Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation is a private foundation based in Franklin, Tennessee. Its 2024 filing lists grants to organizations working in areas including Bible engagement, faith-based ministry, dental care, congenital heart disease research, and assistance to people in need.
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation at a glance
In short: Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation gave $6.5M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $362K), mostly in Oklahoma. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,507,770
- +3.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $361,543
- -30.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $15,946,553
- +3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (6 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (77% 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 Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1301 Moran Road, Franklin, TN 37069
Phone: (916) 712-1002
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Museum of the Bible ($5.0M). Together the top 10 received $6.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 68 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Franklin, Tennessee. In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oklahoma, 11% to Tennessee, 8% to Minnesota, 2% to Virginia, and 2% to North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 18 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $528K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 177% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $6.3M (2023) to $8.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $6.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Museum of the Bible Oklahoma City, OK | To engage people with the transformative power of the bible | $4,985,535 |
| Engage Your Destiny St Louis Park, MN | Ministry to active military,veterans and their families to find hope, healing and purpose through faith. | $500,000 |
| Hope Smiles Brentwood, TN | Restoration Dentistry for Needy Children | $250,000 |
| The Brett Boyer Foundation Nashville, TN | Congenital Heart Disease Research | $200,000 |
| The Salvation Army Nashville, TN | Provide comfort, hope and assistance to families and individuals | $100,000 |
| Rolling Hills Community Church Franklin, TN | Spiritual Christian Ministry | $100,000 |
| The NRA Foundation Fairfax, VA | To Support the Mission of Teaching Freedom | $100,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Help Support Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts | $100,000 |
| Vietnam Veterans Assoc of Middle TN Franklin, TN | To Help Veterans | $50,000 |
| Seed Company Arlington, TX | Field partners to accelerate bible translation in other countries. | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation?
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 | $15,946,553 | $3,040,457 | $6,509,770 | $6,507,770 | 18 | $6,507,770 | $3,038,457 | $3,677,311 |
| 2023 | $15,415,603 | $2,029,123 | $6,268,405 | $6,267,080 | 12 | $6,267,080 | $2,027,798 | $3,157,093 |
| 2022 | $15,782,831 | $2,471,345 | $7,477,920 | $7,476,611 | 13 | $7,476,611 | $2,470,036 | $2,557,711 |
| 2021 | $17,058,167 | $2,077,347 | $8,535,980 | $8,534,280 | 12 | $8,534,280 | $2,075,647 | $3,295,145 |
| 2020 | $19,970,519 | $2,025,291 | $7,630,202 | $7,630,202 | 13 | — | $2,025,291 | $2,420,431 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied charitable purposes. For example, the Museum of the Bible describes its purpose as inviting people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. Hope Smiles says it equips dental teams to serve unreached communities, and the Brett Boyer Foundation says it raises awareness of congenital heart disease and funds research to advance treatment options.
Other 2024 grants included support for ministry to active military members, veterans and their families; hurricane relief; veterans; and assistance to families and individuals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $6,507,770. Grant amounts ranged from $15 to $4,985,535, with a median of $50,000.
The largest 2024 grant was $4,985,535 to the Museum of the Bible, for engaging people with the transformative power of the Bible. Other notable grants were $500,000 to Engage Your Destiny for ministry to active military members, veterans and their families; $250,000 to Hope Smiles for restoration dentistry for needy children; and $200,000 to the Brett Boyer Foundation for congenital heart disease research. The foundation also gave $100,000 each to the Salvation Army, Rolling Hills Community Church, the NRA Foundation, and Samaritan’s Purse.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Willis Johnson as president, Reba Johnson as director, and Jacob McCalmon as director.
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation is led by Willis Johnson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Willis Johnson
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacob McCalmon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reba Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation
How much does Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation give each year?
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation gave $6.5M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.3M across 12 grants.
What is Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's typical grant size?
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $361,543, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation give grants?
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation gives mostly in Oklahoma: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (11%) and Minnesota (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (4 grants), Franklin, TN (4 grants) and Brentwood, TN (2 grants).
Does Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's largest grantees?
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Museum of the Bible ($4,985,535), Engage Your Destiny ($500,000) and Hope Smiles ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation?
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation reported $15.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied charitable purposes. For example, the Museum of the Bible describes its purpose as inviting people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's EIN?
Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1306623. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/willis-and-reba-johnson-s-foundation-morg_79f9b720b8a242a5865d8997bd9cc98c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461306623_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/willis-and-reba-johnson-s-foundation-morg_79f9b720b8a242a5865d8997bd9cc98c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Willis and Reba Johnson's Foundation'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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