The John & Linda Anderson Charitable Foundation concentrates its support almost exclusively on a single cultural institution: Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL. Grants are focused on sustaining and enhancing this public garden’s operations, programming, and physical landscape, indicating a local, place-based philanthropic commitment to cultural and horticultural preservation.
John & Linda Anderson Charitable Foundation’s clearest pattern is a long-running commitment to Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, with multiple grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 supporting the same cultural institution. That concentration points to a funder that prioritizes sustaining a place-based asset rather than spreading support across many unrelated programs. The gardens appear in the recent grants list several times, including a $173,250 grant in 2024 and additional awards in 2025, alongside other support for operations and landscape-related needs. Outside that core relationship, the foundation also funds a small set of organizations working in veterans services, social welfare, education, youth services, religion, and philanthropy intermediaries. Recent grantees include the Salvation Army in Rockford, Dixon Center for Military & Veteran Serv Fedcap-female Support in New York, and Turning Point USA in Phoenix. The overall picture is of a grantmaker that gives recurring support to a central local cultural institution while also making targeted grants to a limited number of national and regional organizations.
A defining topic area is cultural preservation. The foundation gave $173,250 in 2024 to Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, and that same institution also received $129,000 in 2023 and $72,000 in 2025. That pattern shows sustained support for a single public garden and its operations, programming, and landscape needs. In social welfare, the foundation gave $58,000 in 2025 to Salvation Army Winnebago County in Rockford and $54,384 in 2024 to Salvation Army in Rockford. Veteran services are another recurring area: Dixon Center for Military & Veteran Serv Fedcap-female Support received $60,000 in 2023 and $45,000 in 2024, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation received $25,000 in 2024 and $22,500 in 2023. The foundation also funded education and youth-related work, including Rockford Christian Schools, Aurora University, and Young America’s Foundation.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $6,000. That distribution sits well below the largest awards in the recent-grants list, which indicates a mix of many small gifts and a smaller number of larger, recurring commitments. The same recipients appear across multiple years, especially Anderson Japanese Gardens, Salvation Army, Dixon Center for Military & Veteran Serv Fedcap-female Support, True the Vote Inc, and Young America’s Foundation. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its giving is national in scope, with a notable concentration of grants in Illinois recipients.
$683K
$8.5M
$1.2M
$820K
Most grants fall between $1K and $6K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Highly concentrated giving: few grants directed repeatedly to a single, local grantee (large cumulative funding to one cultural institution rather than broad diversification).
Notable grantees: Anderson Japanese Gardens
Most grants land in the United States, and Illinois recipients account for 37% of grants. Rockford appears repeatedly, reflecting the foundation’s strongest local ties through Anderson Japanese Gardens, Salvation Army, and Rockford Christian Schools. Other recipient cities show a broader national footprint, including New York, Phoenix, Houston, Staten Island, Naples, Scottsdale, and Reston. Florida is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Rockford, Illinois.
The recent grants show a concentrated interest in Anderson Japanese Gardens, plus targeted support for social welfare, veterans services, education, youth services, religion, and philanthropy intermediaries. The largest recurring pattern is support for the gardens in Rockford across 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,500 at the median, and $6,000 at the 75th percentile. That means many grants are relatively small, even though the recent list also includes several much larger recurring awards.
Yes. Anderson Japanese Gardens received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Other repeat recipients include Dixon Center for Military & Veteran Serv Fedcap-female Support, Salvation Army, True the Vote Inc, and Young America’s Foundation.
Illinois recipients account for 37% of grants, and Rockford appears repeatedly in the recent grants list. Even so, the top state by grant count is Florida, showing a broader national pattern beyond the foundation’s Illinois headquarters.
