Funders › Tennessee

George R Johnson Family Foundation

Cleveland, TN · EIN 62-6401641. Reported 339 grants totalling $8,297,223 to 134 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$15,000median grant
$8,297,223granted, 2021-2025
134recipients, as named on its returns
70%of grantees funded again the next year
$31.1Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. George R Johnson Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $15,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $2,000 and the largest $190,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$1,000 - $5,000
12 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
44 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
192 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
54 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
17 grants
$100,000 and Up
20 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Boys & Girls Clubs of Ocoee RegionCleveland, TN$890,000552025
YMCAChattanooga, TN$575,000852025
Lee UniversityCleveland, TN$400,000332025
Tri-State Exhibition CenterMcdonald, TN$280,500332025
Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens, TN$275,000552025
The Caring PlaceCleveland, TN$260,000552025
Camp Ocoee - YMCAOcoee, TN$200,000222022
University of Chattanooga FoundatioChattanooga, TN$200,000222025
Holston Home for ChildrenGreeneville, TN$150,000222025
On PointHixson, TN$150,000552025
Lift Youth Center IncRinggold, GA$135,000542024
Bethel Bible VillageHixson, TN$125,000552025
Museum Center at 5IVE PointsCleveland, TN$107,000322025
Creative Discovery MuseumChattanooga, TN$105,000552025
Chambliss Center for ChildrenChattanooga, TN$100,000332025
House of RefugeChattanooga, TN$100,000552025
Lookout Mountain ConservancyLookout Mountain, TN$100,000552025
Siskin Hospital for RehabilitationChattanooga, TN$100,000112022
CASA Corridor of East TennesseeAthens, TN$95,000552025
Family Resource Agency IncCleveland, TN$90,200442025
Bradleycleveland Public Edu FdtnCleveland, TN$90,000112022
The Hope Center IncAthens, TN$90,000332025
Boys & Girls Clubs - GordmurrwhitDalton, GA$82,500112021
City FieldsCleveland, TN$80,000442025
United Way of Greater ChattChattanooga, TN$80,000332025
United Way of the Ocoee RegionCleveland, TN$80,000442025
United Way of Rhea CountyDayton, TN$78,000552025
American Red CrossCleveland, TN$75,000332025
Boys & Girls Clubs of Tn ValleyKnoxville, TN$75,000332025
United Way of Mcminnmeigs CoAthens, TN$75,000552025
United Way of Monroe CountySweetwater, TN$75,000552025
United Way of Northwest GeorgiaDalton, GA$75,000552025
Volunteers in MedicineChattanooga, TN$75,000552025
Boys & Girls Clubs of Loudon CntyLenoir City, TN$65,000222022
Northside Neighborhood HouseChattanooga, TN$65,000552025
Mcminn County Education FoundationAthens, TN$60,800552025
Bradley Healthcare & Rehab CenterCleveland, TN$60,213222024
Girl Scouts - Southern AppalachiansKnoxville, TN$60,000552025
Girls IncChattanooga, TN$60,000442025
Habitat for Humanity of ClevelandCleveland, TN$60,000222025
Loudon County Habitat for HumanityLenoir City, TN$60,000222025
Partnership for FamilieschildrenChattanooga, TN$60,000222025
Scenic City Clay ArtsChattanooga, TN$60,000442025
Signal Centers IncChattanooga, TN$60,000332025
Trousdale SchoolCleveland, TN$60,000552025
United Way of Loudon CountyLenoir City, TN$60,000442024
Alzheimer's Association Ga ChapterDalton, GA$57,000552025
Tri-County CenterAthens, TN$55,000112025
Welcome Home of ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN$55,000442025
Chattanooga Community KitchenChattanooga, TN$53,000552025
A Step Ahead ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN$50,000552025
Austin Hatcher FoundationChattanooga, TN$50,000442025
Chattanooga State FoundationChattanooga, TN$50,000222022
Chattanooga ZooChattanooga, TN$50,000112021
Erlanger Children's HospitalChattanooga, TN$50,000112021
Life BridgesCleveland, TN$50,000112025
Loudon County Education FdtnLoudon, TN$50,000442024
Tellico Plains Library FoundationTellico Plains, TN$50,000112021
University of Tennessee FoundationKnoxville, TN$50,000222022
The Salvation ArmyCleveland, TN$42,000442025
CASA of Bradley PolkCleveland, TN$41,300442024
Big Brothers Big Sisters - ChattChattanooga, TN$40,000332025
Friends of the 6TH Cavalry MuseumFort Oglethorpe, GA$40,000222022
Metanoia Prison Ministries IncChattanooga, TN$40,000442025
CASA of Monroe CountyMadisonville, TN$38,400552025
ArtsbuildChattanooga, TN$37,500552025
Catoosa County Children's FundRinggold, GA$30,000552025
Chattanooga Sports MinistriesChattanooga, TN$30,000332023
Child Advocacy Center McminnAthens, TN$30,000112022
Habitat for Humanity of ChattChattanooga, TN$30,000112022
Habitat for Humanity of Gr DaltonDalton, GA$30,000112021
Habitat for Humanity of Greater ChaChattanooga, TN$30,000112024
Junior Achievement of OcoeeCleveland, TN$30,000332023
Ocoee OutreachCleveland, TN$30,000332025
Teach for AmericaChattanooga, TN$30,000332023
