The Franklin and Catherine Johnson
The Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation is a private family foundation based in East Palo Alto, California. Established in 2001, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities through charitable grants.
Key facts about The Franklin and Catherine Johnson
- EIN
- 77-0573195
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Is The Franklin and Catherine Johnson open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 3 of 24 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 88% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2022). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Franklin and Catherine Johnson
- How to evaluate The Franklin and Catherine Johnson as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Franklin and Catherine Johnson with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Revenue
—
Net Investment Income
—
Expenses
—
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities through grants to charitable organizations.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education (including K-12 schools and charter schools)
- Youth development
- Health and human services
- Arts and culture
- Entrepreneurship education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
Range:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $50,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Franklin and Catherine Johnson?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates in California, with a primary office location in East Palo Alto.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets (2024): $14,216
Total Giving (2024): $0
Tax-Exempt Status: Established November 2001
EIN: 77-0573195
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin P Johnson Jr | Chairman | 1 | — |
| Michael J Messemer | President | 1 | — |
| Tarah Smith Evans | CEO | 1 | — |
| Franklin Lee Johnson | Director | 1 | — |
| Leslie Johnson Evers | Director | 1 | — |
| Reid P Johnson | Director | 1 | — |
| Martin R Johnson | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2000 University Ave, Suite 601, East Palo Alto, CA 94303-2292
Telephone: 650-494-7400
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Franklin and Catherine Johnson fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities through grants to charitable organizations. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education (including K-12 schools and charter schools) • Youth development • Health and human services • Arts and culture • Entrepreneurship education
How do I apply for a grant from The Franklin and Catherine Johnson?
**Grant Size Range:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $50,000. **Recent Activity:** According to the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024), the foundation reported total assets of $14,216 and total giving of $0 for that fiscal year.
Where does The Franklin and Catherine Johnson make grants?
The foundation operates in California, with a primary office location in East Palo Alto.
What is The Franklin and Catherine Johnson's EIN?
The Franklin and Catherine Johnson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0573195. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.