The A D Johnson Foundation concentrates its giving on a small set of health- and youth-focused nonprofits, with especially large, repeat gifts to hospice/terminal illness care and higher education. A substantial share of its funding goes to organizations serving children and families (including child welfare and family support) and to a university general fund, suggesting interest in both direct-service nonprofits and institutional education support. Grants are relatively few but meaningful in size, often renewed to the same organizations.
A D Johnson Foundation gives in a tight circle of repeated grants, with its largest recent award going to The Hap Foundation for medical support tied to terminal illness care. That pattern shows up across years: the foundation returns to the same organizations rather than making one-time gifts only, and it often uses general fund or program support structures. Its portfolio touches hospice and terminal-illness services, higher education, children’s programs, child welfare, arts, and local civic projects. Two higher-education awards to University of Colorado Foundation, each at $20,000 in 2024 and 2025, point to sustained support beyond purely local giving. On the community side, A D Johnson Foundation has also backed Rise Up Foundation in McHenry, Illinois, as well as local organizations serving children, families, and students with special needs. The grant list includes support for scholarship funds, child-focused service groups, performing arts organizations, and medical nonprofits, indicating a mix of direct-service and institutional giving. The foundation’s grants are few in number but often recur at meaningful sizes, with several organizations receiving support in multiple years.
Palliative and terminal-illness care is a clear thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. The Hap Foundation received $35,000 in 2023, followed by additional awards of $15,000 in 2024 and 2025 for medical support tied to terminally ill patients. Children and family services appear through Kempe Foundation, which got $15,000 in 2024 for human services focused on children, and Rise Up Foundation, which received $15,000 in 2024 and $12,500 in 2025 for community project funding for children and families. Education support also shows up in multiple forms. University of Colorado Foundation received $20,000 in 2024 and 2025 for education general fund support, while Lakemoor Scholarship Fund received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for education general fund support. The foundation also funded Alexander Leigh Center for Autism for special needs education.
Typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $12,500 at the 75th percentile. That lines up with a pattern of modest but repeated awards rather than one large outlier-only approach. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including The Hap Foundation, University of Colorado Foundation, Rise Up Foundation, Joyful Noise Christian Pre-school, Mchenry Riverwalk Foundation, Performing Arts at Metropolis, and Lakemoor Scholarship Fund. The foundation is a private foundation with local giving focused heavily on Illinois. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$100K
$750K
$90K
$130K
Most grants fall between $5K and $13K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$13K
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Concentrated giving with repeat, mid‑to‑large single-year grants to a few core grantees rather than many small, one‑off gifts; funding mixes direct-service health and child welfare nonprofits with institutional support to a university.
Notable grantees: THE HAP FOUNDATION, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION, KEMPE FOUNDATION, RISE UP FOUNDATION
Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 84% of grants. Recipients cluster in nearby communities such as Glenview, McHenry, Evanston, Arlington Heights, Highland Park, Woodstock, and Lakemoor. Outside Illinois, the foundation also gave to organizations in Denver, Aurora, Atlanta, Kennesaw, and Denison. Every grant in the dataset went to a U.S. recipient.
Its grants go to hospice and terminal-illness care, higher education, children and family services, special needs education, arts, and local civic projects. Named recipients include The Hap Foundation, University of Colorado Foundation, Kempe Foundation, Rise Up Foundation, and several Illinois community organizations.
Yes. The grant list shows multiple-year support for several organizations, including The Hap Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; University of Colorado Foundation in 2024 and 2025; Rise Up Foundation in 2024 and 2025; and Lakemoor Scholarship Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is centered on smaller awards: p25 is $5,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $12,500. The foundation also made larger grants, including $20,000 awards and a $35,000 award.
