What does Walter S Johnson Foundation C/o Whittier Trust focus on?

Its stated focus is improving systems and public policy that support youth transitioning to adulthood. The grant record emphasizes advocacy, policy change, juvenile justice reform in California, and transition-age youth supports tied to education, employment, and foster youth success.

What is the typical grant size?

The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $112,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both six-figure grants and smaller awards, with many grants clustered around the six-figure range.

Does the foundation make repeat grants?

Yes. The record shows multiple recipients receiving support in more than one year, including grants repeated across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That recurring pattern suggests sustained partnerships rather than one-time funding only.

Which geographies receive the most support?

California receives the most support, with 55% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The broader grantmaking scope is national, and Nevada is also a recurring state in the portfolio.

Who are some recent grantees?

Recent grantees include John Burton Advocates for Youth, California College Pathways Pooled Fund, American Bar Association Fund for Justice in Education, New Ways to Work Inc, and Nevada System of Higher Education.

Walter S Johnson Foundation C/O Whittier Trust

Name: Walter S Johnson Foundation C/O Whittier Trust — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActiveMutual & Membership Benefit

SAN FRANCISCO, CAWebsite7723212371

About Walter S Johnson Foundation C/O Whittier Trust

The Walter S Johnson Foundation concentrates its giving on improving systems and public policy that support youth transitioning to adulthood, primarily through advocacy and policy-change strategies. Most funding is steered to a small set of recipients (including a donor-advised special projects fund) that work on statewide youth policy and juvenile justice/transition-age-youth issues, suggesting a preference for structural, policy-level impact rather than direct service grants.

Focus Areas

Policy and systems reform for transition-age youth (youth-to-adult success)Juvenile justice reform and advocacy in CaliforniaDonor-advised special project funding for youth policy initiatives

Who They Fund

youth (adolescents and young adults)youth transitioning to adulthood

Giving Approach

Highly concentrated: few, large grants (multiple awards to the same special projects DAF and a major state advocacy organization); favors policy/advocacy organizations over many small direct-service grants.

Funding Style

systems change

About Walter S Johnson Foundation C/O Whittier Trust

A defining feature of Walter S Johnson Foundation C/o Whittier Trust is its repeated support for Special Project Fund DAF grants tied to policy and systems change for youth moving into adulthood. Across recent years, that funding pattern sits alongside large grants to organizations working on foster youth success, education pathways, and juvenile justice reform. The foundation’s stated emphasis is on improving systems and public policy that support youth transitioning to adulthood, with a particular focus on advocacy and policy-change strategies. Recent grants point to a small circle of recipients that operate at the intersection of youth policy, education access, and transition-age supports. John Burton Advocates for Youth appears multiple times, reflecting the foundation’s interest in California youth policy and advocacy. California College Pathways also receives substantial support through pooled-fund structures tied to foster youth post-secondary success. Other grants support organizations working on workforce and education pathways, legal advocacy, and service systems that affect young people ages 14 to 26. The foundation gives nationally, but its work is anchored heavily in California and Nevada through grants that focus on system-level change rather than direct service alone.

What Walter S Johnson Foundation C/O Whittier Trust Funds

A core topic for Walter S Johnson Foundation C/o Whittier Trust is foster youth post-secondary success. It gave $300,000 to California College Pathways Pooled Fund in 2025 and $300,000 to California College Pathways - Greater Horizons in 2023, both for promoting positive change to the policies and systems that assist youth in becoming successful adults. The foundation also backs legal and advocacy infrastructure. It awarded $300,000 to American Bar Association Fund for Justice in Education in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024 for the same policy-and-systems purpose. Workforce and education pathways are another recurring theme. New Ways to Work Inc received $200,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024, showing sustained support for youth employment and career pathways. Nevada System of Higher Education was funded at $200,000 in 2024 and 2025, linking higher education systems to transition-age youth outcomes.

