The Johnson Foundation
The Johnson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chariton, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $919K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $61K. Net investment income was $60K.
The Johnson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Johnson Foundation gave $61K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $61,000
- +10.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,167
- +28.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,750
- Total assets
- $918,686
- -0.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (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 Johnson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chariton Chamber & Development Charitable Foundation ($49K). Together the top 6 received $61K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Johnson Foundation gives
- Giving grew 387% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2021) to $61K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $61K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chariton Chamber & Development Charitable Foundation Chariton, IA | General Fund | $48,500 |
| Iowa College Foundation Des Moines, IA | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Chariton Valley Reginal Housing Trust Fund Centerville, IA | General Fund | $3,000 |
| Chariton Boosters Chariton, IA | General Fund | $2,500 |
| UNI Foundation Cedar Falls, IA | General Fund | $1,500 |
| Iowa State University Foundation Ames, IA | General Fund | $500 |
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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 | $918,686 | $68,487 | $77,620 | $61,000 | 6 | $65,383 | $60,328 | $51,653 |
| 2024 | $927,304 | $186,963 | $66,346 | $55,259 | 7 | $57,901 | $178,518 | $47,247 |
| 2023 | $806,687 | $48,991 | $70,305 | $59,241 | 6 | $61,521 | $40,774 | $46,405 |
| 2022 | $828,409 | $112,264 | $22,403 | $12,525 | 3 | $13,495 | $104,813 | $47,463 |
| 2021 | $738,140 | $49,271 | $12,197 | $3,000 | 1 | — | $32,460 | $51,707 |
| 2020 | $701,954 | $84,382 | $52,345 | $43,000 | 2 | — | $74,382 | $44,086 |
| 2019 | $669,029 | $52,504 | $65,958 | $57,000 | 2 | — | $52,504 | $43,531 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Johnson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Johnson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Aaron Garton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Danielle Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Shawn Garton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Johnson Foundation
How much does The Johnson Foundation give each year?
The Johnson Foundation gave $61K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 7 grants.
What is The Johnson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Johnson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,750, and its average grant was $10,167, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Johnson Foundation give grants?
The Johnson Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chariton, IA (2 grants).
Does The Johnson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Johnson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Johnson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Johnson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chariton Chamber & Development Charitable Foundation ($48,500), Iowa College Foundation ($5,000) and Chariton Valley Reginal Housing Trust Fund ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Johnson Foundation?
The Johnson Foundation reported $919K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $65K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Johnson Foundation's EIN?
The Johnson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6062888. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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