Illinois is the main giving state, with 84% of grants going to recipients in IL. The recipient list includes Glenview, McHenry, Evanston, Arlington Heights, Highland Park, Woodstock, and Lakemoor.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| THE HAP FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL-TERMINALLY ILL |
| RISE UP FOUNDATION | MCHENRY, IL | $12,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING-CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
| JOYFUL NOISE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL | MCHENRY, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION-ADVANCEMENT |
| MCHENRY RIVERWALK FOUNDATION | MCHENRY, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | CIVIC DEVELOPMENT-GENERAL FUND |
| THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | ATLANTA, GA | $5,000 | 2025 | CANCER ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT SUPPORT-GENERAL FUND |
| THE DONNA REED FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | DENISON, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| MACYN'S JARS | WOODSTOCK, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDING TOYS TO HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN-GENERAL FUND |
| PERFORMING ARTS AT METROPOLIS | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND |
| LAKEMOOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND | LAKEMOOR, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| ALEXANDER LEIGH CENTER FOR AUTISM | MCHENRY, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| RISE UP FOUNDATION | MCHENRY, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING-CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
| THE HAP FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL-TERMINALLY ILL |
| KEMPE FOUNDATION | AURORA, CO | $15,000 | 2024 | HUMAN SERVICES-CHILDREN |
| JOYFUL NOISE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL | MCHENRY, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| MCHENRY RIVERWALK FOUNDATION | MCHENRY, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC DEVELOPMENT-GENERAL FUND |
| LAKEMOOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND | LAKEMOOR, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| PERFORMING ARTS AT METROPOLIS | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND |
| ALEXANDER LEIGH CENTER FOR AUTISM | MCHENRY, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| THE HAP FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $35,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL-TERMINALLY ILL |
| NORTH SHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL - REHABILITATION UNIT |
| JOYFUL NOISE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL | MCHENRY, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| MCHENRY RIVERWALK FOUNDATION | MCHENRY, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | CIVIC DEVELOPMENT-GENERAL FUND |
| RISE UP FOUNDATION | MCHENRY, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING-CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
| LAKEMOOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND | LAKEMOOR, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL INC | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL ARTS-ANNUAL FUND |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | KENNESAW, GA | $5,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES-GENERAL FUND |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE | MCHENRY, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND |
| PERFORMING ARTS AT METROPOLIS | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND |
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION
$20,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
THE HAP FOUNDATION
$15,000MEDICAL-TERMINALLY ILL
RISE UP FOUNDATION
$12,500COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING-CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
JOYFUL NOISE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION
$10,000EDUCATION-ADVANCEMENT
MCHENRY RIVERWALK FOUNDATION
$7,500CIVIC DEVELOPMENT-GENERAL FUND
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$5,000CANCER ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT SUPPORT-GENERAL FUND
THE DONNA REED FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$5,000PERFORMING ARTS AND EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
MACYN'S JARS
$5,000PROVIDING TOYS TO HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN-GENERAL FUND
PERFORMING ARTS AT METROPOLIS
$5,000CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND
LAKEMOOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$2,500EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
ALEXANDER LEIGH CENTER FOR AUTISM
$2,500SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION
$20,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
RISE UP FOUNDATION
$15,000COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING-CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
THE HAP FOUNDATION
$15,000MEDICAL-TERMINALLY ILL
KEMPE FOUNDATION
$15,000HUMAN SERVICES-CHILDREN
JOYFUL NOISE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
MCHENRY RIVERWALK FOUNDATION
$10,000CIVIC DEVELOPMENT-GENERAL FUND
LAKEMOOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$5,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
PERFORMING ARTS AT METROPOLIS
$5,000CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND
ALEXANDER LEIGH CENTER FOR AUTISM
$5,000SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
THE HAP FOUNDATION
$35,000MEDICAL-TERMINALLY ILL
NORTH SHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION
$10,000MEDICAL - REHABILITATION UNIT
JOYFUL NOISE CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
MCHENRY RIVERWALK FOUNDATION
$10,000CIVIC DEVELOPMENT-GENERAL FUND
RISE UP FOUNDATION
$10,000COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING-CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
LAKEMOOR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$5,000EDUCATION-GENERAL FUND
RAVINIA FESTIVAL INC
$5,000CULTURAL ARTS-ANNUAL FUND
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$5,000MEDICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES-GENERAL FUND
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE
$5,000CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND
PERFORMING ARTS AT METROPOLIS
$5,000CULTURAL ARTS-GENERAL FUND