The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation
The Carl J and Margot A Johnson Foundation is a private non-operating foundation based in Lawrence, Kansas. Established in 1992, the foundation operates as a trust and maintains tax-exempt status as a charitable organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.2M
+15.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+113.0% YoY
Grant Count
1
-91.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.4M
+2455.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of philanthropic initiatives across multiple sectors, including:
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts and music
- Vocal music
- Education (higher education and university education)
- Health
- Community and economic development
- Religion and Christianity
- Sports and recreation
- School athletics
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
varies by year; 2023 median was approximately $55,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple regions in the United States and the United Kingdom, with documented giving in states including California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and others. Specific cities mentioned include Akron, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $40.2 million (2024); $34.9 million (2023); $12.6 million (2022)
- Annual Giving Rate: Approximately 3.5% of assets
- Recent Revenue: $23,049,578 (most recent filing)
- Reported Expenses: $784,689
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,237,662 | $34,899,743 | $12,556,972 |
| Revenue | $6,468,063 | $23,049,578 | $198,122 |
| Expenses | $1,455,903 | $784,689 | $1,438,858 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,397,000 | $747,268 | $1,295,561 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,924,161 | $262,157 | $65,655 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,351,799 | $1,575,597 | $1,224,734 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Purdue University ($1,397,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue University West Lafayette, IN | Furtherence of Wafer Fab Engineering Technology | $1,397,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Carl J Johnson — Trustee
- Jamie Brookhart — Trustee
- JD Brookhart — Executive Director (compensation: $60,000)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARL J JOHNSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JAMIE BROOKHART | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| JD BROOKHART | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 15 | $15,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of philanthropic initiatives across multiple sectors, including: • Arts and culture • Performing arts and music • Vocal music • Education (higher education and university education) • Health • Community and economic development • Religion and Christianity • Sports and recreation • School athletics
How do I apply for a grant from The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: $1.4 million in total giving (1 grant) • 2023: $656,000 in total giving (12 grants) • 2022: $1.3 million in total giving (16 grants) **Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size varies by year; 2023 median was approximately $55,000 • Grant range has historically been $39,000 to $1.4 million **Application Policy:** The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Where does The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple regions in the United States and the United Kingdom, with documented giving in states including California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and others. Specific cities mentioned include Akron, Chicago, and San Francisco.
What size grants does The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $1.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation's EIN?
The Carl J and Margot a Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1675809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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