The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations in Texas and several other states, including organizations serving children, people with disabilities, and other communities.
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc gave $315K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $315,000
- -50.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,250
- -25.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $5,749,747
- +3.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5105 Tangle Lane, Houston, TX 77056
Phone: (713) 461-3867
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Martin's Episcopal Preschool ($75K). Together the top 10 received $305K.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 46 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. The reported shares for other recipient states were New York, 8%; Maryland, 5%; and Wyoming, 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc gives
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2023) to $635K (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $315K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Martin's Episcopal Preschool Houston, TX | General support | $75,000 |
| TIRR Foundation Houston, TX | Camp Xtreme | $50,000 |
| Outreach Center of West Houston Houston, TX | General support | $25,000 |
| The 100 Club Inc Houston, TX | General support | $25,000 |
| The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program | $25,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Life House Houston, TX | General support | $20,000 |
| The Childrens Fund Inc Houston, TX | General support | $20,000 |
| Air Warriors Courage Foundation Silver Springs, MD | General support | $15,000 |
| Buffalo Bill Center of the West Memorial Foundation Cody, WY | General support | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc?
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 | $5,749,747 | $570,681 | $396,523 | $315,000 | 12 | $319,252 | $535,635 | $311,965 |
| 2024 | $5,575,589 | $957,923 | $844,494 | $635,000 | 18 | $639,700 | $896,563 | $301,024 |
| 2023 | $5,462,160 | $398,812 | $87,504 | $20,000 | 1 | $21,700 | $438,518 | $325,734 |
| 2022 | $5,150,852 | $461,862 | $393,321 | $335,000 | 13 | $337,855 | $413,455 | $331,849 |
| 2021 | $5,085,395 | $637,069 | $75,337 | $35,000 | 2 | — | $492,443 | $264,705 |
| 2020 | $4,508,967 | $321,407 | $115,504 | $55,000 | 3 | — | $134,400 | $246,913 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $312K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support and designated support for programs such as Camp Xtreme and the Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program. Among its grantees, TIRR Foundation says it seeks to improve the lives of people with central nervous system damage from injury or disease. Life House describes its work as providing free vocational training, crisis counseling, and spiritual discipleship to the next generation in Uganda. The Children’s Fund Inc says it supports organizations providing medical and social care for needy and deserving children in the Greater Houston area.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $315,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $75,000, with a median of $22,500. The largest grants included $75,000 to St Martin’s Episcopal Preschool for general support; $50,000 to TIRR Foundation for Camp Xtreme; and $25,000 each to Outreach Center of West Houston, The 100 Club Inc, the University of Texas at Austin for the Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cheryl Duff as President and Director; Jill Lewis as Secretary and Director; Brad Duff as Treasurer and Director; and Darryl Cherry, Jerry Duff Ryan, and John T Woolridge as Directors.
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc is led by Cheryl Duff, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cheryl Duff
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Duff
Treasurer & Director
Vice President → Treasurer & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Lewis
Secretary & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John T Woolridge
Director
Trustee → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darryl Cherry
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Duff Ryan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Carroll Phillips (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: D S Osborne (2020–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc
How much does The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc give each year?
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc gave $315K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $635K across 18 grants.
What is The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $26,250, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc give grants?
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc gives mostly in Texas: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (7 grants).
Does The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 83% of The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include St Martin's Episcopal Preschool ($75,000), TIRR Foundation ($60,000 across 2 grants) and Outreach Center of West Houston ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc?
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $319K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $312K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support and designated support for programs such as Camp Xtreme and the Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6051797. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Mark and Mary Ann Miller Family Foundation
Houston, TX
The Houston-based foundation supports a range of charitable work, including arts and culture, youth programs, historic preservation, accessibility, and food access, primarily in Texas, with some grants in Montana and Maryland. In 2024, it made 15 grants totaling $140,000; awards ranged from $500 to $65,550, with a median of $2,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
15
Total Given
$140K
The Duncan Genesis Foundation
Houston, TX
The Houston-based Duncan Genesis Foundation supports education, arts and culture, conservation, and community services, with most of its giving going to Texas organizations, particularly in Houston. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charities.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
18
Total Given
$150K
The Ellwood Foundation
Houston, TX
The Ellwood Foundation mainly supports medical research and mental health, with recent grants also reaching disability services, education, and family needs, primarily in the Houston area. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $30,000. It accepts requests by letter explaining the nature of the request and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$44.2M
Grants
68
Total Given
$2.9M
The Brown Foundation Inc
Houston, TX
The Brown Foundation funds education, arts and culture, healthcare, human services, and civic assets, with education and the arts as top priorities and public education giving focused almost exclusively on greater Houston. Its 2025 grants ranged from $20,000 to $11 million, with a median of $50,000; it primarily supports Houston organizations and selectively funds distinctive opportunities elsewhere in Texas and beyond.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
222
Total Given
$84.3M
The Elkins Foundation
Houston, TX
The Elkins Foundation funds education, healthcare, cultural, community, and religious organizations and projects, especially those serving Houston and the Greater Gulf Coast. Its 2025 grants ranged from about $11,000 to $1.5 million, with a median of $100,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through an online application, due by June 30.
Assets
$206.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$17.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ralph-a-johnston-foundation-inc-morg_fbfe10fe09bd49458fb9a69c0d7aafa9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746051797_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ralph-a-johnston-foundation-inc-morg_fbfe10fe09bd49458fb9a69c0d7aafa9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Ralph A Johnston Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?