University of Chattanooga FdtnChattanooga, TN$30,000222022
Young Life East HillsSweetwater, TN$30,000222025
American Red Cross of TnChattanooga, TN$25,000112021
Athens Area Council for the ArtsAthens, TN$25,000112022
Chattanooga State Community CollChattanooga, TN$25,000112024
Cleveland State Comm College FdtnCleveland, TN$25,000112025
Houston Musuem of Decorative ArtsChattanooga, TN$25,000112025
SPCA of Bradley CountyCleveland, TN$25,000112022
The Pop-Up ProjectChattanooga, TN$25,000332025
Meigs Decatur Friends of the LibrarDecatur, TN$24,000222024
Tellico Plains Jam IncTellico Plains, TN$23,500552025
City of Fort OglethorpeFort Oglethorpe, GA$20,000112023
Coolidge Nat'l Medal of Honor CenteChattanooga, TN$20,000112024
Lapaz ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN$20,000112021
Saint Paul's Episcopal ChurchAthens, TN$20,000222023
Second Harvest Food BankMaryville, TN$20,000222022
Teach for America - NashvillechattChattanooga, TN$20,000222025
The 247 MovementCleveland, TN$20,000222025
The Bethlehem CenterChattanooga, TN$20,000222023
United Way of Greater ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN$20,000112021
Project Free 2 FlyCleveland, TN$17,150332025
Volunteer Behavioral Healthcare SysChattanooga, TN$16,000112023
Adult & Teen ChallengeChattanooga, TN$15,000112021
Family Promise of Greater ChattChattanooga, TN$15,000112021
Junior Achievement of Ocoee RegionCleveland, TN$15,000112025
Karis Community HealthCleveland, TN$15,000112024
Let's Read 20 - Mcminn CountyCleveland, TN$13,000332025
Monroe County Imagination LibraryMadisonville, TN$13,000222025
Rhea County Imagination LibraryDayton, TN$12,000442024
Southern Lit AllianceChattanooga, TN$11,860222022
Adult & Teen Challenge MidsouthChattanooga, TN$10,000112023
Broad Street United Methodist ChurcCleveland, TN$10,000112025
Chattanooga Area Food BankChattanooga, TN$10,000112025
Children's Advocacy Center HamiltonChattanooga, TN$10,000112022
Civil Air Patrol Tn 173Cleveland, TN$10,000112023
Hosanna CommunityHixson, TN$10,000112025
Launch ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN$10,000112024
Partnership for FamchildrenadultsChattanooga, TN$10,000112022
Se Tn State Veterans Home CouncilCleveland, TN$10,000112024
St Paul's Episcopal ChurchAthens, TN$10,000112025
Young Life Monroe CountySweetwater, TN$10,000112022
Mcminn Co Living Heritage MuseumAthens, TN$8,100112025
LaunchChattanooga, TN$8,000112022
First Things FirstChattanooga, TN$7,500112023
Medical Foundation of ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN$7,500112025
Mcminn County Living Heri MuseumAthens, TN$6,200112023
Beckett Arts ProjectOoltewah, TN$6,000112024
Family CornerstoneCleveland, TN$6,000112021
Quilts of Valar - Starr MountainWinterset, IA$6,000112022
Quilts of Valor - Starr MountainWinterset, IA$6,000112025
Community Fdtn of ClevbradleyCleveland, TN$5,000112021
Fellowship of Christian AthletesCleveland, TN$5,000112025
Friends of the TroopsOoltewah, TN$5,000112024
Love's Arm OutreachChattanooga, TN$5,000112023
Polk County Friends of the LibraryBenton, TN$5,000112022
Rise Up CooperativeChattanooga, TN$5,000112025
Stove WorksChattanooga, TN$5,000112025
Wtci PBSChattanooga, TN$5,000112025
Girls on the Run Southeast TnCleveland, TN$2,000112023

78 of 134 (58%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 70%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 145 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.

Human Services
31 grants
Arts & Culture
26 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
18 grants
Health Care
16 grants
Education
10 grants
Housing & Shelter
9 grants
Youth Development
7 grants
Community Improvement
5 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202163$1,620,400$15,000
202267$1,745,073$15,000
202366$1,373,900$13,500
202467$1,654,740$15,000
202576$1,903,110$15,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Where its money goes

94% of its giving went to organizations in Tennessee. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.

Tennessee
$7.8M
Georgia
$470K
Iowa
$12K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund33 shared recipientsThe Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc32 shared recipientsChattanooga Christian Community30 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc29 shared recipientsThe Blackbaud Giving Fund24 shared recipientsTucker Foundation23 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $15,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Tennessee.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Related guides

Foundations funding health care in TennesseeEvery funder in this group

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from George R Johnson Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.

Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 4558, Cleveland, TN, 37320. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 62-6401641 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.