The Johnson Charitable Trust
The Johnson Charitable Trust is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2015, the trust operates as a private foundation dedicated to supporting qualified nonprofit organizations that help individuals with demonstrated promise reach their highest potential.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.6M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-3.1% YoY
Grant Count
11
-45.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$171K
+76.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Johnson Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Johnson Charitable Trust's stated mission is to help those with demonstrated promise reach their highest potential through supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Nonprofit Human Services
- Reproductive Health
- After School Programs
Grantmaking
Applications are by invitation only. The trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$28,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in:
- Oregon
- Kentucky
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $40,621,973
- Total Annual Giving: $1,877,000–$1,937,500
- Total Revenue: $1,795,452
- Total Expenses: $2,111,631
- Total Liabilities: $1,430
- Giving Rate: 4.8% of assets
Investment Income:
- 2023: $928,476
- 2022: $1,147,506
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,621,973 | $39,997,220 | $38,639,752 |
| Revenue | $2,363,265 | $1,795,452 | $2,121,506 |
| Expenses | $2,016,029 | $2,111,631 | $2,281,043 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,918,498 | $2,016,767 | $2,158,310 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,284,587 | $1,716,087 | $2,047,773 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,966,017 | $1,934,772 | $2,010,970 |
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
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($942,000), Snowcap Community Charities ($250,000), Snowcap Community Charities ($170,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| READING RESULTS PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $35,000 |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $35,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $35,000 |
| PORTLAND YOUTHBUILDERS FAIRVIEW, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $70,000 |
| ROSEMARY ANDERSON POIC FAIRVIEW, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $85,000 |
| NEW AVENUES FOR YOUTH PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $85,000 |
| PORTLAND TENNIS AND EDUCATION PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $85,000 |
| PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $85,000 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND COVINGTON, KY | GIVING ACCT #1175253 | $942,000 |
| SNOWCAP COMMUNITY CHARITIES FAIRVIEW, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $170,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Ashley Campion (Board President)
- Matt Semler
- Anna Semler
Staff:
- Jeni Schlueter (Grants Director)
In Memoriam:
- Greg Chaille
- Traci Rose
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A CAMPION | PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
| MATT SEMLER | VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASUR | 1 | — |
| TRACI ROSE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In March 2024, the Johnson Charitable Trust awarded a $250,000 three-year grant to Portland Community College's student success programs. The award, presented as the JCT Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership, supports Future Connect and PDX Bridge—programs serving marginalized students including those with significant trauma, former foster youth, and those with educational barriers. Board President Ashley Campion noted that the college's student success programs were "any organization more deserving" of recognition, citing PCC's consistent excellence and the programs' ability to exceed expectations in serving underrepresented students.
Walter S. Johnson Foundation Deepens Investment in TMCC\u2019s Fostering\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Johnson Charitable Trust fund?
The Johnson Charitable Trust's stated mission is to help those with demonstrated promise reach their highest potential through supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Nonprofit Human Services • Reproductive Health • After School Programs
How do I apply for a grant from The Johnson Charitable Trust?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $10,000–$1,440,000 • Median grant size: $28,000 • Recent annual grant volume: 20–25 grants per year **Application Process:** Applications are by invitation only. The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Grants:** Notable recent grants include: • $250,000 three-year grant to Portland Community College's student success programs (Future Connect and PDX Bridge), awarded as the JCT Award for Excellence in Service and Leadership •…
Where does The Johnson Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in: • Oregon • Kentucky • Colorado
What size grants does The Johnson Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, The Johnson Charitable Trust awarded 11 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $171K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Johnson Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Johnson Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Johnson Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Johnson Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5408548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Johnson Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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