Yes. The foundation gave $60,000 in 2023 and $45,000 in 2024 to Dixon Center for Military & Veteran Serv Fedcap-female Support, and it also gave $25,000 in 2024 and $22,500 in 2023 to Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS | ROCKFORD, IL | $72,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS | ROCKFORD, IL | $60,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| SALVATION ARMY WINNEBAGO COUNTY | ROCKFORD, IL | $58,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| TURNING POINT USA | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| COVENANT HARBOR | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| TURNING POINT USA | PHOENIX, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| TRUE THE VOTE INC | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| TRUE THE VOTE INC | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS | ROCKFORD, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $14,000 | 2025 | YOUTH SERVICES |
| PILCHUCK GLASS SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $12,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | VETERAN AFFAIRS |
| WOODSON CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| TRUE THE VOTE INC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION-JAPAN HOUSE | URBANA, IL | $8,333 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES COLLIER COUNTY | NAPLES, FL | $8,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| NCH CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY | NAPLES, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| SALVATION ARMY WINNEBAGO COUNTY | ROCKFORD, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES NORTHERN ILLINOIS | CHERRY VALLEY, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| INDEPENDENT COUNCIL ON WOMEN'S SPORTS | HENDERSON, NV | $6,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| THE VILLAGE SCHOOL OF NAPLES | NAPLES, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NAPLES ZOO | NAPLES, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| LAKE GENEVA YOUTH CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | YOUTH SERVICES |
| FAITH COMES BY HEARING | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION PORTER FELLOWSHIP FUND | URBANA, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| FRIENDS OF KISHWAUKETOE | WILLIAMS BAY, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | YOUTH SERVICES |
| ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| TURNING POINT USA | PHOENIX, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| SPIRITUAL OVERSEERS SERVICE INTERNATIONAL | LA QUINTA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| ROSECRANCE FOUNDATION | ROCKFORD, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SERVICES |
| THE BOX CAR FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES NORTHERN ILLINOIS | CHERRY VALLEY, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| LAKE GENEVA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL |
| ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION | ROCKFORD, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| OPERATION HEALING FORCES | TAMPA, FL | $4,260 | 2025 | VETERAN AFFAIRS |
| TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH CONSERVATION INITIATIVE NFP | DES PLAINES, IL | $4,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| OCEANIC SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS | ROSS, CA | $4,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| DEERFOOT LODGE | SPECULATOR, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| DIXON CENTER FOR MILITARY & VETERAN SERV FEDCAP-FEMALE SUPPORT | NEW YORK, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | VETERAN AFFAIRS |
| TIMBER-LEE MINISTRIES | EAST TROY, WI | $4,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $4,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION-COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | ROCKFORD, IL | $4,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| STATELINE YOUTH FOR CHRIST | ROCKFORD, IL | $4,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| ETERNAL WORD MINISTRIES | MUNSTER, IN | $4,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| OPEN ARMS FREE CLINIC | ELKHORN, WI | $4,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SERVICES |
ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS
$72,000CULTURAL
ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS
$60,000CULTURAL
SALVATION ARMY WINNEBAGO COUNTY
$58,000SOCIAL WELFARE
TURNING POINT USA
$25,000PHILANTHROPY
COVENANT HARBOR
$25,000SOCIAL WELFARE
TURNING POINT USA
$25,000PHILANTHROPY
PHILANTHROPY
ANDERSON JAPANESE GARDENS
$20,000CULTURAL
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES COLLIER COUNTY
$8,000RELIGION
NCH CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY
$7,500MEDICAL RESEARCH
SALVATION ARMY WINNEBAGO COUNTY
$6,000SOCIAL WELFARE
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES NORTHERN ILLINOIS
$6,000RELIGION
INDEPENDENT COUNCIL ON WOMEN'S SPORTS
$6,000PHILANTHROPY
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL OF NAPLES
$6,000EDUCATION
LAKE GENEVA YOUTH CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER
$5,000YOUTH SERVICES
FAITH COMES BY HEARING
$5,000RELIGION
FRIENDS OF KISHWAUKETOE
$5,000CONSERVATION
TURNING POINT USA
$5,000PHILANTHROPY
SPIRITUAL OVERSEERS SERVICE INTERNATIONAL
$5,000RELIGION
GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE
$5,000CULTURAL
THE BOX CAR FOUNDATION
$5,000EDUCATION
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES NORTHERN ILLINOIS
$5,000RELIGION
LAKE GENEVA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$5,000CULTURAL
ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION
$5,000SOCIAL WELFARE
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH CONSERVATION INITIATIVE NFP
$4,000CONSERVATION
OCEANIC SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS
$4,000CONSERVATION
DIXON CENTER FOR MILITARY & VETERAN SERV FEDCAP-FEMALE SUPPORT
$4,000VETERAN AFFAIRS
TIMBER-LEE MINISTRIES
$4,000RELIGION
STATELINE YOUTH FOR CHRIST
$4,000RELIGION
ETERNAL WORD MINISTRIES
$4,000RELIGION