The Edward C. Johnson Fund makes a small number of very large, targeted gifts—often endowments or capital/land support—to cultural, conservation, healthcare, and place‑based institutions, with a notable focus on New England and Maine. They favor organizational stability (endowments, operations) and stewardship of land, historic sites, and community facilities, while also supporting healthcare institutions and a few national cultural organizations.
The Edward C Johnson Fund gives unusually large, targeted grants that often function as endowment, land, or capital support. Its recent awards show a pattern of backing institutions with durable assets: Camp Beech Cliff received $5 million for endowment, San Francisco Zen Center also received $5 million for endowment, and Mount Desert Island Hospital received $3 million for campaign and fundraising support. The fund’s giving reaches across cultural, conservation, healthcare, and place-based organizations, with a clear preference for organizations that manage property, preserve land, or maintain long-term facilities. That approach appears in grants to Massachusetts Audubon Society for land preservation, the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty for endowment, and Mass General Brigham for endowment. The fund also supports organizations tied to community facilities and historic places, including Harbor House Community Service Center, Revolutionary Spaces, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Across the recent grant list, the foundation’s role is less about short-term program funding than about strengthening institutions through assets, buildings, and stewardship commitments.
Land conservation is one of the clearest threads in the Edward C Johnson Fund’s giving. Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc received $2.5 million for land for preservation in 2024 and another $1.5 million in 2025 for acquisition for preservation, while Trustees of Reservations received $1.3 million for land for preservation. The fund also backed Northeast Wilderness Trust with $1.25 million for land and building acquisition. Historic and cultural property stewardship is another recurring theme. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Inc received $1 million for property care, buildings, and renovation, and Revolutionary Spaces Inc received $1.5 million for operations support. In healthcare, Mount Desert Island Hospital received $3 million for campaign and fundraising support, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital Inc received $650,000 for endowment. The fund also made a $1 million grant to National Park Foundation for discovery research (science).
Typical awards are large: the distribution shown is $100,000 at the 25th percentile, $250,000 at the median, and $1,000,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list is dominated by major commitments rather than small grants, with several awards at $1 million or above. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Mass General Brigham Incorporated, Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc, Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, and Tinker Island Foundation, which points to repeat support rather than one-time giving. The fund is a regular funder and makes program-related investments, but the recent grants reflect conventional grantmaking tied to endowment, acquisition, and operations support.
$16.5M
$563.9M
$84.1M
$17.4M
Most grants fall between $100K and $1M, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$1M
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Edward C Johnson Fund.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 117 | $91.1M | 96.7% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Concentrated giving: a small number of very large grants (many multi‑million dollar endowments or capital gifts), mix of repeat funding to select institutions and one‑off capital/endowment commitments; geographic emphasis on Boston/New England but occasional national partners.
Notable grantees: Mass General Brigham Inc., Camp Beech Cliff, San Francisco Zen Center, Massachusetts Audubon Society, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Giving is concentrated in Massachusetts and Maine, with 37% of grants going to recipients in the fund’s HQ state of Massachusetts. Boston appears repeatedly, alongside Lincoln, Cambridge, and New Bedford. Maine is another major destination, with recipients in Mount Desert, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Ellsworth, and Brunswick. Outside the US, the recent list includes National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty in Swindon and no other non-US recipient locations in the provided data.
The recent grants lean toward land trusts, conservation groups, historic and cultural institutions, and hospitals. Examples in the data include Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Inc, Mount Desert Island Hospital, and the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.
The grant-size distribution is large: p25 is $100,000, the median is $250,000, and p75 is $1,000,000. Recent awards also include multiple grants at $1.5 million, $2.5 million, $3 million, and $5 million.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent grant list, including Mass General Brigham Incorporated, Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc, Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, and Tinker Island Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
Massachusetts and Maine dominate the recent grants. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, and Maine cities such as Mount Desert, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Ellsworth, and Brunswick appear frequently in the recent list.
