Phiferjohnson Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Spartanburg, SC EIN: 57-6153679

Phiferjohnson Foundation is a private foundation based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its 2024 grants supported organizations in health care, religious life, education, science education, conservation, and community philanthropy.

Phiferjohnson Foundation at a glance

In short: Phiferjohnson Foundation gave $859K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), mostly in Minnesota. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$858,821
+8.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
13
+30.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$66,063
-16.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,320
Total assets
$10,164,986
-1.9% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Minnesota (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Phiferjohnson Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 3524, Spartanburg, SC 29304
Phone: (864) 585-2000

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Phiferjohnson Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Mayo Clinic: $500KMayo Clinic$500KNew Morning Foundation: $125KNew Morning Foundation$125KEpiscopal Church of the Advent: $110K across 3 grantsEpiscopal Church of the Advent$110K · 3 grantsEpiscopal Church of the Ascension: $80K across 2 grantsEpiscopal Church of theAscension$80K · 2 grantsSheppard Pratt Hospital System: $20KSheppard Pratt Hospital System$20KOakbrook School: $10KOakbrook School$10KSpartanburg Science Center: $6KSpartanburg Science Center$6KFoothills Conservancy of North Carolina: $5KFoothills Conservancy of NorthCarolina$5KSpartanburg County Foundation: $3KSpartanburg County Foundation$3KFrom K-1 ZCA Hedged Credit Strategy LP: $1From K-1 ZCA Hedged CreditStrategy LP$1

The largest 2024 recipient was Mayo Clinic ($500K). Together the top 10 received $859K.

Grant Size Distribution

49 grants across all recorded years

29<$50K6$50–100K11$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 49 (59%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (58%), South Carolina (30%), Virginia (9%), Maryland (2%), and North Carolina (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

SpartanburgVailNorfolkColumbiaMorgantonAkronNew YorkAvonBlowing RockBooneDenverLexingtonPawleys IslandRochesterTowsonWashington

Is Phiferjohnson Foundation open to new grantees?

20%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $260K; repeat grants $42K. How we count

Medians: $260K first-time, $8K repeat.

  • 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 61% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 159% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M13 grants2020 8 grants2021 5 grants2022 10 grants2023 13 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $261K (2022) to $859K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $859K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mayo Clinic Rochester, MNGeneral Support$500,000
New Morning Foundation Columbia, SCGeneral Support$125,000
Episcopal Church of the Ascension Norfolk, VAGeneral Support$75,000
Episcopal Church of the Advent Spartanburg, SCGeneral Support$50,000
Episcopal Church of the Advent Spartanburg, SCGeneral Support$50,000
Sheppard Pratt Hospital System Towson, MDGeneral Support$20,000
Episcopal Church of the Advent Spartanburg, SCGeneral Support$10,320
Oakbrook School Spartanburg, SCGeneral Support$10,000
Spartanburg Science Center Spartanburg, SCGeneral Support$6,000
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina Morganton, NCGeneral Support$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$10,164,986$744,677$933,242$858,82113$889,963$705,326$560,395
2023$10,360,224$580,445$893,571$791,50110$847,067$545,080$536,932
2022$10,683,901$-58,277$325,574$261,0005$305,057$370,608$557,669
2021$11,191,467$386,819$646,502$534,0008$602,699$345,616$655,162
2020$14,071,387$442,678$622,514$446,10713—$439,639$649,947

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phiferjohnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $560K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for Mayo Clinic, a medical organization; churches; Oakbrook School; Spartanburg Science Center; Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina; and Spartanburg County Foundation. The Spartanburg Science Center describes its mission as providing science enrichment and interactive educational programs and exhibits for children and adults in Spartanburg County. Spartanburg County Foundation says it works to improve residents’ lives by promoting philanthropy, encouraging community engagement, and responding to community needs. Mayo Clinic describes its mission as contributing to health and well-being through patient care, education, and research.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $858,821. Itemized awards ranged from $1 to $500,000, with a median of $10,320. The largest grants included $500,000 to Mayo Clinic, $125,000 to New Morning Foundation, $75,000 to Episcopal Church of the Ascension, and two $50,000 grants to Episcopal Church of the Advent. All were reported for general support.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists George Dean Johnson Jr, George D Johnson III, Susan PJohnson, and Susanna J Shannon as directors.

Phiferjohnson Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • George D. Johnson III

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • George Dean Johnson Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Pjohnson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Susanna J. Shannon

    Director

    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.

Frequently asked questions about Phiferjohnson Foundation

How much does Phiferjohnson Foundation give each year?

Phiferjohnson Foundation gave $859K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $792K across 10 grants.

What is Phiferjohnson Foundation's typical grant size?

Phiferjohnson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,320, and its average grant was $66,063, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Phiferjohnson Foundation that year got $260K on average.

Where does Phiferjohnson Foundation give grants?

Phiferjohnson Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Carolina (30%) and Virginia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Spartanburg, SC (6 grants) and Norfolk, VA (2 grants).

Does Phiferjohnson Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Phiferjohnson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Phiferjohnson Foundation's largest grantees?

Phiferjohnson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mayo Clinic ($500,000), New Morning Foundation ($125,000) and Episcopal Church of the Advent ($110,320 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Phiferjohnson Foundation?

Phiferjohnson Foundation reported $10.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $890K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $560K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Phiferjohnson Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for Mayo Clinic, a medical organization; churches; Oakbrook School; Spartanburg Science Center; Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina; and Spartanburg County Foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Phiferjohnson Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Phiferjohnson Foundation's EIN?

Phiferjohnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-6153679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Phiferjohnson 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 September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Phiferjohnson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/phiferjohnson-foundation-morg_b826db04e95d4a4ebd0de7b8094aa7b0

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_576153679_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Phiferjohnson Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/phiferjohnson-foundation-morg_b826db04e95d4a4ebd0de7b8094aa7b0},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Phiferjohnson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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