//
Work at this foundation?
Claim this profile to manage it and see interest from grant seekers.
Burdine Johnson Foundation is a private trust based in BUDA, TX. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1961. It holds total assets of $31.7M. Annual income is reported at $11.5M. The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2023. Grantmaking is concentrated in Texas. According to available records, Burdine Johnson Foundation has made 257 grants totaling $6.5M, with a median grant of $20K. The foundation has distributed between $1.6M and $3.3M annually from 2021 to 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $3.3M distributed across 140 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $150K, with an average award of $25K. The foundation has supported 116 unique organizations. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Texas and Nevada. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
Burdine Johnson Foundation is a Hays County, Texas-focused family foundation based in Buda, TX. The foundation is explicit that geographic alignment matters most: they are 'most enthusiastic to support Hays County organizations' and their language indicates that Austin/Central Texas outside Hays County is increasingly deprioritized as Hays County has grown rapidly (Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Dripping Springs corridor). To approach: (1) confirm your organization serves Hays County residents or has meaningful programmatic outreach into Hays County, (2) fit one of five named priority areas (arts, education, health and human services, environment, historic preservation), (3) engage locally — Hays County Community Foundation, Hill Country philanthropic networks, and Hays County nonprofit coalitions are the entry points. There is no visible open application portal on the website, suggesting contact-based or invitation-driven intake.
Assets ~$31.7M. Five equal-weight priority categories: (1) Arts, (2) Education, (3) Health and Human Services, (4) Environment, (5) Historic Preservation. Geographic priority is explicitly ranked: Hays County first and most enthusiastically, Austin/Central Texas occasionally and increasingly rarely. This is a geographic-centric funder, not a thematic one — a mediocre proposal from a Hays County nonprofit outperforms an excellent proposal from a Dallas or Houston nonprofit. The foundation's Buda HQ (Hays County) reflects this loyalty. Grant sizes likely in the $5K–$75K range typical for $30M-asset county-focused family foundations in Texas. No published application deadlines visible — likely operates on a rolling or board-schedule basis.
Compared to peer place-based Texas family foundations:
| Foundation | Assets | Geographic Focus | Priority Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdine Johnson Foundation | $31.7M | Hays County, TX | Arts, Ed, Health/HS, Env, Historic |
| St. David's Foundation | $1B+ | Central Texas health | Health equity only |
| RGK Foundation | $200M+ | Austin/statewide | Ed, medicine, community |
| Tocker Foundation | $30M | Rural TX libraries | Libraries only |
| Shivers Library Foundation | $20M | Austin | Libraries/literacy |
Burdine Johnson is among the smaller Central Texas family foundations but uniquely county-specific — most peers are either regional (St. David's), statewide (RGK), or issue-specific (Tocker). The five-category breadth makes Burdine Johnson unusually accessible for varied Hays County nonprofits (historical societies, land trusts, arts councils, youth ed programs, clinics) as long as they can prove Hays County impact. Closer spiritual peer is the Hays County Community Foundation itself.
Website (built on Squarespace) appears stable but lightly updated. Foundation language explicitly mentions 'the rapid growth of Hays County' as a reason they are shifting further toward Hays-only — this is an important signal that aligns with the actual Hays County population boom (Buda/Kyle/Dripping Springs corridor has been one of the fastest-growing US regions since 2020). No published news, annual reports, or grant announcements visible on the public site in 2026. The /apply and /grants-1 paths return 404s, suggesting the foundation does not maintain a public application portal and may operate on an invite or direct-contact basis. Website content last notably edited with modest updates to focus language.
A strong proposal to Burdine Johnson must (1) prominently establish Hays County impact — use specific city names (Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Dripping Springs, Wimberley), census tracts, or Hays ISD school names, (2) fit cleanly into one of five categories without trying to straddle too many, (3) explain WHY now — the foundation's own language about Hays County growth means rapid-growth-response framing (new residents, infrastructure strain, cultural preservation amid development) resonates, (4) keep the ask modest ($10K–$50K range is realistic). Tactically: find their contact email or board member via 990-PF filings on Cause IQ or Candid (the website does not publish a contact form). Do NOT pitch as Austin-focused; if you serve both Austin and Hays County, lead with Hays.
Create a free Granted account to download this report — includes application checklist, full financial data, and all grantees.
Already have an account? Sign in to download.
