION | $100,000 |
| NEPONSET RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION CANTON, MA | PLANNING | $250,000 |
| GREAT WORKS REGIONAL LAND TRUST OGUNQUIT, ME | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION | $400,000 |
| STOWE LAND TRUST STOWE, VT | OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Maura Marx
- Program Director: Stephen Sloan
- Board Members: Abigail P. Johnson, Elizabeth L. Johnson, Edward C. Johnson IV
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAURA MARX | PRESIDENT | 1 | $21,477 |
| ABIGAIL P JOHNSON | DIRECTOR AND VP | 0.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH L JOHNSON | DIRECTOR AND VP | 0.5 | — |
| EDWARD C JOHNSON IV | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER J MCKOWN | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| DANIEL M ARDITO | TREASURER | 1 | $9,540 |
| KEVIN SAUNDERS | ASST. SECRETARY | 4 | $39,956 |
Contact Information
- Address: 7 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109-4100
- Phone: (603) 681-4291 or (603) 681-4375
- Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Edward C Johnson Fund fund?
The foundation supports arts and culture, historic preservation, environmental conservation, and health. In recent years, the foundation has shifted its strategic focus, with environmental conservation and climate change now receiving the majority of its funding attention. The foundation primarily funds endowment, general operating and annual support, property care, collections and archives, renovations, new construction, and land preservation.
How do I apply for a grant from Edward C Johnson Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $20.5 million (2023) • Number of grants: 44 grants in 2023 (up from 18 grants in 2022) • Average grant size: Approximately $50,000–$467,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$3,000,000 **Application Process:** The Edward C. Johnson Fund does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their identified priorities and existing relationships. The foundation operates by invitation only. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Moun…
Where does Edward C Johnson Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New England, with particular emphasis on: • Boston, Massachusetts (primary focus) • Maine • New Hampshire • Vermont • Massachusetts
What size grants does Edward C Johnson Fund award?
In 2024, Edward C Johnson Fund awarded 42 grants totaling $16.5M — an average of about $392K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Edward C Johnson Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Edward C Johnson Fund reported a distributable amount of $31.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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