The Morse and Betty Johnson Family Foundation makes modest, locally focused grants in Cincinnati primarily supporting children's education and cultural institutions. Its recent awards are unrestricted/general operating gifts to a neighborhood school system and an independent day school, along with a civic arts organization, suggesting a preference for sustaining institutions that serve youth and the community. Grants are targeted and straightforward rather than highly restricted or program-specific.
Concentrated, local giving with a small number of mid-sized unrestricted/general operating grants; funding is focused on a few repeat or closely related institutions rather than many small, diverse grantees.
A repeated pattern of general support to Cincinnati and Washington, DC institutions defines the Morse and Betty Johnson Family Foundation’s recent grantmaking. The foundation has made multiple gifts to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Playhouse in the Park, The Know Theatre, Tregaron Conservancy, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Seven Hills. Those awards show a preference for flexible funding rather than project-by-project restrictions. The foundation’s largest recent gifts are $35,000 awards to The Seven Hills School in 2023 and Seven Hills in 2024, both in Cincinnati. Other sizable grants support children’s services, independent education, health care, and performing arts groups. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital received a $25,000 general grant in 2024 after a $13,867 general operating grant in 2023, while Playhouse in the Park received $25,000 in both 2024 and 2025 after a $25,000 general operating gift in 2023. This pattern points to a funder that backs core operations at established nonprofits serving youth, education, and cultural life. The awards are straightforward and recurring, with the same institutions appearing more than once in the recent record.
In education, the foundation gave $35,000 to The Seven Hills School for general operating support in 2023 and $35,000 to Seven Hills for general support in 2024, alongside a $15,000 grant to Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation in 2023 and a $10,000 grant to the same organization in 2024. Health-related giving includes a $25,000 general grant to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 2024 and a $13,867 general operating grant in 2023. The foundation also supported Good Samaritan Hosp Fdtn-school to Work Program with $13,000 in 2024 and Good Samaritan Hosp Fdtn-free Health Ctr Dental Program with another $13,000 that year. In arts and culture, grants went to Playhouse in the Park, The Know Theatre, De La Dance Company, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and Washington National Cathedral. Community-serving grants also included Bright Beginnings Inc and Freestone Foodbank.
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger gifts of $20,000 to $35,000, but most awards cluster in the five-figure range. The foundation’s giving is recurring: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Playhouse in the Park, Tregaron Conservancy, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation. Grants are made to nonprofit organizations and are described as general, general operating, or unrestricted support. No application process is stated in the data.
$776K
$2.7M
$152K
$236K
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 53% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Notable grantees: Seven Hills, The Seven Hills School, Playhouse in the Park
Grants are national in scope, but they land heavily in Ohio, which accounts for 53% of recipients in the record. Cincinnati is the clearest hub, with awards to The Seven Hills School, Seven Hills, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Playhouse in the Park, The Know Theatre, and others. Washington, DC is the top state by grant count overall, with grants to So Others Might Eat, DC Bilingual Public Charter School, DC Prep, Bright Beginnings Inc, Tregaron Conservancy, and Washington National Cathedral. Outside those two areas, recent grants also reached Troy, New York, and New York, New York.
The recent record centers on nonprofit organizations in education, health, arts, and community services. Examples include an independent school, a scholarship foundation, a children’s hospital, theaters, a conservancy, and a food bank. Many awards are labeled general or general operating support, which points to flexible funding for established institutions.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year. Playhouse in the Park received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Tregaron Conservancy appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation also received multiple grants across the recent period.
The typical gift is modest: p25 is $5,000, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent grants list also shows larger awards up to $35,000, but most entries cluster around $10,000 to $15,000.
Washington, DC is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Cincinnati. Ohio still receives a large share of awards, with 53% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent list shows a strong concentration in Cincinnati and Washington, DC.
No. The foundation’s geographic scope is national, and the recent grant list includes recipients in Ohio, Washington, DC, New York, New York, and Troy, New York. The grant record is still heavily centered on Cincinnati and Washington, DC.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SEVEN HILLS | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE KNOW THEATRE | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BRIGHT BEGINNINGS | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TREGARON CONSERVANCY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERL |
| GOOD SAMARITAN FDTN FOR CARES PROGRAM | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NATURE FOUNDATION AT WINTERGREEN | ROSELAND, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EMMA WILLARD SCHOOL | TROY, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT (SOME) | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DC BILLINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JOHN EATON SCHOOL HSA | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ROBERT O'NEAL MULTI CULTURAL ARTS CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| KIDS IN DANGER | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEAUM FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, GA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ST LEOS CHURCH BURUNDI REFUGEE FUND | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CHICAGO LIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CARTOON CROSSROADS COLUMBUS | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SEVEN HILLS | CINCINNATI, OH | $35,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT (SOME) | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| EMMA WILLARD SCHOOL | TROY, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE KNOW THEATRE | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DC BILLINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TREGARON CONSERVANCY | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERL |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HOSP FDTN-SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM | CINCINNATI, OH | $13,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HOSP FDTN-FREE HEALTH CTR DENTAL PROGRAM | CINCINNATI, OH | $13,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SEM FOOD PANTRY | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FREESTONE FOODBANK | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DE LA DANCE COMPANY | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| JOHN EATON SCHOOL HSA | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BRIGHT BEGINNINGS | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL NURSING SCHOOL | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATURE FOUNDATION AT WINTERGREEN | ROSELAND, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEAUM FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, GA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| KIDS IN DANGER | CHICAGO, IL | $4,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CARTOON CROSSROADS COLUMBUS | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL | CINCINNATI, OH | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK
$25,000GENERAL
SEVEN HILLS
$25,000GENERAL
THE KNOW THEATRE
$15,000GENERAL
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS
$10,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
TREGARON CONSERVANCY
$10,000GENERL
GOOD SAMARITAN FDTN FOR CARES PROGRAM
GENERAL
NATURE FOUNDATION AT WINTERGREEN
$10,000GENERAL
EMMA WILLARD SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL
SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT (SOME)
$10,000GENERAL
CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM
$10,000GENERAL
DC BILLINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL
JOHN EATON SCHOOL HSA
$10,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$10,000GENERAL
ROBERT O'NEAL MULTI CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
$7,000GENERAL
KIDS IN DANGER
$5,000GENERAL
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
$5,000GENERAL
NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEAUM FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
ST LEOS CHURCH BURUNDI REFUGEE FUND
$2,000GENERAL
CHICAGO LIGHTS
$2,000GENERAL
CARTOON CROSSROADS COLUMBUS
$1,000GENERAL
SEVEN HILLS
$35,000GENERAL
PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK
$25,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$25,000GENERAL
SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT (SOME)
$20,000GENERAL
EMMA WILLARD SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL
THE KNOW THEATRE
$20,000GENERAL
DC BILLINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$15,000GENERAL
TREGARON CONSERVANCY
$15,000GENERL
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSP FDTN-SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM
$13,000GENERAL
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSP FDTN-FREE HEALTH CTR DENTAL PROGRAM
$13,000GENERAL
SEM FOOD PANTRY
$10,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
FREESTONE FOODBANK
$10,000GENERAL
DE LA DANCE COMPANY
$10,000GENERAL
JOHN EATON SCHOOL HSA
$10,000GENERAL
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
$10,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS
$10,000GENERAL
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL NURSING SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL
NATURE FOUNDATION AT WINTERGREEN
$10,000GENERAL
CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER
$5,000GENERAL
NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEAUM FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
KIDS IN DANGER
$4,000GENERAL
CARTOON CROSSROADS COLUMBUS
$1,000GENERAL
THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING
PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING