The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation is a private foundation, based in Pasadena, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $418K. Net investment income was $855K.
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation gave $418K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $52K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $417,500
- +38.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -38.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,188
- +124.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $6,512,930
- +6.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Pasadena Symphony Orchestra ($130K). Together the top 8 received $418K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 59 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $302K (2024) to $441K (2022). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $418K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pasadena Symphony Orchestra Pasadena, CA | Provide Orchestral Performances & Benefit the Community | $130,000 |
| Descanso Gardens La Canada Flintridge, CA | To fund the inspiration, education and experience of the gardens and the natural world | $107,500 |
| Los Angeles Philharmonic Association Los Angeles, CA | Provide Musical Performances to the Community | $75,000 |
| USC Karl Swaidan Endowed Scholarship Los Angeles, CA | To Support Student-Athlete Scholarships, Programming and Operations | $30,000 |
| USC School of Dramatic Art Los Angeles, CA | Foster the talents of artist-scholars who are willing to imagine the future of the entertainment industry and bring it to life | $30,000 |
| Cancer Support Community Greater SGV Sierra Madre, CA | Support Program | $15,000 |
| Loren L Zachary SCTY for the Pref Arts Beverly Hills, CA | To futhur the training of individuals in the art of operatic singing | $15,000 |
| Parson's Nose Productions South Pasasdena, CA | Introduce the Classics to Audiences of All Ages | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,512,930 | $982,622 | $603,544 | $417,500 | 8 | $464,611 | $855,405 | $486,146 |
| 2024 | $6,133,852 | $558,358 | $464,645 | $302,370 | 13 | $345,657 | $442,298 | $461,845 |
| 2023 | $6,040,139 | $504,430 | $592,502 | $406,000 | 13 | $458,782 | $370,810 | $423,128 |
| 2022 | $6,128,211 | $351,799 | $634,962 | $440,500 | 12 | $493,879 | $219,881 | $436,156 |
| 2021 | $6,411,374 | $692,087 | $543,305 | $357,000 | 13 | $405,609 | $561,775 | $462,076 |
| 2020 | $6,262,592 | $518,861 | $487,175 | $325,500 | 13 | — | $402,632 | $398,036 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $486K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation is led by Karl Swaidan, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karl Swaidan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$65K (2020) → $75K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $75K, to Karl Swaidan (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation
How much does The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation give each year?
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation gave $418K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $302K across 13 grants.
What is The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $52,188, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation give grants?
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants).
Does The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Pasadena Symphony Orchestra ($130,000), Descanso Gardens ($107,500) and Los Angeles Philharmonic Association ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation?
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation reported $6.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $465K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $486K (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 is The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's EIN?
The Dorothy L Johnston Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6390335. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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