The Willard and Ruth Johnson Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving in Greater Houston with large, targeted gifts to local faith-based and healthcare institutions. Three-quarters of its support has gone to a single congregational recipient (St. Luke’s United Methodist Church), while the remainder funded a major local hospital foundation, indicating priorities in parish support and medical/healthcare philanthropy. The foundation appears to make few but substantial grants rather than many small awards.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small number of local organizations; majority of funds to a single faith-based grantee with a secondary large gift to a regional hospital foundation.
The Willard And Ruth Johnson Charitable Foundation makes unusually concentrated, high-dollar grants. One Houston church, St Lukes United Methodist Church, received a $650,000 general-support grant in 2025, and Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation has also been a repeated beneficiary. That pattern points to a funder that backs a small set of institutions with large unrestricted awards rather than spreading support broadly. The foundation’s recent giving shows a mix of faith-based support, hospital philanthropy, and selected education and community grants. Alongside its Houston core, it has made sizeable general-support awards to Vanderbilt University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cardigan Mountain School, Maryville College, The University of The South, and Cassie's Place. The recent-grants list suggests a preference for general support across institutions rather than tightly restricted project funding. Its grant record also includes Houston-area schools and other Texas organizations, but the overall picture is still one of selective institutional giving. Because several recipients appear in multiple years, the foundation’s approach looks more recurring than one-off, with established relationships that continue across grant cycles.
Faith-based giving is a central thread in the foundation’s recent awards. St Lukes United Methodist Church received $650,000 in 2025 and $125,000 in 2024 for general support, while another Houston congregation, St Johns School, received $50,000 in 2023. Those awards show continued support for church-connected institutions and their broader operations. Healthcare philanthropy is another clear area. Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation received $220,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in 2024, both for general support, and Massachusetts General Hospital received $150,000 in 2025. The foundation also supported community-oriented organizations such as Cassie's Place, which received $137,500 in 2025 and $120,000 in 2024. Education appears in multiple forms, including university and school support. Vanderbilt University received $157,500 in 2025 and $150,000 in 2024, while The University of The South received $101,666 in 2024 and $100,000 in both 2023 and 2025.
$2.4M
$26M
$5.3M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $5K and $29K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$29K
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Notable grantees: St Luke's United Methodist Church, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $29,000. That said, the recent-grants list also shows a small number of much larger awards, indicating a wide spread between routine grants and major institutional support. The pattern is recurring rather than purely one-off. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, Vanderbilt University, Cardigan Mountain School, Maryville College, and The University of The South. The foundation is structured as a private charitable foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The record shown here points to general-support grants rather than application-driven project awards.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Texas-centered: 85% of grants go to recipients in TX, and the listed giving is local in scope. Houston is the clearest hub, with grants to St Lukes United Methodist Church, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, St Johns School, and The Kinkaid School. Beyond Houston, Texas recipients also include Cassie's Place in San Angelo, George W Bush Foundation in Dallas, Midland College Foundation in Midland, and Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Insitutute in Kingsville. All grants in the country distribution are in the US.
The recent record centers on faith-based institutions, healthcare philanthropy, and education. Houston church support appears alongside grants to hospital foundations, universities, and schools, with general support used across those categories.
Yes. TX is the top state by grant count, and 85% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Houston is the main city in the record, but the foundation also funds other Texas cities including San Angelo, Dallas, Midland, and Kingsville.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the largest awards: p25 is $5,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $29,000. The recent list also includes larger general-support grants, showing that the foundation makes both routine and major institutional awards.
Recurring relationships are visible in the recent grants. Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation appears in 2023 and 2024, Vanderbilt University in 2024 and 2025, Cardigan Mountain School in 2023 and 2024, Maryville College in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and The University of The South in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Lukes United Methodist Church | Houston, TX | $650,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | $157,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Cassie's Place | San Angelo, TX | $137,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| The University of The South | Sewanee, TN | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Maryville College | Maryville, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Insitutute | Kingsville, TX | $55,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Cardigan Mountain School | Canaan, NH | $54,166 | 2025 | General Support |
| Brookwood Community | Brookshire, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Avon Old Farms School | Avon, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Kinkaid School | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Edwin L Cox School of Business | Dallas, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Houston Botanic Garden | Houston, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| St Thomas High School | Houston, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Trinity School of Midland | Midland, TX | $33,334 | 2025 | General Support |
| Good Samaritan Foundation | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Hillcrest School | Midland, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Memorial Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Star of Hope Mission | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Women of Pader Uganda | Austin, TX | $27,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| Spring Spirit Baseball | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Senior Life Midland | Midland, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The First Tee - West Texas | Midland, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Billy T Cattan Recovery Outreach Inc | Victoria, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Menil Collection | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Roane State Foundation | Harriman, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Rise School of Houston | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Catholic Diocese of Victoria-Texas | Victoria, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Midland College Foundation | Midland, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Round Top-Warrenton Volunteer Fire Dept | Round Top, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Mentoring Alliance | Tyler, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| West University Baptist Church | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Mission Agape | Midland, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| The Orange Show | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center | San Angelo, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Gifts of Hope | Midland, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Reflection Ministries of Texas | Midland, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Concho Valley Home for Girls | San Angelo, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Childrens Advocacy Center | San Angelo, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Salvation Army of San Angelo | San Angelo, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Perkins School of Theology | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Salvation Army | San Angelo, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Friends of West University Parks | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Holly Hall | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Hunters Creek Elementary PTA | Houston, TX | $7,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| Millenium RDS | Bellaire, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | General Support |
St Lukes United Methodist Church
$650,000General Support
Massachusetts General Hospital
$150,000General Support
Cassie's Place
$137,500General Support
General Support
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Insitutute
$55,000General Support
Cardigan Mountain School
$54,166General Support
Avon Old Farms School
$50,000General Support
Edwin L Cox School of Business
$40,000General Support
St Thomas High School
$35,000General Support
Trinity School of Midland
$33,334General Support
Good Samaritan Foundation
$30,000General Support
The Women of Pader Uganda
$27,500General Support
Spring Spirit Baseball
$25,000General Support
The First Tee - West Texas
$25,000General Support
The Menil Collection
$25,000General Support
Roane State Foundation
$25,000General Support
The Rise School of Houston
$25,000General Support
The Catholic Diocese of Victoria-Texas
$25,000General Support
Round Top-Warrenton Volunteer Fire Dept
$25,000General Support
Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation
$25,000General Support
University of Tennessee
$25,000General Support
West University Baptist Church
$20,000General Support
West Texas Rehabilitation Center
$15,000General Support
Gifts of Hope
$15,000General Support
Salvation Army of San Angelo
$15,000General Support
Perkins School of Theology
$10,000General Support
Salvation Army
$10,000General Support
Friends of West University Parks
$10,000General Support
Holly Hall
$10,000General Support
Hunters Creek Elementary PTA
$7,500General Support
Millenium RDS
$5,000General Support