Smallest Grant
$2K
Median Grant
$20K
Average Grant
$25K
Largest Grant
$100K
Based on 64 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
No program descriptions are available for this foundation. Many private foundations report program activities in their annual 990-PF filings — check the Tax Filings section below for the most recent filing.
Assets ~$31.7M. Five equal-weight priority categories: (1) Arts, (2) Education, (3) Health and Human Services, (4) Environment, (5) Historic Preservation. Geographic priority is explicitly ranked: Hays County first and most enthusiastically, Austin/Central Texas occasionally and increasingly rarely. This is a geographic-centric funder, not a thematic one — a mediocre proposal from a Hays County nonprofit outperforms an excellent proposal from a Dallas or Houston nonprofit. The foundation's Buda .
Burdine Johnson Foundation has distributed a total of $6.5M across 257 grants. The median grant size is $20K, with an average of $25K. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $150K.
Burdine Johnson Foundation is a Hays County, Texas-focused family foundation based in Buda, TX. The foundation is explicit that geographic alignment matters most: they are 'most enthusiastic to support Hays County organizations' and their language indicates that Austin/Central Texas outside Hays County is increasingly deprioritized as Hays County has grown rapidly (Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Dripping Springs corridor). To approach: (1) confirm your organization serves Hays County residents or has m.
Burdine Johnson Foundation is headquartered in BUDA, TX. While based in TX, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 2 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine A Johnson | Trustee | $40K | $13K | $53K |
| Robert C Giberson | Trustee | $30K | $13K | $43K |
| William T Johnson | Trustee | $30K | $23K | $53K |
Total Giving
$2M
Total Assets
$29.2M
Fair Market Value
$35.6M
Net Worth
$29.2M
Grants Paid
$1.6M
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
$1M
Distribution Amount
$1.7M
Total: $28.6M
Total Grants
257
Total Giving
$6.5M
Average Grant
$25K
Median Grant
$20K
Unique Recipients
116
Most Common Grant
$10K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning BridgeFUND STAFF TO SUSTAIN/GROW TUTORING SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE | Austin, TX | $50K | 2023 |
| Texas State UniveristyKAP VISITING WRITERS SERIES/ KAP HOUSE OPERATIONS | San Marcos, TX | $150K | 2023 |
| Seton Hays FoundationPMT 3 OF 3, $300,000 PLEDGE FOR CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM EXPANSION | Austin, TX | $100K | 2023 |
| The Nature Conservancy Of TexasOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | San Antonio, TX | $100K | 2023 |
| The James Dick Foundation For The POPERATIONAL SUPPORT | Round Top, TX | $100K | 2023 |
| Preservation Texas IncFOR OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM SUPPORT | San Marcos, TX | $80K | 2023 |
| Centro Cultural Hispano De San MarcOPERATIONAL NEEDS TO ENSURE PROGRAMMING | San Marcos, TX | $70K | 2023 |
| The Texas TribunePMT #2 OF 2 YEAR PLEDGE - PROGRAMMATIC COVERAGE | Austin, TX | $50K | 2023 |
| Communities In Schools Of Central TPMT #1 OF 2 YR $100,000 PLEDGE HAYS COUNTY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING SUPPORT | Austin, TX | $50K | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood Of Greater TexasOPERATING FUNDS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES/EDUCATION | Austin, TX | $50K | 2023 |
| Community Action Inc Of Central TexPMT 1 OF 2 - PARTIAL SALARIES AND CONSULTANT | San Marcos, TX | $50K | 2023 |
| The University Of Texas At AustinTX HISTORY FOR TEACHERS | Austin, TX | $50K | 2023 |
| San Marcos Youth Service Bureau IncOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | San Marcos, TX | $45K | 2023 |
| American Short FictionAWARD AND PUBLISHING COSTS OF ASF CONTEST ISSUE | Austin, TX | $40K | 2023 |
| Texas Institute Of LettersOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | Spring, TX | $35K | 2023 |
| Greater San Marcos Area Seniors AssOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | San Marcos, TX | $35K | 2023 |
