The Milton and Denice Johnson Family Foundation concentrates substantial, local philanthropic support on faith-based education and church operations in the Nashville area, while also funding targeted K–12 public school improvement projects. Their giving prioritizes capital campaigns and core operating support for longstanding grantees, with a willingness to back collaborative school-community initiatives that reimagine public school spaces.
A defining pattern of the Milton and Denice Johnson Family Foundation is its repeated support for place-based projects in Nashville, especially capital campaigns and operating support for faith-based institutions and community-serving nonprofits. The foundation gave Harding Academy $250,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for capital campaign work, signaling a willingness to make large, repeated commitments when it backs an organization. It also returned to Woodmont Christian Church across three years, including a $175,000 grant in 2025 for operational support, after earlier support of $150,000 in both 2023 and 2024. Beyond churches and independent Christian schools, the foundation has supported organizations tied to neighborhood services and civic life, including Second Harvest Food Bank, Frist Art Museum, and Greenways for Nashville. Its recent grants show a local funder that favors substantial awards to a relatively small circle of recipients, often for buildings, operating capacity, or community infrastructure rather than short-term project bursts.
Independent Christian K–12 education is one clear line of support. The foundation gave Harding Academy $250,000 in 2025 for a capital campaign, following earlier $250,000 gifts for the same purpose in 2024 and 2023. Church infrastructure is another recurring area: Woodmont Christian Church received $175,000 in 2025 for operational support, after $150,000 awards in both 2024 and 2023. The foundation also funds public-serving civic projects. PENCIL received $250,000 in 2025 for reimagining community spaces in MNPS, connecting the foundation to Metro Nashville Public Schools. It has also supported park and recreation improvements through the Tennessee Golf Foundation, including $50,000 in 2024 for Warner Park Golf Course improvements.
Typical grants cluster at the middle of the distribution, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $25,000, even though the recent-gift list includes larger outliers such as $250,000 awards. The foundation shows clear repeat behavior: Harding Academy, Woodmont Christian Church, Abe's Garden, Second Harvest Food Bank, Frist Art Museum, and others appear across multiple years. Its giving is structured around family foundation philanthropy rather than an operating company or DAF. The grants are local in scope, and the pattern suggests a preference for ongoing relationships over one-time support, especially for capital work and operating needs.
$3.9M
$37.9M
$1.7M
$4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants (six grants totaling $1.225M) with repeat funding to the same organizations; mix of capital campaign funding and operational support, focused on a small set of local faith-based and K–12 education recipients.
Notable grantees: Harding Academy, Woodmont Christian Church, PENCIL
Giving is heavily concentrated in Tennessee: 96% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top giving state is also TN. Nashville is the center of activity, with repeated grants to organizations such as PENCIL, Family and Children's Services, United for Hope, and Greenways for Nashville. A smaller share reaches nearby Tennessee communities as well, including Franklin through the Tennessee Golf Foundation. Outside Tennessee, the recent grants list includes Atlanta and Baltimore, but the overall distribution remains overwhelmingly local.
The foundation supports independent Christian K–12 schools, local church operations, and public school facility or community-space projects in Metro Nashville. It also funds community-serving organizations tied to food access, arts, parks, police support, and scholarships.
Typical grants are relatively modest compared with the largest awards: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $25,000. The recent grant list also includes larger commitments such as $250,000 and $175,000 awards.
Yes. The foundation is highly local, with 96% of grants going to recipients in Tennessee. Nashville is the main recipient city, and the top state by grant count is TN.
Repeated support is common. Harding Academy appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Woodmont Christian Church appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and organizations such as Abe's Garden and Second Harvest Food Bank also receive multiple grants across years.
A notable public-school-related grant is $250,000 to PENCIL in 2025 for reimagining community spaces in MNPS. That fits a broader pattern of support for collaborative school-community projects in Metro Nashville.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WOODMONT CHRISTIAN CHURCH | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,500,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| PENCIL | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2026 | REIMAGINING COMMUNITY SPACES IN MNPS |
| WOODMONT CHRISTIAN CHURCH | NASHVILLE, TN | $175,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| CREATIVETS | NASHVILLE, TN | $125,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ABE'S GARDEN | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR THE MOBILE PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS |
| ON THE AVENUE FOUNDATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED FOR HOPE | NASHVILLE, TN | $40,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FRIST ART MUSEUM | NASHVILLE, TN | $30,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| NASHVILLE SYMPHONY | NASVHILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| NASHVILLE ZOO | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MUSICIANS ON CALL | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| CENTENNIAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| OZ ARTS | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| TRANSFORMATION LIFE CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| CHEEKWOOD | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| INTERFAITH DENTAL | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| OASIS CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| BELMONT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ALIVE HOSPICE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MARCH OF DIMES MIDDLE TN CHAPTER | HERMITAGE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| NASHVILLE FOOD PROJECT | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| THISTLE FARMS | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| SILOAM HEALTH | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MAKE A WISH MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| PENCIL | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| JOBS FOR TENNESSEE GRADUATES | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| GREENWAYS FOR NASHVILLE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MARTHA O'BRYAN CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FAITH FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| PRESTON TAYLOR MINISTRIES | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ROCKETTOWN | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| EASTERSEALS TENNESSEE | BRENTWOOD, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF RADNOR LAKE | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| PROJECT REDESIGN | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF WARNER PARKS | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| NASHVILLE HUMANE ASSOCIATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| ST LUKES COMMUNITY HOUSE | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| MCNEILLY CENTER FOR CHILDREN | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
WOODMONT CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$2,500,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
WOODMONT CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$175,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
ABE'S GARDEN
$100,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
SUPPORT FOR THE MOBILE PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS
ON THE AVENUE FOUNDATION
$50,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$50,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
$50,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
UNITED FOR HOPE
$40,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY
$25,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
OZ ARTS
$25,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
TRANSFORMATION LIFE CENTER
$25,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
CHEEKWOOD
$15,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
$15,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
INTERFAITH DENTAL
$15,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF TENNESSEE
$10,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MARCH OF DIMES MIDDLE TN CHAPTER
$10,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
PENCIL
$10,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
JOBS FOR TENNESSEE GRADUATES
$10,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
ROCKETTOWN
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
EASTERSEALS TENNESSEE
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
PROJECT REDESIGN
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$5,000OPERATIONAL SUPPORT