Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Mission Viejo, CA EIN: 33-0441985

The Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation is a private foundation based in Mission Viejo, California. Its 2024 filing reports 17 grants totaling $279,394, with listed recipients including educational institutions, arts organizations, and charitable organizations.

Key facts about Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation

In short: Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation gave $279K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in California. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
33-0441985
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$279,394
Grants made (2024)
17
Average grant
$16,435
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2024; small sample)
Total assets
$8,475,910
Primary geography
California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$8.5M

-0.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$279K

+7.4% YoY

Grant Count

17

+6.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$16K

+1.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $452K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation open to new grantees?

18%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $19K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $12K repeat.

  • 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 85% 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 (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 recipients illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Chapman University describes its mission as providing a personalized education that leads to “inquiring, ethical and productive lives as global citizens.” Pacific Chorale says it uplifts the human spirit through choral artistry, fosters unity in Southern California, and cultivates learning through artistic expression. City of Hope describes its mission as making hope a reality for people touched by cancer and diabetes.

Other 2024 recipients describe work in graduate education and leadership development, college-preparatory education for young men, postsecondary education for students with learning differences, and support for youth.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $279,394. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $55,000, with a median of $10,000. Listed grants included $55,000 to City of Hope, $53,194 to Chapman University, $40,000 to Pacific Symphony Orchestra, $30,500 to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and $28,000 to Claremont Graduate University. The filing describes the purposes of the listed grants as sponsorship of a program.

How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing lists written materials, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s 2024 grants were concentrated in California, which received 95% of grant dollars. The filing also reports 4% for Texas, 2% for Vermont, and 0% for Illinois.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

IrvineCosta MesaSanta AnaOrangeClaremontHarlingenSan FranciscoSan Juan CapistranoWashingtonBourbonnaisPutneyStanfordBrightonCarsonDecaturFountain ValleyFullertonLaguna HillsLakewoodLos Angeles

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K22 grants2020 21 grants2021 18 grants2022 16 grants2023 17 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $257K (2020) to $300K (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $279K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

City of Hope: $55KCity of Hope$55KChapman University: $53KChapman University$53KPacific Symphony Orchestra: $40KPacific Symphony Orchestra$40KSegerstrom Center for the Arts: $31KSegerstrom Center for the Arts$31KClaremont Graduate University: $28KClaremont Graduate University$28KBarclay Theater: $20KBarclay Theater$20KBoys Hope Girls Hope: $12KBoys Hope Girls Hope$12KWorld Affairs Council: $12KWorld Affairs Council$12KMarine Military Academy: $10KMarine Military Academy$10KOrange High JRROTC: $5KOrange High JRROTC$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was City of Hope ($55K). Together the top 10 received $266K.

Grant Size Distribution

94 grants across all recorded years

86<$50K8$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 94 (91%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
City of Hope Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$55,000
Chapman University Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$53,194
Pacific Symphony Orchestra Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$40,000
Segerstrom Center for the Arts Costa Mesa, CASponsorship of Program$30,500
Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CASponsorship of Program$28,000
Barclay Theater Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$20,000
Boys Hope Girls Hope Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$12,000
World Affairs Council Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$11,950
Marine Military Academy Harlingen, TXSponsorship of Program$10,000
Orange High JRROTC Irvine, CASponsorship of Program$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant total Grant count
2024 $8,475,910 $543,027 $547,902 $279,394 17
2023 $8,480,785 $433,024 $649,987 $260,050 16
2022 $8,697,748 -$86,983 $700,367 $294,250 18
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$8,475,910$8,480,785$8,697,748
Revenue$543,027$433,024$-86,983
Expenses$547,902$649,987$700,367
Qualifying Distributions$385,345$379,271$447,295
Net Investment Income$298,297$270,646$305,936
Distributable Amount$452,215$376,944$419,505

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Mark Chapin Johnson is listed on the 2024 filing as “President &”.

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation is led by Mark Chapin Johnson, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020) — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mark Chapin Johnson

    President

    President & CEO → President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Application contact: Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 3088, Mission Viejo, CA 92690
Phone: (714) 305-8360

Frequently asked questions about Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation

How much does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation give each year?

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation gave $279K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $260K across 16 grants.

What is Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's typical grant size?

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,435, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation that year got $2K on average.

Where does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation give grants?

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Irvine, CA (7 grants), Costa Mesa, CA (3 grants) and Orange, CA (2 grants).

Does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sponsorship of Program" (17 grants).

Who are Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's largest grantees?

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include City of Hope ($55,000), Chapman University ($53,194) and Pacific Symphony Orchestra ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation?

Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation reported $8.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $385K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $452K (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 Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation fund?

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 recipients illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Chapman University describes its mission as providing a personalized education that leads to “inquiring, ethical and productive lives as global citizens.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

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 2020–2024.

Does Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

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