How Walter S Johnson Foundation C/O Whittier Trust Gives

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$5.8M

Total Assets

$131.6M

Total Revenue

$27.5M

Total Expenses

$7.7M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $10K and $113K, with a median of $100K.

25th Percentile

$10K

Median

$100K

75th Percentile

$113K

Geographic Reach

Regional15 states funded

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

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Recipient	Location	Amount	Year	Purpose
SPECIAL PROJECT FUND DAF	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	$588,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION FUND FOR JUSTICE IN EDUCATION	WASHINGTON DC, DC	$300,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE PATHWAYS POOLED FUND	KANSAS CITY, MO	$300,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC (FUND FOR EDUCATION SUCCESS)	WASHINGTON DC, DC	$250,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN CA	CONCORD, CA	$225,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
SCHOOL HOUSE CONNECTION	WASHINGTON DC, DC	$200,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
NEW WAYS TO WORK INC	MONTEBELLO, CA	$200,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	LAS VEGAS, NV	$200,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
IFOSTER	TRUCKEE, CA	$200,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	$170,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS FOUNDATION	LAS VEGAS, NV	$150,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
MAKE IT HOME	SAN RAFAEL, CA	$150,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY ALLIANCE OF NV	LAS VEGAS, NV	$150,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
FOSTER KINSHIP	NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV	$150,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
CIVICORPS SCHOOLS	OAKLAND, CA	$150,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES	SACRAMENTO, CA	$140,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
PARENTS BY CHOICE	STOCKTON, CA	$125,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO	RENO, NV	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
CA LOCAL CONSERVATION CORPS	LOS ANGELES, CA	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
UC BERKELEY (CHILD WELFARE INDICATORS PROJECT)	BERKELEY, CA	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
EDDY HOUSE	RENO, NV	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
A HOME WITHIN	OAKLAND, CA	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
SOAR FOR YOUTH	BERKELEY, CA	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
FIRST STAR INC	LOS ANGELES, CA	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
ASPIRANET	SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA	$100,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
NATIONAL FOSTER YOUTH INSTITUTE	WASHINGTON DC, DC	$80,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
BOOSTED DIPLOMAS	RENO, NV	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
OLIVE CREST	LAS VEGAS, NV	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
PUBLIC WORKS ALLIANCE	SANTA BARBARA, CA	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY	OAKLAND, CA	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW	OAKLAND, CA	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
TRUCKEE MEADOW COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATON	RENO, NV	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW CENTER	BERKELEY, CA	$75,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
YOUTH FORWARD	SACRAMENTO, CA	$50,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
CA HOMELESS YOUTH PROJECT	SACRAMENTO, CA	$50,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
OPEN MEDICINE FOUNDATION	AGOURA HILLS, CA	$20,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
BRONCO BENCH FOUNDATION	SANTA CLARA, CA	$20,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
SAN FRANCISCO RECREATION & PARKS	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	$12,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
CHILDCARE RESOURCES	VERO BEACH, FL	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC	TUCSON, AZ	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	RENO, NV	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
INDIAN RIVER SOCCER ASSOCIATION INC	VERO BEACH, FL	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
THE OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL	BELLEVUE, WA	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
SAN FRANCISCO FRIENDS SCHOOL	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
NEW HAVEN TENNIS OUTREACHYALE UNIVERSITY	NEW HAVEN, CT	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
FRIENDS OF MAYPEARL	MAYPEARL, TX	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
KID IN THE CORNER	SCOTTSDALE, AZ	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
ETTIE LEE YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES	BALDWIN PARK, CA	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
PALM HARBOR UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL CENTER FOR WELLNESS & MEDICAL	PALM HARBER, FL	$10,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
LINN-BENTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION	ALBANY, OR	$5,000	2025	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT ASSIST YOUTH IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.

Recipient

Location

Amount

Year

Purpose

SPECIAL PROJECT FUND DAF

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

$588,000

2025