Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation
The Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation established in 1990 and based in Mission Viejo, California. The foundation holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and has been recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS since April 1991. It operates as a family foundation with a focus on selective grantmaking to preselected charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.5M
-2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$260K
-11.6% YoY
Grant Count
16
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $377K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$15,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Texas, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. Grantmaking is concentrated in California, with 89% of all grants supporting organizations in California, Texas, and the District of Columbia. The foundation's reach extends across 9 states, with support for 39 unique organizations to date.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $8,480,785
- Annual income: $433,024
- Total liabilities: $0
- Total expenses: $650,000
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $6.9 million in 2011 to $8.5 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,480,785 | $8,697,748 | $9,485,098 |
| Revenue | $433,024 | $-86,983 | $915,598 |
| Expenses | $649,987 | $700,367 | $528,422 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $379,271 | $447,295 | $408,225 |
| Net Investment Income | $270,646 | $305,936 | $876,706 |
| Distributable Amount | $376,944 | $419,505 | $394,848 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include City of Hope ($50,000), Pacific Symphony Orchestra ($35,000), Chapman University ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BARCLAY THEATER IRVINE, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE IRVINE, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $12,700 |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY IRVINE, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| CITY OF HOPE IRVINE, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| CLAREMONT GRADUATE UNIVERSITY CLAREMONT, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| FRIENDS OF ASOR ISRAEL LAKEWOOD, NJ | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $500 |
| MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY HARLINGEN, TX | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| MEDSHARE DECATUR, GA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $2,500 |
| OC FORUM ORANGE, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| ORANGE COUNTY MUSEM OF ART COSTA MESA, CA | SPONSORSHIP OF PROGRAM | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mark C. Johnson serves as President of the foundation. He is listed as the principal officer and works 2 hours per week with no reported compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK CHAPIN JOHNSON | PRESIDENT & | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation supported the War and Society Program at Chapman University, as noted in a 2017 announcement highlighting the foundation's commitment to educational initiatives.
Greater Chapin Community Foundation Awards $22,975 to 26 Local NonprofitsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $260,050 across 16 grants • Historical annual distributions range from $257,000 to $589,000 (2020-2023) • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $589,000 distributed across 36 grants • Total of 74 grants made to date, totaling $1.1 million **Grant Sizes:** • Median grant: $4,000–$14,000 (varies by year) • Average grant: $15,000 • Grant range: $100–$87,000 • Recent grant range: $500–$50,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • City of Hope…
Where does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Texas, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. Grantmaking is concentrated in California, with 89% of all grants supporting organizations in California, Texas, and the District of Columbia. The foundation's reach extends across 9 states, with support for 39 unique organizations to date.
What size grants does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation award?
In 2023, Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $260K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $377K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's EIN?
Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0441985. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mark Chapin 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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