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The Atlantic Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.8M - $19.8M (varies significantly year to year)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $3,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New Jersey and national arts organizations
  • Application Status: No public application process

Contact Details

Phone: 609-689-1040
Location: Hamilton, NJ (Trenton area)
EIN: 22-6054882

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Atlantic Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1963 by J. Seward Johnson, Sr., heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. Since 1983, it has been led by his son, J. Seward Johnson, Jr., a sculptor and artist. With total assets of approximately $34 million (as of 2024) and annual giving ranging from $4.2 million to $19.8 million depending on the year, the foundation has shifted its focus from broad charitable interests to a concentrated emphasis on arts and cultural organizations. The foundation's vision is to support "just, equitable, and regenerative communities in harmony with each other and our world." The Atlantic Foundation created and continues to support Grounds For Sculpture, a 42-acre sculpture park in Hamilton, NJ, along with The Seward Johnson Atelier, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and worldwide public sculpture installations through The Sculpture Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Atlantic Foundation operates on a pre-selected, invitation-only basis with no formal grant programs open to public application. Grant amounts vary widely based on the relationship with the organization and the project scope:

  • Major institutional support: $100,000 - $3,000,000+ (for organizations like Grounds For Sculpture and Eyebeam)
  • Project-specific grants: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Typical grant size: Based on 13-16 grants per year with $6-20M in annual giving, average grants range from $400,000 - $1,500,000

Priority Areas

The foundation concentrates its funding in the following areas:

Primary Focus:

  • Arts and cultural organizations, particularly sculpture and public art
  • Grounds For Sculpture operations and exhibitions
  • Worldwide public sculpture installations through The Sculpture Foundation
  • The Seward Johnson Atelier programs

Secondary Interests:

  • Technology and journalism nonprofits (particularly those founded by family members)
  • Cultural institutions with strong artistic programs
  • Organizations that promote public access to art

Historical Funding (now largely discontinued):

  • Marine sciences and oceanographic research
  • Hospitals and healthcare
  • Secondary education
  • Conservation projects

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose exclusions, but in practice:

  • Organizations outside the arts and culture sector (with rare exceptions for family-connected initiatives)
  • Unsolicited requests from organizations unknown to the Johnson family
  • General operating support for organizations outside their core focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • J. Seward Johnson, Jr. - CEO (serving since 1983). As a sculptor and founder of Grounds For Sculpture, Johnson has redirected the foundation's focus toward public art and sculpture. His artistic vision drives the foundation's grantmaking priorities.
  • John S. Johnson III - Director Secretary. Grandson of the founder and founder of Eyebeam (a major grant recipient with over $3 million received through nine donations). Also co-founded BuzzFeed and was an investor in Huffington Post, reflecting the family's interests in media and technology.
  • Michael Greenleaf - Treasurer and Board Trustee

The foundation operates as a tightly controlled family foundation where grantmaking decisions are made directly by the Johnson family based on their personal interests and relationships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Atlantic Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation makes grants exclusively to pre-selected charitable organizations chosen by the Johnson family. Unsolicited applications are not accepted at this time.

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Direct relationships with the Johnson family
  • Organizations founded or led by family members
  • Institutions that align closely with J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s artistic vision
  • Organizations with pre-existing connections to foundation leadership

Getting on Their Radar

The Atlantic Foundation's grantmaking is highly selective and relationship-based. Based on available information:

  • Grounds For Sculpture connections: Organizations that collaborate with or complement Grounds For Sculpture's mission may be considered. The sculpture park serves as the foundation's flagship project and primary funding priority.
  • Family connections: Organizations founded by or connected to Johnson family members have received significant support (e.g., Eyebeam, founded by John S. Johnson III, received over $3 million).
  • Sculpture and public art sector: Organizations working in public sculpture, sculpture parks, or related artistic endeavors that align with J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s work may catch the foundation's attention.
  • New Jersey arts community: As a Hamilton, NJ-based foundation supporting Grounds For Sculpture, connections within the New Jersey arts community may be valuable.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grants appear to be made throughout the year based on family discretion rather than fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation selects recipients rather than reviewing applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Key Success Factors:

  1. Direct alignment with sculpture and public art: The foundation's primary beneficiaries are organizations involved in sculpture, public art installations, and cultural programs related to visual arts.

  2. Family connections: Organizations founded by, led by, or closely connected to Johnson family members have received substantial multi-million dollar support.

  3. Geographic proximity to Hamilton, NJ: While the foundation supports some national and international initiatives, its anchor investment in Grounds For Sculpture demonstrates a commitment to the Hamilton/Trenton area.

  4. Mission alignment with J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s vision: As an artist himself, Johnson appears to favor organizations that promote public access to art and sculpture, particularly realistic and accessible art forms.

  5. Established institutions: The foundation tends to support established organizations with proven track records rather than startup initiatives, with the exception of family-founded ventures.

Funded Organization Examples:

  • Grounds For Sculpture (ongoing major support as flagship project)
  • The Sculpture Foundation (worldwide public sculpture installations)
  • Seward Johnson Atelier (sculpture creation and education)
  • Eyebeam (over $3 million total - technology and journalism nonprofit founded by John S. Johnson III)
  • Nantucket Screenwriters Colony ($1 million grant)
  • Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (historical support)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Not accessible through traditional grant seeking: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, making it inaccessible through standard grant application processes.

  2. Relationship-driven grantmaking: Success requires pre-existing relationships with the Johnson family or connections to their core interests and initiatives.

  3. Arts focus is paramount: Under J. Seward Johnson Jr.'s leadership since 1983, the foundation has become highly specialized in sculpture and public art rather than general philanthropy.

  4. Grounds For Sculpture is the center: Any connection to or alignment with Grounds For Sculpture's mission and programming may be the most viable pathway to foundation support.

  5. Large grants to few recipients: With 13-16 grants annually totaling $6-20M, the foundation makes substantial grants to a very small number of carefully selected organizations.

  6. Family member initiatives receive priority: Organizations founded or led by Johnson family members have received multi-million dollar support, suggesting family engagement is a primary pathway to funding.

  7. New Jersey presence matters: Despite some national reach, the foundation's headquarters and flagship project in Hamilton, NJ suggest geographic proximity may be a factor in funding decisions.

References

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