The Gesner Johnson Foundation is a family foundation based in Pennington, New Jersey. Established in 1997 in Minnesota, the foundation supports organizations serving underserved populations and enhancing lives in the communities where it operates.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$710K
+5.7% YoY
Grant Count
16
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+19.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support organizations serving the underserved and otherwise enhancing lives in the communities where the foundation operates by providing grants that make a significant impact in the organization's capability to execute its mission. Each grant is intended to create a significant difference in the receiving organization, with funds designated for specific projects that will have a lasting impact on the community served.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Nonprofit Human Services
- Reproductive Health
- Human and Social Services
- Nursing Home Services
- Community Health
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $100,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in the following locations:
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Los Angeles County, California
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Seattle, Washington
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $11,829,935
- Total Annual Giving: $709,785
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since January 1998
- EIN: 41-1890875
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Going Home Ii ($68,000), A Place Called Home ($65,000), Feeding San Diego ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FEEDING SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $50,000 |
| MAMAS KITCHEN SAN DIEGO, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $47,375 |
| SEED HOUSE PROJECT GLENDALE, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $30,000 |
| GOING HOME II PORTLAND, OR | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $68,000 |
| OPERATION HOPE NORTH VISTA, CA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $36,410 |
| BRIDGES OF HOPE BRAINERD, MN | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $50,000 |
| SEATTLE'S UNION GOSPEL SEATTLE, WA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPORT | $50,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF PIERCE TACOMA, WA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $50,000 |
| URBAN IMPACT SEATTLE, WA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $44,800 |
| DADS SEATTLE, WA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPORT | $37,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUSSELL JOHNSON | PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
| MARCIA CAMPBELL | TREASURER | 10 | — |
| PAUL JOHNSON | SECRETARY | 10 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 1532, Pennington, NJ 08534-0691
- Telephone: 888-866-3275
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gesner Johnson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support organizations serving the underserved and otherwise enhancing lives in the communities where the foundation operates by providing grants that make a significant impact in the organization's capability to execute its mission. Each grant is intended to create a significant difference in the receiving organization, with funds designated for specific projects that will have a lasting impact on the community served. Primary funding focus areas include: • Educat…
How do I apply for a grant from Gesner Johnson Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $100,000. **Grant Frequency:** The foundation distributes grants on a bi-annual basis. **Recent Activity:** Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024), the foundation distributed $709,785 in total giving.
Where does Gesner Johnson Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in the following locations: • Flagstaff, Arizona • Los Angeles County, California • Phoenix, Arizona • Seattle, Washington
What size grants does Gesner Johnson Foundation award?
In 2024, Gesner Johnson Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $710K — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Gesner Johnson Foundation's EIN?
Gesner Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1890875. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gesner Johnson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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