The fund commonly gives endowment, land acquisition or preservation, operations support, campaign support, and capital-related grants such as construction or renovation. Recent examples include endowment for Camp Beech Cliff, land for preservation for Trustees of Reservations, and renovation support for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Inc.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 4 |
| $3.3M |
3.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| REVOLUTIONARY SPACES INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | DISCOVERY RESEARCH (SCIENCE) |
| ATLANTIC SALMON FEDERATION INC | BRUNSWICK, ME | $1,000,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| TINKER ISLAND FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $827,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC | BOSTON, MA | $650,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST | TOPSHAM, ME | $575,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT / EVALUATION |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $570,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCTION |
| TROUT UNLIMITED INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; CONSTRUCTION |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT / EVALUATION |
| MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | ELLSWORTH, ME | $500,000 | 2025 | DATA COLLECTION & STORAGE |
| BUZZARDS BAY COALITION INC | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $500,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT / EVALUATION |
| APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB | CHARLESTOWN, MA | $500,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCTION |
| ATLANTIC SALMON FEDERATION INC | BRUNSWICK, ME | $460,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCTION |
| GREAT WORKS REGIONAL LAND TRUST | OGUNQUIT, ME | $400,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $400,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT / EVALUATION |
| ISLAND HERITAGE TRUST INC | DEER ISLE, ME | $350,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| NANTUCKET ATHENEUM | NANTUCKET, MA | $300,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER CONSERVANCY | GREENFIELD, MA | $300,000 | 2025 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $300,000 | 2025 | PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; CONSTRUCTION |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY | SWINDON | $278,200 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT |
| NEPONSET RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | CANTON, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | PLANNING |
| FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | DURHAM, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP BEECH CLIFF | MOUNT DESERT, ME | $250,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT |
| STOWE LAND TRUST | STOWE, VT | $200,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| OLD NORTH FOUNDATION OF BOSTON INC | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT |
| UPPER SACO VALLEY LAND TRUST | CONWAY, NH | $200,000 | 2025 | LAND / BUILDING ACQUISITION |
| STOWE LAND TRUST | STOWE, VT | $200,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NASHUA RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION | GROTON, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCTION |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | LAND / BUILDING ACQUISITION |
| KENNEBEC ESTUARY LAND TRUST | BATH, ME | $170,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| FRENCHMAN BAY CONSERVANCY | HANCOCK, ME | $150,000 | 2025 | PLANNING |
| FRIENDS OF THE LOBKOWICZ COLLECTIONS | DOVER, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; HISTORIC PRESERVATION |
| COASTAL MOUNTAINS LAND TRUST | CAMDEN, ME | $150,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2025 | R&D / INNOVATION / PILOTS |
| BUZZARDS BAY COALITION INC | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT ASSOCIATION INC | ESSEX, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; RENOVATION |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | INSTALLATIONS (ARTS & CULTURE) |
| COASTAL RIVERS CONSERVATION TRUST | DAMARISCOTTA, ME | $100,000 | 2025 | ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION |
| MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL | BAR HARBOR, ME | $3,000,000 | 2024 | CAMPAIGN / FUNDRAISING |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $2,500,000 | 2024 | LAND FOR PRESERVATION |
| MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED | BOSTON, MA | $2,402,909 | 2024 | ENDOWMENT |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $1,500,000 | 2024 | NEW CONSTRUCTION |
| TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS | BOSTON, MA | $1,300,000 | 2024 | LAND FOR PRESERVATION |
| NORTHEAST WILDERNESS TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $1,250,000 | 2024 | LAND / BUILDING ACQUISITION |
| TINKER ISLAND FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT |
| ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM INC | BOSTON, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; RENOVATION |
REVOLUTIONARY SPACES INC
$1,500,000OPERATIONS SUPPORT
TINKER ISLAND FOUNDATION
$827,500GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL INC
ENDOWMENT
ISLAND HERITAGE TRUST INC
$350,000ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$300,000PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; CONSTRUCTION
NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY
$278,200ENDOWMENT
WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT
CAMP BEECH CLIFF
$250,000ENDOWMENT
OLD NORTH FOUNDATION OF BOSTON INC
$200,000TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
UPPER SACO VALLEY LAND TRUST
$200,000LAND / BUILDING ACQUISITION
PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; HISTORIC PRESERVATION
EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NORTH CAROLINA
$100,000PROPERTY CARE; BUILDINGS; RENOVATION
MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED
$2,402,909ENDOWMENT
TINKER ISLAND FOUNDATION
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATING / ANNUAL SUPPORT