The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including lupus research, arts and culture, mental health, education, and land and wildlife conservation.
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc gave $4.2M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $259K), top state New Jersey. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,150,000
- +2.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $259,375
- +54.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $47,491,914
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (7 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be directed to Christopher W Johnson; there is no specific format for materials. Awards are restricted to organizations listed under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
- Review Cycle
- No specific deadline.
- Deadline
- No specific deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher W Johnson
Mailing address: 610 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 332-7500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lupus Research Alliance Inc ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $4.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 18 grants of 58 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 40% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey and 40% to recipients in New York. Other reported recipient-state shares were Massachusetts (7%), California (6%), and Florida (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 16 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $267K; repeat grants $253K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 28% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2020) to $4.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lupus Research Alliance Inc New York, NY | General Support | $1,160,000 |
| Grounds for Sculpture Hamilton, NJ | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| Central Park Conservancy New York, NY | General Support | $500,000 |
| Deerfield Academy Deerfield, MA | General Support | $300,000 |
| Princeton Symphony Orchestra Princeton, NJ | General Support | $300,000 |
| 10000 Brains Neuro Ai Inc Oakland, CA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Center at 353 Princeton, NJ | General Support | $250,000 |
| Broward Performing Arts Foundation Inc Fort Lauderdale, FL | General Support | $100,000 |
| The Montana Land Reliance Helena, MT | General Support | $100,000 |
| Othronations Franklin Lakes, NJ | General Support | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,491,914 | $5,596,175 | $4,372,407 | $4,150,000 | 16 | $4,171,161 | $5,449,929 | $4,492,266 |
| 2023 | $46,268,146 | $3,804,889 | $4,175,233 | $4,038,818 | 24 | $4,043,733 | $3,713,027 | $4,040,914 |
| 2022 | $46,638,490 | $3,521,202 | $4,282,307 | $4,100,000 | 9 | $4,113,681 | $3,420,504 | $4,056,298 |
| 2021 | $47,399,595 | $3,238,852 | $3,416,325 | $3,248,904 | 5 | $3,258,984 | $3,141,511 | $4,103,288 |
| 2020 | $47,577,068 | $3,441,125 | $2,953,660 | $2,500,000 | 4 | — | $3,366,701 | $3,350,671 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — 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 foundation mission is stated. The 2024 grants show support for varied organizations. For example, the Lupus Research Alliance describes its mission as advancing lupus diagnostics and curative treatments through research and collaboration; Center at 353 says it provides mental health services and education; and Grounds For Sculpture describes its work as combining art and welcoming spaces for visitors. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $4,150,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $1,160,000, with a median grant of $100,000. The largest grants included $1,160,000 to the Lupus Research Alliance, $1,000,000 to Grounds for Sculpture, and $500,000 to the Central Park Conservancy. Other notable grants included $300,000 each to Deerfield Academy and Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and $250,000 each to 10,000 Brains Neuro AI and Center at 353. The listed grants were for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher W Johnson as chairman/president, Ira Akselrad as vice president, and Lauren Howard as secretary.
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc is led by Christopher W. Johnson, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher W. Johnson
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ira Akselrad
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Howard
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kenneth J Drummond (2020) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc
How much does The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc give each year?
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc gave $4.2M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.0M across 24 grants.
What is The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $259,375, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc that year got $267K on average.
Where does The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc give grants?
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's top state is New Jersey, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (40%) and Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants), Princeton, NJ (2 grants) and West Palm Beach, FL (2 grants).
Does The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Lupus Research Alliance Inc ($1,160,000), Grounds for Sculpture ($1,000,000) and Central Park Conservancy ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc?
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc reported $47.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission is stated. The 2024 grants show support for varied organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2993310. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-willard-tc-johnson-foundation-inc-morg_b6522bc645bc40f3be1e4f0240cf8021
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132993310_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Willard TC Johnson Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-willard-tc-johnson-foundation-inc-morg_b6522bc645bc40f3be1e4f0240cf8021},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Willard TC Johnson 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.
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