Johnson Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization supporting the development of healthy, vibrant, and just communities. The foundation funds programs across environmental health, equality and social progress, education, and youth development. The organization operates with a place-based grantmaking approach, with national scope in LGBTQ issues.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.7M
+15.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+12.6% YoY
Grant Count
28
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+12.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Johnson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support the development of healthy, vibrant, and just communities where individuals, families, and the next generation of leaders will thrive.
Primary funding areas include:
- Environmental health — improving the health of the environment
- Equality and social progress — promoting equality and advancing social progress
- Education and youth — supporting education and youth development
- Democracy — identified as one of the foundation's highest priorities, extending across multiple portfolio areas
- Food and nutritional justice — part of the justice grantmaking portfolio
- LGBTQ issues — national scope funding in this area
- Social safety net and early childhood education — supported through the democracy lens
Grantmaking
The foundation provides general operating support to grantees.
Grant Range
Median and average grant amounts vary by year
Average Grant
amounts vary by year
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains place-based grantmaking with national scope in LGBTQ issues. The organization has demonstrated support for organizations across multiple regions through its partnerships and grant distributions.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of FY 2025 (April 2025):
- Total assets: $12,710,691
- Total revenues: $3,077,512
- Total expenses: $1,383,775
- Investment income and dividends: $389,163
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,688,054
As of FY 2024:
- Total assets: $11,016,982
- Total giving: $1,085,100
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and asset appreciation rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,710,691 | $11,016,982 | $11,419,464 |
| Revenue | $3,077,512 | $787,295 | $670,954 |
| Expenses | $1,383,775 | $1,189,667 | $1,182,280 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,232,716 | $1,095,396 | $1,093,102 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,984,507 | $701,118 | $588,892 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,087,148 | $997,338 | $941,925 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Partners for Youth With Disabiities ($100,000), Leadership Brainery ($100,000), Mit Office of Engineering Outreach - ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOSTON AREA GLEANERS WALTHAM, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| MIT OFFICE OF ENGINEERING OUTREACH - BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $60,000 |
| NEW LIFE FURNITURE INC CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| NEXT ONE UP FOUNDATION BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| A WIDER CIRCLE BETHESDA, MD | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| BE CONCERNED INC COVINGTON, KY | GENERAL OPERATING | $22,050 |
| CAMP STARFISH INC STOW, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $53,500 |
| FAMILIES 1ST PARENTING PROGRAMS INC WATERTOWN, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| HAMILTON LIVING WATER MINISTRY INC HAMILTON, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,800 |
| MORE THAN WORDS INC WALTHAM, MA | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board members and directors include:
- Patricia L Johnson Lipcon (Director)
- Jesse Lipcon (Director)
- Gwendolyn Kess Johnson (Director)
- David B Hamilton (Director)
- Charlotte Johnson Lilly (Director)
- Crosley Johnson Sigmon (Director)
- Johanna Theiss Johnson Brun (Director)
- Zachary Johnson (Director)
- Lauren Lipcon Dale (Director)
- Scott Lipcon (Director)
- Todd Lipcon (Director)
- Dylan H (Executive Director)
Program Officer Mia Legaspi-Cavin is noted as managing the Justice grantmaking portfolio.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICIA L JOHNSON LIPCON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JESSE LIPCON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| GWENDOLYN KESS JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DAVID B HAMILTON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CHARLOTTE JOHNSON LILLY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CROSLEY JOHNSON SIGMON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOHANNA THEISS JOHNSON BRUN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ZACHARY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LAUREN LIPCON DALE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SCOTT LIPCON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TODD LIPCON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has established a new four-year funding commitment to support organizations through its Justice grantmaking portfolio. This partnership demonstrates the foundation's deepening investment in democracy, food and nutritional justice, and education initiatives.
Walter S. Johnson Foundation Deepens Investment in TMCC\u2019s Fostering\The foundation's focus on democracy has expanded significantly, with democracy now identified as one of the highest priorities across multiple funding areas. This includes support for work on money in politics, judicial independence, LGBTQ rights, and environmental activism—all viewed through the lens of protecting democratic participation and rights.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Johnson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support the development of healthy, vibrant, and just communities where individuals, families, and the next generation of leaders will thrive. Primary funding areas include: • **Environmental health** — improving the health of the environment • **Equality and social progress** — promoting equality and advancing social progress • **Education and youth** — supporting education and youth development • **Democracy** — identified as one of the foundation's highest prio…
How do I apply for a grant from Johnson Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity (FY 2025):** • Total grants made: $651,025 (reported as of April 2025) • Recent grantees include Leadership Brainery ($100,000), Spoonfuls ($60,000), and Camp Starfish ($53,500) • The foundation made at least 24 grants in the most recent reporting period **Historical Grant Data (FY 2024):** • Total giving: $1,085,100 • Grant range: Median and average grant amounts vary by year **Grant Types:** The foundation provides general operating support to grantees.
Where does Johnson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains place-based grantmaking with national scope in LGBTQ issues. The organization has demonstrated support for organizations across multiple regions through its partnerships and grant distributions.
What size grants does Johnson Family Foundation award?
In 2025, Johnson Family Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Johnson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Johnson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Johnson Family Foundation's EIN?
Johnson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1542859. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Johnson Family 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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