Elizabeth Johnson and Rob Ketterson

FUNDING AREAS: Health, Arts & Culture, Preservation, Boston Community

OVERVIEW: Elizabeth Johnson’s giving is difficult to distinguish her philanthropy from that of her family. She and her husband Rob do not appear to have a family foundation. Johnson serves on the board of Edward C. Johnson Fund, the family’s charitable foundation.  The Johnson family is a major donor to nonprofits in Boston and has given to Harvard, Historic New England and the Institute of Contemporary Art.

BACKGROUND: Elizabeth L. Johnson graduated from Franklin Pierce University. Her grandfather founded Fidelity Investments, where her sister Abigail now serves as CEO. Johnson founded Louisburg Farm, a stable of show jumping horses based in Wellington, Florida.

Rob Ketterson graduated with a B.S. in computer engineering and marketing from University of Arizona and received his M.B.A. from MIT Sloan. He worked at Fidelity Ventures and is founding partner of Volition Capital in Boston.

ISSUES:

ARTS & CULTURE: The largest beneficiary of donations from the Johnson family by far has been the Brookfield Arts Foundation, which was established by Johnson's father. The foundation, which purchases art and lends it to museums, has received more than $115 million from the Johnsons for its work. Elizabeth Johnson sits on the board of Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston and has made big gifts to Museum of Fine Arts.

Boston’s Peabody Essex Museum is also a major recipient. Other museums, arts centers, and theaters have received smaller donations, and while the majority of these are in the Boston area through the Edward C. Johnson Fund, the Fidelity Foundation supports organizations in a wider geographic area including most recently donations to the Furniture Society in North Carolina, and International Netsuke Society which has chapters in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

HEALTH: Aside from Boston area hospitals and medical centers, the Alzheimer Research Forum Foundation has probably been the biggest beneficiary of the Johnson’s wealth, receiving more than $2.3 million. Other health-related organizations she has funded include the Barth Syndrome Foundation, and the esteemed Max Planck Society Research Units of Structural Molecular Biology. Johnson recently gave at least $100,000 to Harvard Medical School through an individual donation.

PRESERVATION: The Johnsons have given smaller donations to numerous historical preservation and conservation societies, mainly in the Boston area, though their support really extends throughout New England. They have also helped fund a number of programs on conservation education, particularly for kids. The largest of this type of gift has been to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, which has received just over $3 million. Grants generally range from around $10,000 to upwards of $150,000.

EDUCATION: The Johnsons have donated to a number of schools through their family fund as well as the Fidelity Foundation. While donations through the family fund tend to have some personal connection, the Fidelity Foundation has a history of supporting a broader range of educational institutions.

BOSTON COMMUNITY: While many of Johnson’s grants in the Boston area go to historical preservation, the Johnsons also fund Boston-area health centers, schools, and libraries, as well as more traditional community organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs and little league organizations.

LOOKING FORWARD: Only in her 50s, Elizabeth Johnson may deepen and personalize her philanthropy down the line. Her interest in horses and animals should be noted and in the past she’s made donations to places like Morris Animal Foundation in Colorado and United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Rob has ties to Arizona, another region of future philanthropy.

CONTACT: 

Edward C. Johnson Fund
11 Keewaydin Dr., Ste 100
Salem, NH 03079

LINK: Fidelity Foundation