The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Tiburon, California. Established in 1999, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for educational, charitable, and related purposes. The foundation manages substantial assets and distributes grants to organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.2M
-7.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$817K
+11.9% YoY
Grant Count
25
+19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-6.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family reported a distributable amount of $916K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports diverse causes across multiple sectors. While it does not publicly specify particular subject areas of focus, its grantmaking activities span educational institutions and related activities, scholarships, and student financial aid services. Recent grants indicate support for environmental conservation, constitutional rights protection, religious and monastic restoration projects, and international development initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates consistent and growing grantmaking activity:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary funding regions including California, New York, and Virginia. It supports diverse causes across major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
- Total assets: $6.22 million (as of June 2025)
- Total liabilities: $0
- Annual revenue: $307,874 (fiscal year 2025)
- Annual expenses: $829,644 (fiscal year 2025)
Historical Growth
Total assets have grown from $4 million in 2011 to $6.7 million in 2023, representing steady growth in the foundation's endowment. Annual giving has increased from $596,000 in 2021 to $730,000 in 2024, with peak grantmaking activity in 2023 when $871,000 was distributed across 31 grants.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,221,207 | $6,745,937 | $6,135,195 |
| Revenue | $307,874 | $1,472,211 | $-90,712 |
| Expenses | $829,644 | $864,429 | $1,030,231 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $821,075 | $733,762 | $876,040 |
| Net Investment Income | $303,524 | $1,360,504 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $915,558 | $821,907 | $762,247 |
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
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include The Impact Forum Foundation ($122,236), Institute for Justice ($60,000), Stand With Us ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE ARLINGTON, VA | PROTECT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CLIENTS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA | $60,000 |
| ABBEY OF NEW CLAIRVAUX VINA, CA | RESTORATION PROJECT BY TRAPPIST MONKS -RESURRECTING A CLIENT MONASTIC BUILDING. | $46,903 |
| SACRED HEART CHURCH RED BLUFF, CA | PROVIDING EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC NEW YORK, NY | MAKING DIRECT DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO SELECTED AND APPROVED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN ISRAEL | $40,000 |
| WASATCH FREESTYLE FOUNDATION PARK CITY, UT | TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE & LIFE GUIDING SPORTS TRAINING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH | $40,000 |
| STATE THEATER FOR THE ARTS RED BLUFF, CA | RESTORATION PROJECT OF A THEATER ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. | $40,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CONFLICT, EPIDEMICS, DISASTERS, OR EXCLUSION FROM HEALTH CARE | $25,000 |
| MARINE MAMMAL CENTER SAUSALITO, CA | ADVANCES GLOBAL OCEAN CONSERVATION THROUGH MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE AND REHABILITATION, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION | $30,000 |
| NORTH STATE SYMPHONY CSU CHICO, CA | DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE ENGAGING AND SHAPING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | $30,000 |
| TEHAMA TOGETHER RED BLUFF, CA | PROVIDES TEHAMA COUNTY BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH FOOD GIFT VOUCHERS AND FOOD SHARE PROGRAMS | $5,333 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by three officers and trustees, all serving without compensation:
- Philip B. Johnson – President
- Mark C. Johnson – Vice President
- Elizabeth A. Wray – Treasurer
Bernard J Johnson is listed as the principal officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLLEEN HENRICKSON | Director | — | — |
| LIMOR JOHNSON | Director | — | — |
| MARK C JOHNSON | Vice President | — | — |
| PHILIP B JOHNSON | President | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with 21 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period. It remains open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding. The foundation's consistent annual giving and growing asset base indicate sustained philanthropic commitment to its supported causes.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family fund?
The foundation supports diverse causes across multiple sectors. While it does not publicly specify particular subject areas of focus, its grantmaking activities span educational institutions and related activities, scholarships, and student financial aid services. Recent grants indicate support for environmental conservation, constitutional rights protection, religious and monastic restoration projects, and international development initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The foundation demonstrates consistent and growing grantmaking activity: • Annual grants awarded: approximately $730,000 (2024) • Total assets support ongoing distributions • Recent fiscal year (ending June 2025): $829,644 in expenses across multiple grants • Historical grantmaking: 112 grants totaling $2.9 million since records began • Individual grants have ranged from $2,000 to $160,000, with a median grant of $21,000 and average award of $26,000 **Recent Grants …
Where does The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary funding regions including California, New York, and Virginia. It supports diverse causes across major U.S. cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
What size grants does The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family award?
In 2025, The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family awarded 25 grants totaling $817K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family reported a distributable amount of $916K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family's EIN?
The Bernard J & Mary T Johnson Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4712836. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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