Freeman R Johnson Trust
The Freeman R Johnson Trust is a private foundation based in Eagan, Minnesota. Its 2023 filing states that awards are for the furtherance and development of public, charitable, educational, and municipal purposes in Joplin, Missouri.
Freeman R Johnson Trust at a glance
In short: Freeman R Johnson Trust gave $40K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Missouri. 48% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $40,228
- -27.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,916
- -27.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,750
- Total assets
- $1,063,332
- +7.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (10 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Freeman R Johnson Trust
- How to Apply
-
Contact Don McClure. The filing directs applicants to contact him for forms and materials.
- Review Cycle
- Contact Don McClure for deadline information.
- Deadline
- Contact Don McClure for deadline information.
- Contact
Application contact: Don Mcclure
Mailing address: Us Bank Na 402 S Main St, Joplin, MO 64801
Phone: (417) 625-3265
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Freeman R Johnson Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Regional Health & Welfare ($4K). Together the top 10 received $26K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 102 grants of 102 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust’s 2023 filing identifies public, charitable, educational, and municipal purposes in Joplin, Missouri. In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri, 6% to Oregon, and 2% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Freeman R Johnson Trust open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 21 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 67% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2025) to $67K (2022). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $40K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Health & Welfare Joplin, MO | General Operating | $3,750 |
| Pro Musica Joplin, MO | General Operating | $3,000 |
| Economic Security Corporation Joplin, MO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Life Choices Joplin, MO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Freeman Health Joplin, MO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| George a Spiva Center for the Arts Joplin, MO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Higher Power Garage Joplin, MO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Portland, OR | General Operating | $2,500 |
| American Red Cross of SW MO Springfield, MO | General Operating | $2,500 |
| Mercy Health Foundation Chesterfield, MO | General Operating | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,063,332 | $141,340 | $63,801 | $40,228 | 21 | $41,728 | $120,234 | $62,464 |
| 2024 | $985,800 | $74,804 | $77,644 | $55,605 | 21 | $57,105 | $54,860 | $59,750 |
| 2023 | $990,128 | $46,660 | $79,749 | $60,150 | 23 | $61,650 | $27,970 | $55,282 |
| 2022 | $1,021,724 | $26,685 | $90,472 | $67,100 | 19 | $68,600 | $10,452 | $61,641 |
| 2021 | $1,085,513 | $124,242 | $74,335 | $49,000 | 18 | — | $101,526 | $64,621 |
| 2020 | $1,035,729 | $65,624 | $74,191 | $54,000 | 20 | — | $46,683 | $54,389 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Freeman R Johnson Trust reported a distributable amount of $62K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust’s 2023 filing describes its purpose as furthering and developing public, charitable, educational, and municipal purposes in Joplin, Missouri. Its 2025 giving included organizations working in areas such as arts and culture, health, transportation assistance, child advocacy, and trails.
For example, Pro Musica says it fosters appreciation for live classical music in Joplin and the Four-State Area. The George A. Spiva Center for the Arts says it provides exhibitions, education, and community outreach. Higher Power Garage says it helps people in hardship retain reliable transportation, while Jasper County CASA says it trains and supports volunteers advocating for abused and neglected children.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust gave $40,228 through 21 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $3,750, with a median grant of $1,750. The largest grants included $3,750 to Regional Health & Welfare; $3,000 to Pro Musica; and $2,500 each to Economic Security Corporation, Life Choices, Freeman Health, George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, Higher Power Garage, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the American Red Cross of SW MO. The listed grants were for general operating purposes.
The trust’s 2023 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It directs applicants to contact Don McClure; the filing says to contact him for application forms and materials and for deadline information. The stated award restriction is that grants be used for the furtherance and development of public, charitable, educational, and municipal purposes in Joplin, Missouri.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Roger F Bruner, Alexander Curchin, Dennis Smith, Michael Pence, and James Randall Evans as selection committee members. US Bank N A is listed as trustee.
Freeman R Johnson Trust's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
US Bank N A
Trustee
Corp. Trustee → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$19K (2024) → $21K (2025)
Alexander Curchin
Selection Committee Member
On filings since 2020
$250 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Dennis Smith
Selection Committee Member
On filings since 2020
$250 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Michael Pence
Selection Committee Member
On filings since 2020
$250 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Roger F. Bruner
Selection Committee Member
On filings since 2020
$250 (2020) → $0 (2025)
James Randall Evans
Selection Committee Member
On filings since 2021
$250 (2021) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: US Bank NA (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $21K, to US Bank N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Freeman R Johnson Trust
How much does Freeman R Johnson Trust give each year?
Freeman R Johnson Trust gave $40K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $56K across 21 grants.
What is Freeman R Johnson Trust's typical grant size?
Freeman R Johnson Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,750, and its average grant was $1,916, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Freeman R Johnson Trust that year got $2K on average.
Where does Freeman R Johnson Trust give grants?
Freeman R Johnson Trust gives mostly in Missouri: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Joplin, MO (16 grants).
Does Freeman R Johnson Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Freeman R Johnson Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Freeman R Johnson Trust's largest grantees?
Freeman R Johnson Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Regional Health & Welfare ($3,750), Pro Musica ($3,000) and Economic Security Corporation ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Freeman R Johnson Trust?
Freeman R Johnson Trust reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $62K (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 Freeman R Johnson Trust fund?
The trust’s 2023 filing describes its purpose as furthering and developing public, charitable, educational, and municipal purposes in Joplin, Missouri. Its 2025 giving included organizations working in areas such as arts and culture, health, transportation assistance, child advocacy, and trails. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Freeman R Johnson Trust?
Contact Don McClure. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Freeman R Johnson Trust's EIN?
Freeman R Johnson Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6059199. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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