The Atlantic Foundation
The Atlantic Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1963 by J. Seward Johnson, Sr., an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. Based in Hamilton, New Jersey, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation (NTEE code T20). The organization has evolved from supporting a broad range of charitable causes to concentrating its efforts primarily on arts and cultural organizations, with particular emphasis on sculpture and public art initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34.0M
-5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
-81.1% YoY
Grant Count
11
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$340K
-77.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Atlantic Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Atlantic Foundation's stated vision is to support "just, equitable, and regenerative communities in harmony with each other and our world." The foundation makes grants to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and Sculpture: Support for sculpture parks open to the public, including public programming, tours, membership and admissions programs, sculpture-related events, children's programs, and artists' lectures
- Public Art Education: Funding for organizations dedicated to enhancing public awareness and appreciation of sculpture through exhibitions and public education
- Marine Sciences and Oceanography: Historical support for oceanographic research and conservation projects
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000 to $3,000,000+
Invitation Only
**: The Atlantic Foundation operates on an invitation-only, pre-selected basis. Unsolicited applications are not accepted.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic priorities include:
- New Jersey (primary focus)
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- Vermont
- Costa Rica
- National arts organizations
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $34,046,985
- Total Revenue: $905,290
- Total Expenses: $4,948,051
- Total Giving: $3,739,400
- Number of Employees: 0
Historical Context (2023):
- Total Assets: $36.1 million
- Total Revenue: $1.74 million
- Total Expenses: $20.9 million
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since July 1964 (EIN: 22-6054882)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,046,985 | $36,052,188 | $52,358,042 |
| Revenue | $905,290 | $1,738,356 | $882,600 |
| Expenses | $4,948,051 | $20,903,348 | $8,149,129 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,216,133 | $20,195,253 | $7,375,951 |
| Net Investment Income | $299,565 | $1,162,950 | $367,693 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,446,836 | $1,548,158 | $2,253,419 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Seward Johnson Atelier Inc ($1,400,000), Harmony Institute ($1,260,000), Eyebeam Atelier ($505,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SEWARD JOHNSON ATELIER INC HAMILTON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,400,000 |
| HARMONY INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,260,000 |
| EYEBEAM ATELIER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $505,000 |
| AMIGOS DE COSTA RICA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $201,000 |
| GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE HAMILTON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $157,500 |
| SCREENWRITERS COLONY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $93,400 |
| REPRESENT US EDUCATION FUND FLORENCE, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $52,500 |
| ALMANACK ARTS COLONY NANTUCKET, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| THE SAKYONG POTRANG BOULDER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | PROJECT SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: J. Seward Johnson, Sr. (established 1963)
- Leadership since 1983: J. Seward Johnson, Jr. (sculptor and artist)
- Principal Officer: John S Johnson III
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN S JOHNSON III | CEO | 25 | $8,550 |
| MICHAEL GREENLEAF | TREASURER | 25 | $36,720 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Atlantic Foundation fund?
The Atlantic Foundation's stated vision is to support "just, equitable, and regenerative communities in harmony with each other and our world." The foundation makes grants to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. Primary funding areas include: • **Arts and Sculpture**: Support for sculpture parks open to the public, including public programming, tours, membership and admissions programs, sculpture-related events, children's programs, and artists' le…
How do I apply for a grant from The Atlantic Foundation?
**Application Process**: The Atlantic Foundation operates on an invitation-only, pre-selected basis. Unsolicited applications are not accepted. **Grant Characteristics**: • Grant range: $10,000 to $3,000,000+ • Typical annual giving: $3.7 million to $20.9 million (varies significantly year to year) • Recent grant activity: Made 13 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants** (2024): • The Seward Johnson Atelier: $1,400,000 (General Operating Support) • Grounds For Sculpture Inc.: Recipient of ongoing suppo…
Where does The Atlantic Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic priorities include: • New Jersey (primary focus) • New York • Massachusetts • Florida • Vermont • Costa Rica • National arts organizations
What size grants does The Atlantic Foundation award?
In 2024, The Atlantic Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $340K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Atlantic Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Atlantic Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Atlantic Foundation's EIN?
The Atlantic Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6054882. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Atlantic 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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