The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson
The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2006 and based in Birmingham, Alabama. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$867K
+36.5% YoY
Grant Count
29
+38.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson reported a distributable amount of $694K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Wildlife and animal welfare
- Higher education
Grantmaking
The foundation made 28 grants in 2024, with total giving of $867,014. Typical grant awards range from $1,500 to $118,115.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama, with some grantmaking activity in the District of Columbia and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,316,768
- Total Revenues: $1,970,979
- Total Expenses: $936,586
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $453,035
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,316,768 | $11,282,375 | $11,029,097 |
| Revenue | $1,970,979 | $938,627 | $1,427,367 |
| Expenses | $936,586 | $685,349 | $804,163 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $871,362 | $645,351 | $755,506 |
| Net Investment Income | $534,201 | $900,308 | $254,110 |
| Distributable Amount | $693,682 | $635,627 | $633,035 |
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
127 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Art Fund Inc ($117,358), Alabama Aerospace and Aviation Highschool ($100,000), Empower Community School ($83,333).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION (SAIL PROGRAM) BIRMINGHAM, AL | SAIL PROGRAM | $50,015 |
| BIRMINGHAM ZOO BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| JEFFERSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $75,683 |
| PRESCHOOL PARTNERS BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| ROOTED MINISTRY HOMEWOOD, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,500 |
| SPARTAN ATHELETIC FOUNDATION BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $4,000 |
| TOCQUEVILLE SOCIETY - UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| WIMBERLY HOUSE MINISTRIES INC WAYNESBORO, GA | GENERAL OPERATING | $12,000 |
| WOLFORD COLLEGE SPARTANBURG, SC | GA SCHOLARSHIP | $65,625 |
| ALABAMA AEROSPACE AND AVIATION HIGHSCHOOL BIRMINGHAM, AL | GENERAL OPERATING | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUMNER JOHNSON RIVES | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MILTON R JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATE FISHER JOHNSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JOHN CHRISTIAN RIVES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES MILTON JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SALLIE R JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 530965, Birmingham, AL 35253-0965
Telephone: 205-222-8858
EIN: 20-5592026
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Wildlife and animal welfare • Higher education
How do I apply for a grant from The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 28 grants in 2024, with total giving of $867,014. Typical grant awards range from $1,500 to $118,115. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Empower Community School Parent Teacher Organization: $83,333 (General Operating) • The Modern Classrooms Project: $75,000 (General Operating) • Birmingham Zoo: $50,000 (General Operating) • Foundations Early Learning and Family Center: $30,000 (General Operating) The foundation supports organizations across multiple sectors, w…
Where does The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Alabama, with some grantmaking activity in the District of Columbia and South Carolina.
What size grants does The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson award?
In 2024, The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson awarded 29 grants totaling $867K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson reported a distributable amount of $694K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson's EIN?
The James Milton and Sallie R Johnson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5592026. 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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