| Riparius ProjectOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | San Marcos, TX | $30K | 2023 |
| Tread CoalitionOPERTIONAL SUPPORT FOR TREAD LAWNOWNER EDUCATION AND ACTION CENTER | Austin, TX | $30K | 2023 |
| Amala FoundationFUNDING FOR CIRCLE UP PROGRAMMING IN HAYS CISD | Austin, TX | $27K | 2023 |
| Calaboose African American HistoryMUSEUM PROGRAMMING, EVENTS, OPERATIONS, & PROJECTS | San Marcos, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Torch Literary ArtsOPERATIONAL/PROGRAM ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE BLACK WOMEN WRITERS | Austin, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| University Of North Texas FoundatioPMT #2 OF 2 - TX HISTORY FOR TEACHERS | Denton, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Austin Community FoundationSHIELD RANCH FOUNDATION FUND - PLEDGE PMT #2 OF 2 | Austin, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| City Of KylePARKS & RECREATION DEPT COMMUNITY GARDEN CREATION ASSISTANCE | Kyle, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Austin Creative AllianceFISCAL AGENT FOR JAM LLC DBA COLD TOWNE THEATER - PMT #1 OF 2 FOR PERMANENT PHYSICAL SPACE | Austin, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Austin Habitat For HumanityASSIST IN 2024 NEW AHH AFFORDABLE HOME IN SAN MARCOS, TX | Austin, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Great Springs ProjectOPERATING EXPENSES TO INDENTIFY CRITICAL LAND PARCELS FOR PROTECTION | Austin, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Hays Consolidated IsdPURCHASE OF TWO WIRELESS BODY MICS FOR BCJ THEATRE | Kyle, TX | $25K | 2023 |
| Texas Am University PressOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | College Station, TX | $20K | 2023 |
| The Indigenous Cultures InstituteASSIST LANGUAGE PROGRAM 2024 POWWOW TANK INSTITUTE | San Marcos, TX | $20K | 2023 |
| Hill Country Science Mill2 WEEK STEM SCI CAMPS AT SAN MARCOS ISD | Johnson City, TX | $20K | 2023 |
| The Burke FoundationRE-TILE ROOF OF OLD WEIGHT ROOM | Driftwood, TX | $20K | 2023 |
| Marbridge FoundationTRAINING & EDUCATION PROGRAMMING | Manchaca, TX | $15K | 2023 |
| Foster Angels Of Central TexasASSIST HAYS COUNTY YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE | Austin, TX | $15K | 2023 |
| Imagine For AllPROJECT (YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS/ STORYTELLING) | Wimberly, TX | $15K | 2023 |
| Central Texas Food BankMOBILE FOOD PANTRY SITES IN HAYS COUNTY | Austin, TX | $15K | 2023 |
| Zach TheatreOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | Austin, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| Amigos De Jesus MinistryFUNDS TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR FOOD PANTRY PROJECT | Wimberly, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| Affect Change Inc Dba ColorcancerPROVIDE CANCER PATIENTS WITH FREE ESSENTIAL CARE SUPPLIES | Austin, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| Austin Pets AliveRESCUE, TREAT, & ADOPT OUT AT-RISK PETS FROM SAN MARCOS | Austin, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| Austin Classical GuitarNEW PROGRAM AT GOODNIGHT & MILLER MS-SAN MARCOS | Austin, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| The Austin Center For Grief And LosSCHOOL-BASED GRIEF GROUPS WITH CIS IN HAYS CISD SCHOOLS | Austin, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| Transformations By Austin AngelsOPERATIONAL SUPPORT | Buda, TX | $10K | 2023 |
| Crisis Bread Basket Of WimberlyOPERATIONAL - YEAR 2024. WCBB SUMMER/WINTER SUPPLEMENTAL FOODBOX PROGRAM | Wimberly, TX | $9K | 2023 |
| Texas Veterinary Medical FoundationFUNDING FOR LENDING ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR PETS (LEAP) | Austin, TX | $5K | 2023 |
| Wonders And WorriesILLNESS EDUCATION, PARENTING SUPPORT, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES | Austin, TX | $5K | 2023 |
| Home CenterOPERATIONS FOR HOME EMERGENCY SHELTER PRG | San Marcos, TX | $3K | 2023 |
| Forever 15 ProjectCOMMUNITY AWARENESS & FIGHT FENTANYL CRISIS | Buda, TX | $3K | 2023 |
| Hays-Caldwell Women'S CenterOPERATIONS | San Marcos, TX | $3K | 2023 |
| Onion Creek Senior Citizens CenterGENERAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS | Buda, TX | $3K | 2023 |