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.
Key facts about The Johnson Charitable Trust
- EIN
- 47-5408548
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,877,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $170,636
- Median grant
- $85,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $40,621,973
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Applications are by invitation only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Johnson Charitable Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Johnson Charitable Trust's 11 itemized 2024 grants were Kentucky (50%) and Oregon (48%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (5 grants) and Fairview, OR (4 grants). 82% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Johnson Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $85K; repeat grants $199K. How we count
Medians: $85K first-time, $85K repeat.
- 90% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). 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 Johnson Charitable Trust
- How to evaluate The Johnson Charitable Trust as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Johnson Charitable Trust with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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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
Grant Range
$28,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Johnson Charitable Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in:
- Oregon
- Kentucky
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 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 recipients include Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($942,000), Snowcap Community Charities ($420,000 across 2 grants), Rosemary Anderson Poic ($85,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND Covington, KY | GIVING ACCT #1175253 | $942,000 |
| SNOWCAP COMMUNITY CHARITIES Fairview, OR | THE GARDEN PROJECT | $250,000 |
| SNOWCAP COMMUNITY CHARITIES Fairview, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $170,000 |
| 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 |
| PORTLAND YOUTHBUILDERS Fairview, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $70,000 |
| READING RESULTS Portland, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $35,000 |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE Portland, OR | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $35,000 |
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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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?
Applications are by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Johnson Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.