WS Johnston Foundation
WS Johnston Foundation is a private foundation, based in Denver, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $201K.
WS Johnston Foundation at a glance
In short: WS Johnston Foundation gave $201K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $201,448
- +1578.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -44.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,290
- +2921.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Primary geography
- California (96% 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 WS Johnston Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was R Johnston Family Fund - Schwab Donor Advised Fund Giving 360 ($96K). Together the top 5 received $201K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 38 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How WS Johnston Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1392% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2021) to $201K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $201K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| R Johnston Family Fund - Schwab Donor Advised Fund Giving 360 San Francisco, CA | Charitable Givings | $96,474 |
| Johnston Rodgers Fund - Schwab Donor Advised Fund Giving 360 San Francisco, CA | Charitable Givings | $96,474 |
| Colorado Photographic Arts Center Denver, CO | ARTS | $3,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc Washington DC, DC | Healthcare | $3,000 |
| American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals New York, NY | Animal Care | $2,500 |
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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 | — | $1,796 | $210,327 | $201,448 | 5 | $205,448 | — | $6,042 |
| 2024 | $208,531 | $39,116 | $18,403 | $12,000 | 9 | $14,625 | $36,441 | $23,347 |
| 2023 | $187,818 | $33,693 | $20,686 | $15,000 | 9 | $17,767 | $31,046 | $18,891 |
| 2022 | $174,811 | $22,889 | $18,515 | $13,500 | 8 | $15,750 | $19,592 | $19,268 |
| 2021 | $170,437 | $40,275 | $19,028 | $12,000 | 7 | $15,500 | $36,747 | $19,506 |
| 2020 | $149,190 | $35,550 | $20,006 | $12,500 | 10 | — | $32,034 | $15,046 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, WS Johnston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
WS Johnston Foundation is led by John C. Rodgers Jr., President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John C. Rodgers Jr.
President
Board Member → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret E. Johnston
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Johnston
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Karnas
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy Rodgers
Vice President
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Barbara J. Rodgers (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Richard Johnston (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Kate Johnston (2020–2021) — Treasurer
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 WS Johnston Foundation
How much does WS Johnston Foundation give each year?
WS Johnston Foundation gave $201K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $12K across 9 grants.
What is WS Johnston Foundation's typical grant size?
WS Johnston Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $40,290, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does WS Johnston Foundation give grants?
WS Johnston Foundation gives mostly in California: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does WS Johnston Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on WS Johnston Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are WS Johnston Foundation's largest grantees?
WS Johnston Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include R Johnston Family Fund - Schwab Donor Advised Fund Giving 360 ($96,474), Johnston Rodgers Fund - Schwab Donor Advised Fund Giving 360 ($96,474) and Colorado Photographic Arts Center ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How much is WS Johnston Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, WS Johnston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is WS Johnston Foundation's EIN?
WS Johnston Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 21-6015101. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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